Hallmark Channel Premiere | November 3, 2019
In this movie, Belinda heads home from the big city to meet her best friend's new fiancé. Just as she is about to leave, she learns that her promotion to junior partner depends upon her coordinating the sale of a local, beloved museum for conversion to luxury condos. She is dating a caricature of the workaholic, too busy, too snobby, too inattentive boyfriend who gives her a locket with another couple's picture in it as a Christmas gift. Back at home, she is paired with an ex-boyfriend for a town scavenger hunt and does lots of Christmassy things. Yada yada yada - you get the picture.
I just didn't connect with this movie. I don't know if it was the cast, the plot, the writing, the setting, or the coats. Even the moments that were supposed to be sweet and heartwarming felt flat to me, and I've been known to cry at a Folgers commercial. In fact, the only thing I gained from watching this movie is knowing that I want to invite Tom Arnold to my next Christmas party. He delivers lines in such a ridiculous, insane way that it makes me laugh out loud. I'm not sure if he's funny on purpose or if he exudes comedy by accident. Either way, I'd love to sit next to him at Christmas dinner.
With 40 minutes remaining, I decided it would take a Christmas miracle for this movie to earn a passing grade. And this time, Santa failed.
Hallmark gets an A on: Tom Arnold;
Hallmark gets a D on: Lack of chemistry; casting (aside from Tom Arnold, of course); workaholic boyfriend who is too unlikable (yes, it's possible); text messages and pictures popping up on the screen (I hated this last year, and I still hate it); missed opportunities for sentimentality; the rhyming scavenger hunt clues (truly awful); the scavenger hunt (so basically the entire premise)
*On a side note, they're doing a scavenger hunt, but they don't seem to be in enough of a hurry. It makes me anxious.
Grade: F
* Note Grading Scale:
A = This is seriously a good movie. It will remain on my DVR for the season.
B = Totally exceeded my expectations. I'm happy to recommend.
C = This is an average Hallmark movie. Good holiday fun.
D = I'm disappointed... but I watched it. Why not?
F = I actually had a hard time getting through this one. And that says a lot.
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