A Sudden Case of Christmas

Where to start with this. The characters are just odd.... And their lives are boring. That's basically the 2 major issues here.

The movie is just boring.

About half way through I catch myself wondering about the running time. That's when you know you have a problem when your thoughts turn to "when is this over."

Eventually I was so disinterested I just played video games with it running in another monitor hoping it gets better.. And eventually it just got obnoxious to the level I just had to turn it off.

If I had to say anything good about it. They all played their parts well (poorly written as it was). So there was that I guess.

Apply performed by all. It's just. People don't act like that. It's like the author had never seen a human before. And at some point I can see even the storyteller must have caught on because they appear to add quirky characters to fill in a lack luster story.

But their so poorly written themselves that it only makes it worse.

2 stars for Danny Devito.. Sorry that's all I have to give.

This movie reminds me of "Mixed Nuts," which for me is not a good thing. This movie is all over the place. So many plot lines start and don't follow through, the agendas of the characters get lost throughout the movie, the poster looks like a Christmas movie, which it's not. There's a lot of adults cheating on each other, so it's not a family movie. Just weird. I'd skip it. The only good thing about the movie is the landscape shots of Italy. I couldn't wait for the movie to end. Also, this isn't a comedy. There's nothing funny about it. It's definitely a lame drama. That was my first and last watch.

I'll write the first one and maybe the last one of this terrible movie. Who was it aimed at? It's got characters cheating on each other and a girl who wants to have Christmas in the Dolomites in August. What possibly can go wrong?

The "local" kids are American sounding. The hotel is owned by DeVito and has a staff of (from what we can make out) one Irish guy. And yet it looks like a 4 start hotel. Huge!! Massive rooms and only one guy and a dwarf looks after it? It's weird and stupid. How did they assemble a cast like this for a shocker of a film? It has no charm. None. I can accept B grade films about Christmas with a returned local helping out in the bakery shop and falling for the high school sweetheart that has stayed forever there... loads of those that have enough charm to at least be better than this.

I don't get Hollywood or its stars because what ever they have agreed on it must be in the contract to only have one take, all expenses paid (first class of course) and enough pay to buy the actual hotel they use for location.

And don't get me started on Kelsey Grammars crap Christmas movie ...

It loses steam as it goes on, though 'A Sudden Case of Christmas' is fairly good.

The cast are the big draw. Danny DeVito is obviously the main man, I always enjoy watching him. The likes of Andie MacDowell and Lucy DeVito are alright alongside the aforementioned, though it's Antonella Rose that is the star overall - a strong performance from the youngster. Adrian Dunbar has a small but memorable role, even if he is too good an actor for such a bit part.

It's not the most Christmassy of movies, despite the title. That's to be expected given how the story unfolds in fairness, but definitely something to be aware of if you're planning to watch this for the first time as part of your core festive viewing. It was released at Xmas time, but honestly a summer release would've been more fitting; à la the plot.

What's there, though, is perfectly watchable and the Italian surroundings look grand, at least. It only lasts for around 90 minutes, I admittedly did feel it drag a bit towards the end. More meat on the bones would've helped, the finale could've been something more interesting than what we get with the four-legged fella.

All in all, I consider this narrowly passable. 7/10.

I'm giving this sweet film 9 stars mostly for the great Acting and beautiful setting. The story doesn't seem too unrealistic like some Hollywood movie plots tend to lean - that turns me off as a viewer since I prefer realistic and relatable story lines. I came for a Christmas movie, which it isn't really, its about family and forgiveness. The young actress playing Claire is outstanding! Danny is also fabulous, as is the entire cast. I definitely recommend this film is you like a cozy little story. It has a little comedy, a little romance, a little culture, and a little suspense - something for everyone.