boballens

I didn't hold out much hope of it being a cracker after watching so many bland Christmas offerings from the usual sources. There wasn't a hint of inane smiles from toothsome individuals or stiff-faced lip-filler advocates in this festive film. Stick with it through the first 'introduction' - the scene has to be set before you can enjoy the back story of each passenger. Some good acting that felt natural. Timothy Spall seemed to be struggling with the Scouse role at the start but he progressed from the curmudgeon to a man with a sad past. Loved Alfred Enoch (HTGAWM and The Couple Next Door) and Kaya Scodelario (Susie Glass in The Gentlemen) That said, there wasn't a single character in the main story that annoyed me and that's unusual because it seems to be a given that there is always one tiresome or dislikeable protagonist. If you get the chance, give it a go.

The start was a little cheesy but I persevered. Caprice's acting skills lack merit merit and all she did was smile inanely, from one scene to the next. The cafe scene where she photographed a family was a cringeworthy cliché. I hoped it would get better when the plot shifted to Serbia but even the scenery couldn't save it. The Ryan Reynolds lookalike brought some hope to the film because he acted naturally but it just didn't happen.

Christmas films have improved greatly since the early rom/coms with some reliable acting. I expected more from an up-to-date offering. I admit I didn't watch the full film as I became continually distracted. I watched A Miracle in Bethlehem (2011) earlier in the week and it put this film to shame.

I'm a fan of the Alex Cross books and was pleased to see an actor that fit the bill, at last. He played the character well with just the right amount of aggression and emotion. Ryan Eggold didn't disappoint and played a blinder with his part. He proved how versatile he can be with Blacklist and New Amsterdam. I would've given a much higher score had I been able to actually see who was on the screen at any given time. The lighting technician was having a laugh with the dark, beyond moody and atmospheric set lighting. It was dismal and often made the series difficult to watch. I loved the plot but hated the inadequate lighting needed to follow the story. I hope that there will be another series and they read all the reviews. I'm not the only one who feels this way.