Holiday in the Vineyards (2023) User Reviews

Rich man/boy learns life lessons

[MickyG333 · 7/10 · 5 January 2024]

7.4 stars.

A spoiled rich man/boy likes to party and get in trouble, but he's supposed to work with his mother to help her run a large wine company. The father died some years back, now she runs the business, it's dog eat dog and she's top dog. He gets tired of living in his mom's shadow, so to speak, but he has no choice so he goes on assignment to spy out a small winery that is up for sale. The people of the small town are trying to buy it, but they have to pool their resources to do so. He is undercover, pretending to be some traveler who happens to be in town, helps out this woman and her two kids. She lets him move into a guest house if he helps with construction of it. He doesn't know anything about carpentry, but he likes this lady and her two sons.

Eventually the truth must come out and it's his family that is going to buy this winery right out from under these precious townsfolk, and his secret will be displayed for all to see and will he have any chance to be in a relationship with this beautiful woman once she knows the truth?

This is a clever script with lots of entertaining dialogue and interactions. This film is a couple levels above the usual Christmas stuff out there, however it still lacks in some key areas, such as flow and overall feel. Something is off a bit, but anyway, it's a nice love story.

Hallmark Soap Opera Christmas Movie

[lakings97 · 6/10 · 29 December 2023]

Holiday in the Vineyards is a Netflix B rated romantic comedy and our sixth Christmas movie of 2023. The story is about a big city playboy who is sent to outbid an estate sale in a fictional California town called Los Santos. The city name is also described in GTA within the same content as this film. The playboy played by Josh Swickard ends up helping and working for a widower and her two boys. The widower is played by Sol Rodriguez along with her best friend Carly Jibson and the town carpenter who is played by Omar Gooding. Eileen Davidson played Josh's mother who ends up buying the land that was previously owned by the family back in the early 1900's. Most of these characters are stars from the soap opera shows, good actors but subpar slow predictable storyline. I will never watch or remember this one again.

Would rather watch paint dry, loading bars load, or grass grow.

[laynboy · 2/10 · 19 December 2023]

Very rarely do I leave negative reviews. The Room had better story and plot. Wait, is this a Tommy Wiseau film? Nope; well Alex is following in Tommy's footsteps. Highly doubt this becomes a cult classic though. Drudging on, every character in this film lives in some sort of alternate reality where the forces of our own bear no weight on them. Even the most privileged of people in the reality we live in have more self awareness and social awareness than any character in this film. Now to criticize the actual people from our own plane of existence; the director, producers, and anybody who made a decision in the production of this film floundered in a sea of opportunity. Every scene was just scraping the surface of what could have made for actual entertainment or funny dialog, but alas it was watered down. On the scale of pasteurized milk, this film is a 0%.

Privileged wino makes good

[matchincaddies · 9/10 · 18 December 2023]

If you're looking for a fun, feel good rom com to take your mind off reality for a couple hours you've found it. You've got a talented cast (even the kids seemed to be pretty good actors for kids in a movie like this), a fun if familiar storyline and some great dialogue. The two main actors are definitely up and comers and definitely worth checking out. This movie won't change your politics or cause you to question any of your major life decisions, but it's a couple hours of fun that flies by like a Christmas party with old friends. If you are into rom coms you should definitely give this one a watch.

Not the usual formulaic holiday film, it's very watchable.

[Avidviewer-02847 · 8/10 · 16 December 2023]

Stumbled across this movie and settled back thinking it would be another formulaic holiday rom-com. It was very watchable with a script that was good. Most of the dialog was actually good, it wasn't typical sickly sweet Christmas movie drivel. The cast can act, I wasn't familiar with all of them but they can act, especially the leads Josh Swickard and Sol Rodriguez. Josh Swickard is good doing comedy, I'm surprised he's not a Hallmark regular. Omar Gooding was good as Moe Walker, hardware store owner and part time garagiste. The two young actors playing Fer and Santi are very good. The setting apparently is Santa Clarita, CA unlike so many of the holiday rom-coms that are filmed in Canada.

Kudos to the cast, writers and director. It has flaws but it's well worth watching.

Are you kidding me?

[Mr_Right_1138 · 1/10 · 22 December 2023]

Don't even need to watch this to know. Did multiple double takes though just to make sure I wasn't crazy because this is just a lazy rip off of "A California Christmas" with the same lead actor! Wtf?! Are you serious? How many times is Netflix just gunna rehash the same old story? A Cali Xmas wasn't even that good. It was slightly above average for an average sappy love story from Netflix and that's not saying much. Maybe not even that because the 2 leads are very easy on the eyes so they probably mask a lot of the movies short comings, if you're brain dead and content with just drooling over them I guess. I have no words. Just lazy. But it's Netflix so can we expect anything else?

It's all grape juice to me but this is a fun flick

[getthedamnbell · 9/10 · 23 December 2023]

Even if you don't drink wine, this is a solid, fun rom com just in time to take your mind off the dystopian disfunction that is the modern world, and most of what Netflix puts out. Like all rom coms it is predictable but it is also fun along the way. The performances and execution are top notch. The male lead is great. He is funny and convincing. And his eventual love interest has the charm and spark of a young Salma Hayek, (sans juggs). They even a have a real housewife of somewhere. I don't like those shows but I'm happy to see one of them channeling all that drama up onto the big screen where it worked well. And have to admit it, she was good. All in all this is a fun flick worth checking out.

