User reviews

Ashley Williams is adorable, BUT that constant huge smile throughout the entire movie was distracting and it took away from the sincerity of the production. I feel that it really watered down the show. It's wonderful to seem happy in a Christmas movie as long as it doesn't come across as cheesy and I believe that it crossed that line.Unfortunately, this movie had a few cheesy scenes. Also, some of the other main characters (and background actors)were very weak and also unbelievable, especially Ashanti. The little girl who plays the daughter was more convincing than the rest of the cast. Overall, I was disappointed because I had such high hopes after seeing the previews and I feel that everyone could have done a better job telling this story. Sorry.

The good news is that I've seen much worse...

Although there were a few cringe moments overall thought it was pretty good for a Christmas chick flick.;) The main girl is hard not to like to act and it definitely was Christmas spirit plus some nice performances from side characters. It might not be entirely family friendly and a little bit predictable but is perfect if want to chill and relax while watching something feel good and Christmasy. Would say is worth at least 7 stars...

I just wanted a sweet (if cookie cutter) movie that wouldn't distract me while I worked at home. I didn't watch for goofs ( except to notice warm weather clothes worn by people outdoors, while actors wore coats). I was amused that Ashanti was no actress, or Ashley Williams no singer. Though tempted a few times just to fast forward to the "good" parts, I kept it on. It didn't disappoint, as it was what I expected.

I liked this despite it not being realistic. Shirtless hunks in the toy department? Come on. Reminded me of a preschool version of Abercrombie and Fitch. Anyway, the characters were likeable and the overall message "don't take Christmas out of Christmas" is why I'm giving this a 7. And Los Angeles looked a bit too sanitized. Where are all the homeless people pooping in the streets? Oh wait, that's San Fran. Or is it both? Doesn't matter. Sometimes all you want is a movie with a warm fuzzy message.

This film is almost one of those that you will "love it" or "hate it". Now I will admit this television film is not perfect but it reminds me of a tone that the Disney Live Action Films had in the 1960's and 1970's".

What the story is about a woman named Wendy. She is trying to save her family business. It is a candy store that was started by her late father. She runs the shop with her mother. She also has a small child.

Seeing that she needs money fast she goes to stay with her friend Angie and gets a job at a family owned department store and she slowly falls for Tom one of the owners. This also makes her a target of a Teanna who is out for all sorts of blood.

The film is not perfect however if you like "Christmas films" then you will love this.

Contrived plot, bad direction and everything is happily ever after in a short minute at the end. Why do they keep making this garbage? The Santa is probably one of the worst and Ashley Williams will smile that goofy toothy grin no matter if something good or sad happens....geesh.

Someone else here said you will love this or hate this and I tend to agree with that statement. "Christmas in the City" is not meant to be groundbreaking art. What it is meant to do is to entertain an audience and it does. Maybe a little more effort could have been made in ways of the screenplay and that the final reveal of the department store with its Christmas display could of used a bigger wow factor would of helped the overall experience.

This film is all about love. Love you have with your family traditions and fearing of losing them. Not a perfect film but it is made with joy and the lead has a smile that becomes a star in its own right. I saw this on NETFLIX streaming.

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"Christmas In The City" 2013. It's very sweet and charming. And while the nice people are trying to enjoy life, along comes the Grinch who stole Christmas, Angie. She is bent on making everyone's lives miserable. It's an old theme, but it's done very nicely. I just found the movie a little tedious, with not enough to keep me interested. Other people may absolutely love the movie! It is very good at what it does. // The Bushwacker 11/3/2021.

Despite loving Christmas so much, conceptually 'Christmas in the City' didn't sound much different from the stories of some other festive films from the likes of Hallmark and Lifetime, which in this regard tend to be quite standard/formulaic. So hopes weren't high because of this, as well as being a non-fan of Ashanti. Saw it anyway, having seen positive reviews from people whose opinions have always been appreciated by me, liked its intentions and Ashley Williams is quite likeable.

'Christmas in the City' was a little better than expected, but still didn't find myself particularly caring for it. It has its heart in the right place. It had good intentions. It does have appealing moments. 'Christmas in the City' also sadly suffers from too much cheese. Too much schmaltz. And from being over-acted. It is neither one of the best or worst recently seen festive films, instead of of those "not completely sure what my feelings are" sort of film, being not sure at first in what rating to give it.

