Christmas at Pemberley Manor

As far as Hallmark Christmas movies go, this was one of the worst ones I've seen yet from them. (A Princess for Christmas 2011 still takes the prize.) This movie had so much hype, being the first of the new "Countdown to Christmas" season. As someone raised on the 1995 Pride & Prejudice (Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle), drooling over the grounds of Pemberley and the Pemberley mansion, when the camera showed this new "Pemberley Manor" it was as if someone tricked me with a poop flavored jelly bean. I was expecting something yummy, but was left betrayed and disappointed. The discouraging mirage continued. This movie lacked any chemistry. I like Michael Rady, and Jessica Lowndes is still growing on me, but together, they were unconvincing and awkward. Michael Rady should have talked to Colin Firth about how to be "Mr. Darcy."

Overall, there was nothing Pride & Prejudice or Pemberley about this movie, it lacked chemistry, and was stupidly predictable.

Which makes sense as their was not a line of believable dialogue. I mean, it's a Hallmark Christmas movie - it's got it's own genre almost. This was more boring & formulaic than most. Can there ever be one of these WITHOUT a holiday festival/fair/ball? It's been done to death. Hallmark writers, gotta change things up!

This movie has everything: loud music (my biggest problem of them all), fake snow, an empty luggage, an empty coffee mug, a lead assuming something he shouldn't and a "magical" Santa fixing the lead's problem. There, you have a Hallmark movie.

While I didn't hate it, I didn't love it either.

I liked William's character, there was character development in there, which is almost enough for me. I'm not sure about Elizabeth's character: I understand her motivation thoughout the movie but I couldn't connect with her. I felt she was off. The chemistry was there, maybe not as strong as I would have liked it to be. I also found Jane and Travis adorable (predictable from the first moment) so points for that. Other than this pair, William was the best part of the movie, in my opinion.

As a whole it was enjoyable, not strong enough to start the season, but I didn't hate it and I actually enjoyed it.

I love a good Pride and Predjudice take any time, and I wanted to love this movie. Fact is, the lead was just miscast. Jessica comes off fake, over acted, and without even a shred of what the Elizabeth Bennet character is known for. Rady on the other hand, is phenomenal as the Darcy image. He is the only reason I finished the film. The storyline is your run-of-the-mill Hallmark -- heartwarming, happy ending and cheerful. But sadly, the female lead takes what could have been a winning Hallmark film down to the bottom of the list.

I know all the "Hallies" will downvote me, but I'm no fan of Jessica Lowndes. She has a pretty smile, but she lacks the charisma that other Hallmark stars have. As usual the supporting cast of local Canadian actors are excellent. Maddie McCormick and Ben Estus add the spark as the main characters assistants. And it was a hoot to see the mean almost step mother from The Parent Trap, Elaine Hendrix. And does every Hallmark movie these days have a Mr. Darcy?