A Song For Christmas (2017) -
Some of the leading ladies in this genre of film can be a bit inconsequential opposite some very talented fellas at times, but I actually do like Becca Tobin as an actress and I liked her as Addy in this film.
However, I have always struggled to connect with Kevin McGarry, who played Dylan. He's just a bit pretty and unattainable, there's a distance about him, whereas she was far more natural, despite playing a country star.
The singer hiding in the sticks thing has been done to death though and that was only one of many clichés in the film, including a sleigh ride, wreath making and Christmassy pancakes, although I do like it when there are actual elements of festive fun in these seasonal films, because that was essentially what I tuned in for.
The whole rescuing a tree farm idea has appeared in quite a few of these films too.
So overall, it wasn't the most original story that I've seen, but it still had heart and although everyone was a bit unusually nice, the fact that they were so pleasant was refreshing. With the exception of Russell (James McGowan). I found it hard to believe his change of heart.
Other than that, it was a shame that they obviously didn't use real ferns to make the wreaths, considering the message that they were trying to send, as well as the setting of a Christmas tree farm and once again it was those little details that let things down a bit.
It wasn't really a bad film at all, but it was just a bit too samey. 2022 was a year of some fresh thinking with regards to the stories of the made for TV seasonal films, so watching this one for the first time, five years after it's release, it showed how contrived and formulaic the genre had been.
5.5/10.
Some of the leading ladies in this genre of film can be a bit inconsequential opposite some very talented fellas at times, but I actually do like Becca Tobin as an actress and I liked her as Addy in this film.
However, I have always struggled to connect with Kevin McGarry, who played Dylan. He's just a bit pretty and unattainable, there's a distance about him, whereas she was far more natural, despite playing a country star.
The singer hiding in the sticks thing has been done to death though and that was only one of many clichés in the film, including a sleigh ride, wreath making and Christmassy pancakes, although I do like it when there are actual elements of festive fun in these seasonal films, because that was essentially what I tuned in for.
The whole rescuing a tree farm idea has appeared in quite a few of these films too.
So overall, it wasn't the most original story that I've seen, but it still had heart and although everyone was a bit unusually nice, the fact that they were so pleasant was refreshing. With the exception of Russell (James McGowan). I found it hard to believe his change of heart.
Other than that, it was a shame that they obviously didn't use real ferns to make the wreaths, considering the message that they were trying to send, as well as the setting of a Christmas tree farm and once again it was those little details that let things down a bit.
It wasn't really a bad film at all, but it was just a bit too samey. 2022 was a year of some fresh thinking with regards to the stories of the made for TV seasonal films, so watching this one for the first time, five years after it's release, it showed how contrived and formulaic the genre had been.
5.5/10.