Of course there are good things with 'Christmas in the City'. The best thing about it is the soundtrack, which really puts one in the Christmas mood. Full of well known carols, a bit of Tchaikovsky and catchy especially written songs, and they didn't feel too much or slowed the film down. "The First Noel" is especially lovely and while not caring at all for Ashanti's acting she does have pipes. It's a good looking film too, that toy store is something to behold and enough to make one go down memory lane in delight if they have fond childhood memories of toy stores at Christmas (raising hand here).

Although her smiling is overdone Williams is an appealing lead. Equally well supported by Shanola Hampton and Kylie Noelle Price. The bond between Wendy and Grace is charming and touching, providing the film's heart. As said too, the film has its heart in the right place and its intentions, not laid on too thick, are laudable.

However, most of the cast resort to shameless over-acting. The worst offender being the cartoonish mugging of Ashanti. Most of the characters are neither interesting or easy to get behind, Wendy and Grace being exceptions and Teanna is pretty much a cartoon. The story is very predictable, where one knows well in advance how it's going to end and even what's coming next throughout the whole duration.

Too much of the dialogue is incredibly cheesy and awkward-sounding and a lot of the film outside of the mother/daughter bond is heavy in schmaltz, well-meaning schmaltz but sickly sweet schmaltz nonetheless. The pace starts quite well but drags the thinner the story gets, which sadly is not too far long in and there are elements that are gratuitous and serve only as strange padding.

Summarising, alright but too lacking in too many areas. 5/10

When her small-town candy store reaches foreclosure, perky Ashley Williams (as Wendy Carroll) moves to the big city to make her fortune, with cute little daughter Kylie Price (as Grace). You may wonder what girl this age wears lipstick, mascara and earrings to bed. Moving in with actress pal Shanola Hampton (as Angie), Ms. Carroll quickly gets a job at a large department store. Although it's Christmas, businesses are failing all over. Carroll arrives at the same time as tightly-outfitted marketing genius Ashanti (as Teanna Musk), who has been hired to move Wolman's store finances from red to black. Ashanti thinks firing "Santa" (Michael Durrell as Nick) and hiring shirtless young hunks is a good way to get profits up. She also appears to have her hands on handsome Jon Prescott (as Thomas "Tom" Wolman), the son of the store owner. He seems rather slow in asserting himself, but Mr. Prescott could be Carroll's Prince Charming. The Spirit of Christmas might help. Nicely performed, "The First Noel" is a highlight.

**** Christmas in the City (12/7/13) Marita Grabiak ~ Ashley Williams, Jon Prescott, Ashanti, Shanola Hampton

You could easily dismiss a film like this. It is easy to do but this film is very "family friendly" and has a sweetness to it that i found comforting.

What this is about is about love and hope. They story is Wendy Carroll (Ashley Williams) and her six-year-old daughter Grace (Kylie Price) live in a small town where Christmas is everywhere, she gets a foreclosure notice three weeks before Christmas for her father's candy store that she has ran for the last five years. To make some extra money and save the candy store Carroll and Grace travel to the big city. She stays with her friend Angie from back home whom just got a major part in a play. Angie works at Wolman's Department store where she takes Carrol to apply for a temp job. On waiting for Angie to check in she meets Tom who manages the store and offers her a job in the toy department of Wolmans, the city's biggest department store, Wendy can't wait! She thinks the store is amazing, with all the Christmas holiday cheer, unfortunately her excitement doesn't last long when the store's manager, Teanna (Ashanti), destroys the Christmas spirit throughout the store and replaces Santa. (Michael Durrell) with a hunky male underwear model surrounded by elfin "babes."

What Teanna is unaware of is that she has in fact sacked the real Santa. Unaware of his real "Santa" status, Wendy reaches out to the old man but it seems even he has given up hope. With her daughter losing faith in the holiday, Wendy realizes she must bring the true meaning of Christmas back to Wolmans before it is too late.

What I like the most about this was that it did capture "That feeling you have at Christmas when your a child". You think everything is possible

It was horrible I can't believe Ashley Williams was in this! Everything was so disappointing.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY REVIEW ONE FILM. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THAT PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.

In this film a family owned business is about to go under! So Wendy and her six-year- old daughter Grace move to the big city where an old friend gets her a job in the toy department of Wolmans Department Store . Wendy hopes to make enough money to save her family business. The film is far from perfect but so what. It is enjoyable. It also wears a huge heart on its sleeve. I love the fact the film proudly displays affections people have for traditions and family. Ashley Williams plays Wendy and she plays the part perfectly. Wendy is the type of person you would want in your life. BE it "Friend, Girlfriend, Wife, etc.