Proper film, feel good and with great cast

[warringtonkarina · 9/10 · 22 December 2023]

I love an upbeat festive film but they can be a wee bit twee so I was pleasantly surprised by something that felt relative to today's world and not just a throwback to old school mills n boon romance. Great chemistry between all cast, rounded characters a female lead you could have a good girls night out with, and a very funny (and ripped!) male co-star. Sure there's some schmaltzy bits but hey, it's a Christmas rom com so that's kinda required, but it's all thoroughly entertaining and the script and acting elevated it above the bog standard formulaic afternoon movies which are fine to pass the time, but this is better :-) raise your glasses and sample some delicious festive fun.

good movie

[sfarookmusthafa · 9/10 · 24 December 2023]

A widow who wants to save a local vineyard meets a stranger both fell in love but she has certain limitations like her two kids, save the local vineyard or the stranger. Her struggle and emotions beautifully captured.

When she came to know that, the stranger is a well known businesswoman's son, did she take it forward?

A romantic film, which is a feel good movie and a good entertainer to watch this movie on Christmas. Dont miss.

Watch this beautiful Christmas Movie, and Merry Christmas.

Watch this movie on Netflix.

Rating: Good Movie.

Follow my blog for regular reviews on famus.blogspot.

Romantic Fun with Comedy and Adult Conversations

[vintagegeek-97465 · 9/10 · 1 January 2024]

This plot is what you expect. But, the writing is truly adult conversations with grown up relationship witticisms. Not the tripe of Hallmark. We both enjoyed it and it was nice to hear clever dialogue. There's a talented cast (even the kids seemed to appeared as you'd expect). The two main actors are definitely winners and worth checking out. And the secondary actors are strong in their own right. They provide the comical aspect. The story kept the banker way in the background so you don't see any ludicrous across the desk back and forth or whining. A couple hours of fun and easy enjoyment. If you are into romantic comedies you should definitely give this one a look.

Wines, town, millionaires

[glori1491 · 8/10 · 29 December 2023]

This movie comes out in the Christmas category on Netflix, however its basis itself is not Christmas, only the last 10 minutes mention Christmas, so if what you are looking for is a movie about Christmas, this is not the movie. However, it is an enjoyable film, it has the cliché story of a capricious millionaire boy, who leads a chaotic life and is sent to a town incognito to discover information about a wine company that his family wants to buy, there he meets in this town to a widow with 2 children who wants to buy this company together with other neighbors. Carter begins to relate to her, her children and her people, ultimately changing her way of being. It is a film to spend the afternoon, enjoy, not complicated.

Joyful movie to watch

[annbss · 9/10 · 6 January 2024]

The movie is a unique storyline staring Josh Swickard. Beautiful dance scenes between the actors. Watch it only because of Josh Swickard, funny, talented, handsome, and loving. He really looks like a prince and a gentleman. Always nice to watch him on screen and portrays different characters. It's a feel good Christmas movie on a Netflix that can be watch from time to time. Josh is really good looking and athletic and has a soft voice. He really makes the ideal actor in this generation. Lauren and Josh are real life actors and always a happy couple. I love the scenes where Josh does the renovation of the house.

Josh brings his best feature

[LeatherCajun · 8/10 · 23 December 2023]

There are several axes upon which to rate a film, but for a Josh Swickard film, the most important is clearly how good does Josh look in this film, how often is he shirtless, is his chest well lit or in shadows, and how much as he trimmed his chest hair.

On those critical factors, this is his 2d best feature film. While it offers almost the same number and quality of shirtless scenes as in the original "A California Christmas," his chest is way overly clipped here and he almost looks smooth. The original CC showed him off at his most hirsute and he looked great. There was also a gay couple and a little more heart in that movie.

Anyway, I did enjoy this flick for what is was, though "Die Hard" is arguably more of a Christmas flick. All the craftsmanship was serviceable.

Thank you Josh and Netflix for some lite fun holiday fare.

Much better than I thought it was going to be.

[LukeCustomer2 · 8/10 · 14 April 2024]

This was much better than expected. Privileged son of a wine family is tasked with a job by his mom -- they are looking to buy a vineyard and "Carter" (Josh Swickard) is to go find out what the bids are going to be. But Carter needs to blend in to get information so he can't stay in luxury. Carter while out scoping runs into the real estate agent with the vineyard listing who also happens to offer him lodging in her guest house, if he will help her fix it up. Long story short she thinks he is a handyman. Of course.... sparks fly.

This was absolutely better than regular Hallmark fare. Josh Swickard, in addition to actually being good looking, has mad charisma (and looks like Colin from Bridgerton). The supporting cast is solid. The only quibble is that the lead actress Sol Rodriguez is not that great and is the deadwood of the story. But still enjoyable.

Refreshing Upbeat and Fun!

[hemob-12519 · 10/10 · 4 February 2024]

Love this Romantic comedy. I had to watch it a few times as the actors were amazing and the script refreshing! It was fun and upbeat. I loved the insightful heartfelt words of wisdom and quirky comebacks. I can't wait for another one by this writer. It has a fresh feel! This movie will make you feel good. The synergy between the two couples the main actors and supporting actors was amazing. A wonderful combination to make it so well balanced. This movie flows so well you don't want it to end (hence my watching it several times) The movie had the perfect blend of actors and personality. The dancing scene was right up there with dirty dancing what talent. From beginning to end it did not disappoint! I look forward to seeing more!