A Twist of Christmas

Managed 20 minutes of this appalling film. A deluded woman presumes entitlement and the responses from the male lead aren't much better. They present as poor role models for their kids and I dont think I could have lasted the whole film without throwing something at the tv.

Abby starts out as one of the most overprotective mom's ever seen in these movies. In the beginning, both Abby and Ryan are complete jerks who think the world revolves around them. Then we meet Ryan's ex. She and her current partner are equally stuck-up but not quite as mean. Abby's mom calls Ryan "driver". This is a really likeable group of people. Rudeness and antagonism continue through a full third of the movie. The rudeness miraculously disappears and the antagonism becomes flirty banter.

As for professional lives the world does not work this way. Missing the interview is pretty big and walking out on a merger meeting is worse. As another reviewer pointed out, the viewer needs to work hard to suspend belief.

The story is based on one unnatural contrivance after another. Abby and Ryan are thrown together repeatedly. With basically half the movie gone, some chemistry starts to develop between Vanessa Lachey and Brendon Zub. I was impressed with Lachey as a single mom. Her connection with Christian Convery, as Elliot, is great despite the over protectiveness.

There's a side story in the arrogance of the always superior book author. His arrogance extends to forcing attention on himself away from Abby's child while spouting parenting advice.

The conflict is likewise unlikely contrivance (a chain of things that people like these just won't allow to happen).

So maybe half the movie is enjoyable, but lacks any real story. There are no real highs or surprises.

Vanessa was a shining star in this one. She was funny and appealing. And those dimples! Her chemistry with the hero, who had a little bit of edginess to him, was really good. He was a bit of a jerk at first, which added to the dynamic between them, because she was not intimidated. Good solid plot and writing. If this is an example of Vanessa Lachey's talents, I hope she becomes a regular for Hallmark. Time to put some of the old warhorses out to pasture. Ooh. that was mean. But no names.

New fav Christmas movie!! Don't miss! Vanessa makes this movie so much fun to watch!

Both leads are quite obnoxious to start with, but ease in to more acceptable human beings as the film moves on.

The toy mix up is a fine build up to a romance, I've seen something like it with De-Niro and Streep (No idea what it's called), but the carry on that follows here is a bit daft and hard to believe, I'm not sure any of my bosses would ever have been that understanding.

To be honest, I can't see why the female lead didn't just throw herself at Brendan Zub's feet the moment she saw him, he is very handsome as bad almost Godlike, but he was being a bit rude at the time I suppose.

It would be nice if we lived in a world where people can meet in bad circumstances, but forgive that first impression later on to maybe fall in love. Hey ho.

A good cast, nobody stood out as bad at least and they got up to Christmassy things. Brendan should have been naked at some point though, so it loses points for not achieving that.