The Perfect Christmas Present

I enjoyed this movie. I really like Sam Page. This is the first movie I've seen of his but I'll look for others now. I did have a hard time warming up to the character of Jenny. She didn't come across has believable has the head of an organization. But overall I'd watch it again.

I can't think of having seen this premise before, although there is some similarity to Cyrano de Bergerac. It's nominally a Christmas story, but except for the holiday event, it didn't have to be around Christmas.

For me, a lot of how much I like this kind of movie has a lot to do with the relationship building between the leads and the premise provided a great mechanism for the leads to spend time together. Sam Page and Emily Peterson had great chemistry. Without it, the conflict wouldn't have made any sense.

I don't remember the first time I saw this movie, but I would think the surprise at the end was to be expected. That didn't mean it wasn't sweet.

Most films begin with loads of titles, stock footage etc, all of which make you want to change channel. Unusually and to its credit, this film hooked me from the beginning with some interesting facts about snowflakes and an introduction into the leading man Tom's work. His job is to research and find the perfect present for the partner of his (clueless) client.

Not only is this film entertaining, but there is food for thought in terms of a serious theme. When buying a present for your other half, do you really know enough about them to get them exactly what they want?

There are only four principal players in this movie - Jenny, her unreliable boyfriend Paul, Tom and socialite Victoria.

Tara Holt is excellent as leading lady Jenny, demonstrating a wide range of emotions, facial expressions and matching body language. When she inevitably kisses Tom (this is Hallmark), it really looks like her heart is racing. When she is upset with Tom, she looks upset. I also liked her boyfriend Paul (Sam Guinan-Nyhart), who ropes his faternity buddy Tom into the job of finding a present for Jenny.

Leading man Tom (played by Sam Page) is trying not to get involved with Sarah for professional reasons, which means his chemistry with her is not quite as good as it could be.

Victoria (played by Emily Peterson) is comfortable as an attractive socialite who would like to sink her claws into Tom. My favourite scene comes at about 24 minutes when Victoria is telling Jenny and Tom about the history of her old house. This is a piece of unexpected, nicely written script.

In the end, Tom does find the perfect present for Jenny, but not something material like a car or jewellry, but is instead something personal to her.

The only negative I have is that I found the final scene to be cheesy and over-acted.

Overall, one of the better Hallmark Christmas films and will watch again next year.

I went into this with low expectations because the premise of a "gift consultant" (known as "Mr. Christmas") being hired by an old frat buddy seemed kind of ridiculous to me. But it turns out there are such people, and some of them make as much as $100,000 a year.

This was a really good Hallmark movie, and a very different one. As another reviewer noted, It was kind of an updated twist on the old Cyrano de Bergerac story.

Sam Page is a Hallmark veteran who's also been in other shows like the Bold Type. He's solid as usual, but I was really impressed by Tara Holt who played Jenny. She was cute, fun, radiant and believably expressed a range of different emotions. I was a little shocked to see that she hasn't had a more successful career. I guess that's just another reminder that show business is a tough business.

I found the growing chemistry and familiarity between Tom and Jenny convincingly depicted and it was quite touching when Jenny said "today was the kind of day I used to have with my dad".

I loved the "real" story of the origin of the 1871 Chicago fire.

The movie also had some great editing (which I can't recall ever noticing in a Hallmark movie before). For example, I like how they switched back-and-forth between the two leads having separate conversations with their friends. It reminded me of a scene from Annie Hall (Involving two separate visits to therapists).

I liked this description during one of Jenny's video chats:

Jenny: "I'm the worst person ever" Meg: "No, you're just in a complicated situation."

There's a rather unbelievable couple of "bros. Before... women" scenes that, while unlikely, include some noble sentiments expressed by Paul. I thought he was a pretty good boyfriend but hey, the heart wants what it wants.

Victoria also (and more believably) comes across as quite noble which, frankly, is refreshing. It's always easier for writers to paint the "wrong ones" as very flawed and deficient people; but here, the "wrong ones" were quite the opposite.

Jenny's gift was truly amazing and extremely thoughtful.

I am subjective. But it seems to me only a film with a Barbie and two Kens. Not convincing, fake, artificial, using in not the most inspired manner the recipe Hallmark Christmas films . For fans, maybe a good film. For me, a romance in labyrinth , with predictable end and a sort of unrealistic dilemma.