Christmas Encore

Christmas Encore (2017) - This film was very typical of many, many others, but without that usually obvious romantic interest. I was actually quite bored by the first half and I didn't even feel anything for Brennan Elliott in the lead male role of Julian, as I have in his other films before, although he was still the best bit about the whole film. I couldn't really connect with the leading lady Maggie Lawson, playing Charlotte, either. She was a bit like a blend of Amy Adams, Alicia Silverstone and Nicole Kidman, but somewhat lacking in the certain something that makes them great. And the stage show that they build throughout the film ultimately looked like the worst interpretation of 'A Christmas Carol' since Kelsey Grammar took on the role (2004). The fact that I believe that Dickens' work to be the greatest story ever told made this bastardised version incredibly unacceptable. Not to mention the fact that the "Actor" in the role of 'Scrooge' was awful in their production. The story in general wasn't one of those modern updates of the story, but what they did with it, for the purposes of this film, was heinous in my mind. I will not be returning to this one until I'm old and grey and I've forgotten all the lists and scores I've given over the years and maybe not even then. We will see how my memory lasts. 3.75/1000.

I had my doubts when I started watching it, but it turned out to be a sweet romantic movie. Easy to watch. Good acting. With all the clichés, but you know what you are getting.

It's a family movie which is supposed to be romantic and dramatic but unfortunately misses in both aspects. Its plot seems interesting but it also fails to deliver something good, as it is very linear, predictable and thus very unsatisfying. It has such a slow pace that it's easier to fall asleep than pay attention to it, especially as it also doesn't bring anything that might surprise you in any way. Its characters are also not very well developed, not managing to be likeable or to direct any sympathy towards them. To make matters worse, the finale is as predictable as It gets, not to mention the overall sensation that the movie leaves, that everything will be sorted very easily without breaking a sweat. There aren't many things to mention on the plus side unfortunately, besides the core idea of the plot which was interesting (before actually seeing its implementation) and a couple of actors which are quite ok in their interpretation. It's a shame that they weren't able to do more with this movie, the final result being mediocre at best.

I'll start with the pluses: lead Maggie Lawson, anywhere. She's charming, energetic-even a bit inspiring-here. All around, the acting is a high point and a cut above for this genre. Unfortunately, that's about where the positive runs out. Male lead Brennan Elliot is also good, but he comes off as old for Lawson's perky Charlotte, which is emphasized by their more-work-than-spark vibe through most of the movie. So, it's thin on the vital romance angle. The worse sin, maybe, for the holiday romance crowd: there's very little hint of Christmas except as a calendar date. The movie was shot almost entirely in dark interiors, so for all of Charlotte's infectious optimism, there's also a visual heaviness that, combined with the lack of Christmas zing and tepid romance, kind of sank the whole enterprise.

I missed seeing this movie when it was released in 2017 but I did catch it after Christmas 2018. I wish I could say I enjoyed this movie but unfortunately, it was just "ok". It didn't have that feel good effect on me. I also did not think there was any chemistry at all between the lead actors. Just another Christmas movie about some building or lodge in need of saving. I'm so bored any more with Hallmark Christmas movies. A Christmas Carol was not meant to ever be rewritten as a modern day tale (in my opinion) so for me, it was very far fetched!