Boys of all ages will hate it. So kick them out of the room and snuggle up with the person you love and enjoy the show. Its well worth your time.

Available on Amazon for streaming. This made for Lifetime movie will most likely get repeated during the holiday season. Catch it when it airs! I can't wait to see it again

I know, the title of my review will put me on Santa's naughty list but I had to be honest. I'm all for fluffy Hallmark-type movies but this one has some pretty serious over-acting in it.

If you're looking for a movie with Christmas trees, Santa and a romance, there are plenty to choose from that would be better than this. I certainly wouldn't give it a 10/10 as 17% of reviewers on IMDb have. That's overly generous and reserved for lifetime classics.

It was an ok Christmas movie but Ashley constantly smiling was bothersome! Sorry...! One more minor complaint was she just kept wearing those black tights! I hope she washed them every night or she had lots of them!

This film is so far fetched that it borders on camp however, Ashley Williams makes the film watchable and believable. This is not easy because this film has things that are crazy.

Example Angie lives in an apartment that she could never afford. Tom is "Good looking" "Nice" and "single"? Then there is Teeana Setting up Wendy and when she is caught she doesn't even go to jail?

Putting all of that aside I still love this film. It all comes down to"Faith" "Hope" "Family" and "Traditions".

The main plot of the film is that Wendy Carroll (Ashley Williams) and her six-year-old daughter Grace (Kylie Price) live in a small town where Christmas is everywhere, she gets a foreclosure notice three weeks before Christmas for her father's candy store that she has ran for the last five years. To make some extra money and save the candy store Carroll and Grace travel to the big city. She stays with her friend Angie from back home whom just got a major part in a play. Angie works at Wolman's Department store where she takes Carrol to apply for a temp job. On waiting for Angie to check in she meets Tom who manages the store and offer's her a job in the toy department of Wolmans, the city's biggest department store, Wendy can't wait! She thinks the store is amazing, with all the Christmas holiday cheer, unfortunately her excitement doesn't last long when the store's manager, Teanna (Ashanti), destroys the Christmas spirit throughout the store and replaces Santa. (Michael Durrell) with a hunky male underwear model surrounded by elfin "babes."

I don't want to give too much away but I love it when it seems the whole world breaks out and sings "Oh Come All Ye Faithful". I am not religious but that moment is magic to me. This film has a vibe that reminds me of the movies "Disney" made in the 1960's and 1970's

Very family safe. Not for everyone. However if you want to watch a film about a woman trying to hang on to family traditions and succeeding then watch this. I wish this was available on DVD however you can stream it on Netflix.

I am looking forward to seeing Ashley Williams on other projects.

I'm a fan of Christmas movies and schmaltz doesn't bother me a bit. Spirit of Christmas triumphs over nasty commercialism, fine. Hackneyed predictable story, not a problem.

This movie has all that. Unfortunately it also has a cast that mugs it's way through the entire hour and a half. There isn't one believably delivered line through the whole thing, let alone any kind of emotional connection between the characters.

Santa was very disappointing. He should have been a key element but just didn't get it done. Good voice and chuckle, but that was about it. His beard changed from one scene to the next,and never looked good, they didn't even bother to groom his mustache. And don't get me started about the cheesy, ill-fitting, off the shelf suit.

To top it all off, the gratuitous use of sleazy, shirtless, male models renders the film unsuitable for small children.

Television films are by the number. This is a "GREAT EXAMPLE" of a that. This doesn't mean this is a bad movie its just nothing special.

In this movie a young woman (Wendy) leaves her small town with her daughter to earn money to save her fathers business. She gets a job a department store and she falls in love with the stores owner.

Things get messy when another woman (Teanna) sees Wendy a threat. The actress Ashley Williams smiles in every scene. I fully understand why she took that approach. The reality is that "Wendy" is a nice woman. She is kind and supports her friends. Teanna however never smiles and she is only out for herself.

The climax of the film however needed more work. There is a scene where they "Make-over" the store. I think the whole film would have worked better if they showed more decorations and customers reaction to them. What we get is "Okay" and gets the point across but the film needed a bigger "WOW" then what was presented. Don't get me wrong the scene still works but it should have been better!

Family safe but don't expect too much. It is worth watching!