6.4 stars.
I am sad. :(
Most everyone really loves Candace Cameron Bure, but I cannot say that I share the same sentiment. Most of her characters have the same general personality traits, which include a certain uptight feeling. She can be charming, and nice, and even fun sometimes, but I can't see past the strained, almost unapproachable exterior that is always present with every one of her personalities as an actress. I think her actual personality is what we are seeing in every one of her deliveries. I am going out on a limb with this opinion, and I think many will be offended (by many, I mean 71.4% of the 7 people that ever read this review).
People are saying she improves this movie, makes it hers, takes a bland script, uplifts it, saves the film... without her it would fall flat etc... I disagree. I think she brings some stability to it, but in no way does she improve or uplift it. I think people have gotten used to expecting a certain delivery from her and when they don't get that, they are disappointed. These are the ones who love her. I am not one of those (sorry, I really want to love her but the heart wants what the heart wants...). It is the supporting cast that carry this film to the average place that it rests. They were lively, entertaining, and fun to watch. The lead male (maybe one of the most prolific leading men in Hallmark) did just fine, but nothing special.
Unfortunately, a Christmas movie that focuses 100% on the philanthropy of an unknown CEO is bound to fall flat. We don't know anything about the mysterious "wicked", powerful businessman that's calling all the shots. Who are we battling against, who are we rooting for, what are we fighting for? As soon as I asked myself those questions, I knew exactly how this would end, and I knew what her response would be, and all of this based on some strange and unrealistic set of values that do not exist in our society. Frankly, I wish we had such values, but they would be misplaced. The spirit of a thing is more than the sum of its truthful pieces.
I am sad. :(
Most everyone really loves Candace Cameron Bure, but I cannot say that I share the same sentiment. Most of her characters have the same general personality traits, which include a certain uptight feeling. She can be charming, and nice, and even fun sometimes, but I can't see past the strained, almost unapproachable exterior that is always present with every one of her personalities as an actress. I think her actual personality is what we are seeing in every one of her deliveries. I am going out on a limb with this opinion, and I think many will be offended (by many, I mean 71.4% of the 7 people that ever read this review).
People are saying she improves this movie, makes it hers, takes a bland script, uplifts it, saves the film... without her it would fall flat etc... I disagree. I think she brings some stability to it, but in no way does she improve or uplift it. I think people have gotten used to expecting a certain delivery from her and when they don't get that, they are disappointed. These are the ones who love her. I am not one of those (sorry, I really want to love her but the heart wants what the heart wants...). It is the supporting cast that carry this film to the average place that it rests. They were lively, entertaining, and fun to watch. The lead male (maybe one of the most prolific leading men in Hallmark) did just fine, but nothing special.
Unfortunately, a Christmas movie that focuses 100% on the philanthropy of an unknown CEO is bound to fall flat. We don't know anything about the mysterious "wicked", powerful businessman that's calling all the shots. Who are we battling against, who are we rooting for, what are we fighting for? As soon as I asked myself those questions, I knew exactly how this would end, and I knew what her response would be, and all of this based on some strange and unrealistic set of values that do not exist in our society. Frankly, I wish we had such values, but they would be misplaced. The spirit of a thing is more than the sum of its truthful pieces.