A Christmas Detour

I sometimes wonder why certain people choose to watch certain movies.....do not believe the negative reviews of this movie. This is a lovely Christmas romance movie, with good acting and realistic characters. I have certainly met and know people like these characters, even the parents of the husband to be....so I am confused by some of the reviews saying the characters are not believable. My husband and I enjoyed watching this together. You will too.

If one's idea of entertainment is a goofy script, irritating character, and very far-fetched engagement, perhaps this film would by okay. But I think many people besides me will find "A Christmas Detour" a real drag. The lead character, Paige Summerlind (played by Candace Bure) is flying from Los Angeles to New York to meet the parents of her fiance for the first time over Christmas, and to plan their spring wedding. If one can bear with the film to near the end, and see her fiance, Jack, and his parents, the big question would be when and where did she meet this guy, and how did they ever get engaged? Was she smoking something strange at the time, or under the influence?

For there to be a detour in flights, there has to be a cause, and that's the unforeseen snow storm that hits New England and closes all the New York City area airports. Fortunately - or otherwise, for Paige, and some others, their plane can land at Buffalo. By this time, though, I was worn out by the motor-mouth Paige who appears to passengers, including Dylan Smith (played by Paul Greene) as a ditzy blonde. And, that's just exactly what this character is right up until the last few minutes. It's so bad and irksome that I would not have watched this film all the way through had it not been for a couple on the same plane and who were part of the story. Frank and Maxine Harper (David Lewis and Sara Strange) are an odd couple, married 20 years, and constantly bickering or squabbling over something. And, it's mostly humorous. So, to see how they would come of this, I stayed with this film.

Their part in the film is the only reason I give it even three stars. The conclusion with Paige and Dylan, which anyone who has watched Christmas romance movies knows, isn't worth sticking it out for - it's that mundane. Dylan's character probably is supposed to be a sort of balance to Page's silly and erratic manner. He's clearly irritated with her in the beginning, but then he just seems like a dumb ox with a smiling, smug look most of the rest of the movie. .

This is one holiday film that discerning movie buffs will want to avoid entirely.

Was not expecting an awful lot from the story, which from reading the plot summary was one that indicated that it was going to be a film of very few surprises or originality. Watched 'A Christmas Detour' anyway as there are some watchable and more Hallmark festive films, as well as some mediocre or worst ones. And it is not hard to see why Candace Cameron Bure is one of Hallmark's most frequently used lead actresses, even though her characters tend to vary in likeability.

Something that is evident here in 'A Christmas Detour'. Which on the whole is a worthwhile effort. To me, it wasn't great and far from flawless. As far as Hallmark festive films go, 'A Christmas Detour' is somewhere in the solid middle rather than being on either extreme of best or worst. It does suffer from some of the things that quite a lot of Hallmark festive films have, but again from personal opinion 'A Christmas Detour's' appeal is understandable.

Am going to start with what works well, which is actually a lot. 'A Christmas Detour' looks good, especially the scenery which gives off a nice Christmas vibe. An aspect that Hallmark festive films more often than not excelled in, regardless of their variable authenticity the scenery regardless looked good still. There are some pleasant moments in the soundtrack. The acting is better than average, especially from Sarah Strange and David Lewis as the most interesting characters. Paul Greene does well as Dylan, even if you are frustrated at Dylan at times. It is sympathetically and not too routinely directed.

The script is not too bad. Nothing to be wowed by but other Hallmark festive films do a far worse job at making one cringe. It can be cornball definitely, but there is less of a cheese overload and it doesn't seem too soapy, or at least to me it didn't. The story is engaging and doesn't take itself too seriously, with moments of genuine and not too sugary charm and light-heartedness. Will agree though that the Frank and Maxine subplot is more involving and better written than the main plot overall.

Bure has given better performances in other films however. She isn't bad and does her best with some zesty moments, but she does tend to overplay and her character is obnoxious due to the over-eagerness being overdone. Would have liked a little more spark between her and Greene, which was there but doesn't quite explode enough, and their relationship could have done with more development. Which would have solved the problems of changes happening too fast and decision making being more plausible and less out of the blue.

Other Hallmark festive films fare worst in the script writing, but some parts still sounded on the forced and corny side. There is very little new done with a very tried and tested formula, so the story's predictability particularly towards the end is borderline excessive. The ending can be seen from miles away and is executed pretty much exactly as one expects. Some of the soundtrack is pleasant, at too many other times it is too constant and loud (which is a general problem seemingly with Hallmark festive films and a common criticism for them from some).

In summation, above average and worthwhile but not great. 6/10

Candace Cameron Bure is a sweetheart and even a better actress. Her on screen chemistry with her leading man Paul Greene also worked charmingly. What I had a hard time swallowing was the amount of air time in this movie that Paul Greene who plays Dylan Smith spent trying to convince Ms. Bure who plays Paige Summerlind if she was sure that she was marrying the man of her dreams, or the man who exists only on paper. In fact it is Paige Summerlind who has written one of those itemized lists in a popular women's magazine on 100 ways to ensure you have the right partner.

Mrs. Shullivan and I liked the theory of an unexpected road trip romance, but the constant bantering between Ms. Bure and Paul Greene became quite tiring until the films last 30 minutes kind of redeemed itself as the love/hate/love/hate/love relationship ended with a heartwarming climax.

I give this Christmas romance a 6 out of 10 IMDB rating mainly on the strong performances of the two (2) lead actors Candace Cameron Bure and Paul Greene.

The real good part - the couple Maxine and Frank Harper. The predactibility and the doses of realism. The atmosphere and, off course, Candace Cameron Bure. A film about small , significant things, defining us. And that does it just lovely.