Matchmaker Santa

Movie was okay. If you have a girlfriend, you can get through it. If you are a guy, boy it is a tough one. Usual plot, girl and guy but this time the girl has another man. Then we have a fat white man, I mean Santa, changing the universe for just these 2 couples, so they realize who the real true love is. I must say, IMDb requiring 10 lines for this movie is sad. Very sad Indeed I give it a 5.5 out of 10. Lacey Chabert needs to work on her acting. Well most of the cast does. I think I reached 10 lines by now now now period.

Reliable Lacey just didn't do it for me in this one. This movie was made 8 years ago and Lacey Chabert hasn't changed a bit. And I'm not sure that's a good thing. Same hairdo, same lipstick, same signature eyeliner. Honestly, couldn't she even wash her face before going to bed? If she ever wiped that eyeliner off, I don't think I'd recognize her. Same affected giggle: It would make a good drinking game. I didn't think she much chemistry with her co-star, and the plot was tired and dull. Maybe I just need a break from Lacey, because she can be a good actress, with good comedy chops. Unfortunately that's a little difficult, since watching Hallmarks is kind of a silly hobby of mine. I did like her love interest on his own though. I'd like to see him pared up with someone else.

So tired of Lacey, Candace and Danica. Wondered why Santa was hitch hiking saying he missed his bus because his plane was late. The pilot said to all the passengers that he would make up the time in the air. If this wasn't a Hallmark movie, I'd think Santa was a serial killer. He creeped me out. Also, Lacey's giggling was so over the top. It got old. Not my favorite Hallmark movie.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with most of the other reviewers about this movie. Whoever edited and handled the sound for this movie, forgot to turn down the music when the actors were speaking. And the stalker Santa popping up all over the place was maniacal instead of magical. I guess that the producers and directors also thought that the plot/script were lacking, so they decided to throw in Florence Henderson and Lin Shaye as two "ditzy" cookie makers for comic relief who, instead, just come across with cringe-worthy silly performances. And the very capable John Ratzenberger could have been much better used in this film. There's too much plodding sub-plot going on with a focus on character quirks that didn't add to the overall story. Consequently, the whole thing felt fragmented and sort of lame. I kept checking the time to see when it would end.

There were quite a few reasons for wanting to see 'Matchmaker Santa'. The title was a little corny but also somewhat appetising. The idea for the story was hardly innovative but sounded cute enough. Lacey Chabert is always a likeable watch, like her voice work too, and generally one of the better prolific Hallmark leads, whether their festive efforts or in general. Have been on another one of my completest quests since November 2019, and this was part of it. If there was one word to sum up 'Matchmaker Santa' it would be watchable. It is not a bad film, it is at least palatable, and there are things that come off well. At the same time it is not one of Hallmark's better Christmas efforts and a bit of a missed opportunity, too many of its components being average at best. Will say though that 'Matchmaker Santa' is not one of the worst either, there are worse written, acted and looking and ones that bored, annoyed and insulted the intelligence more. Visually, 'Matchmaker Santa' looks good with it being shot and lit well and while standard the settings are lovely looking and festive at least. The film started off very nicely, with a lot of charm and warmth. Chabert is her usual likeable and charming self, as a character with no exaggerated negative qualities without being too perfect, and carries the film with ease. She has natural chemistry with both male leads, Thad Luckinbill and Adam Mayfield match Chabert's charm and one can see their appeal. Florence Henderson's performance is not subtle but she is a lot of fun. John Ratzenberger makes the most of what he's given to work with, and he's underused. However, the story doesn't have enough to it. Actually don't mind awfully that it was very formulaic, what bothered me was that there was very unimaginatively executed, was really not much of one at all, had some fairly contrived situations and the film gets so sweet (too much so) in places it was almost sickly. The script is similarly thin and quite routine, especially in the more eventful parts, with too much cheese and sentimentality. The chemistry between Chabert and her male leads varies, it's nice with Mayfield which has more growth but a little under-explored with Luckinbill (despite them being sweet together). Did find that Lin Shaye overplayed to an embarrassing degree. Pacing can be a problem, with the story being too little a lot of the film crawls along and feels over-stretched. The direction is only functional at best and can be on the leaden side of things. Would have liked more development between the characters, a far less over-neat and rushed ending and especially far more subtle music. Do agree with those that found the music over-bearing and ill fitting. Overall, watchable but pretty average. 5/10.

This 2012 Lacey Chabert annual Christmas movie is a gift you might not want to open. In this film she plays Melanie who at 9 years old wrote a letter to Santa asking for "true love". Santa however did grant her wish the year of the letter. 15-16 years later around Christmas time she boards a plane to spend Christmas time with her boyfriend "Justin" who she thinks he is about "Pop the Question". On the plane with her is her boyfriends assistant Dean who has been keeping Melanie and "Deans" relationship afloat. ON the plane Melanie meets Nick who in reality is of course is "Santa Claus". He remembers the letter Melanie wrote him and now has working very hard on granting her "Christmas Wish". The film is not very entertaining. I always love Lin Shaye in anything however she is not in the film long enough. The film could of been much better. The final 5 minutes however feel too rushed and very "unrealistic". IF you never seen this film you are lucky!