So, this is my 3rd Lifetime Christmas movie of the 2020 season. It was pretty difficult to get thru, I must. I found myself multitasking (e.g., grabbing for my iPad) several times, especially during the first 45 minutes or so, which is not a good sign. Don't get me wrong, the story was sweet, and the script was not that bad, though the dialogue at times was a bit 'cheesy'. However, the acting, i.e. the performances by Nicola Posener and Brad Johnson - fresh faces on the screen for me - were mediocre at best. A couple of very awkward scenes included, for example, the one where she accused him of taking the coin and the one at the end of the movie. The chemistry between the two was also quite lacking, which is not good for a romance film. I had to LOL when reading the following by another reviewer on here: 'The two leads were as wooden as a couple of planks.' Indeed, this is a nice way to sum it up, I am afraid. I mean, I am a fan of Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movies, but, unfortunately, I would not recommend this one, even to fans.
24 Reviews
where to begin !!!
linda-plant214 November 2020
The plot was a good one, and if I say the background music was ok, then there clearly is a problem if I noticed that and nothing else.
The two leads were as wooden as a couple of planks. They were just reciting the awful dialogue that the scriptwriters (?) gave them, like newsreaders reading autocues. No chemistry, no acting, nothing. Perhaps getting amateurs from the local drama group would have worked better, but more was expected from a couple of 'professionals'.
Casting director, script writers need to learn a lesson from this - a) make sure the right actor/actress will have sufficient chemistry with each other, and b) don't write dialogue that would make a 10 year old cringe.
The two leads were as wooden as a couple of planks. They were just reciting the awful dialogue that the scriptwriters (?) gave them, like newsreaders reading autocues. No chemistry, no acting, nothing. Perhaps getting amateurs from the local drama group would have worked better, but more was expected from a couple of 'professionals'.
Casting director, script writers need to learn a lesson from this - a) make sure the right actor/actress will have sufficient chemistry with each other, and b) don't write dialogue that would make a 10 year old cringe.
Zero spark
Jackbv1231 November 2020
It's not that this movie is really bad. It just lacks anything to make it good. It's bland.
The story is a fairly standard found-mystery-letter-quest. The search is pretty normal. There are no real surprises start to finish. The only tension comes from a misunderstanding that didn't really make sense on the offender's part to begin with and then was blown up out of proportion. It could have been resolved with a timely "I was wrong", but what effort was made in that regard seemed half-hearted.
Actually, a lot about the characters seemed half-hearted in terms of acting. In terms of effort, Mandy was passionate about her quest, but I didn't really feel that from Nicola Posener. Likewise in her feelings for Jonah. It didn't seem like she ever looked or smiled at him with any passion. Brad Johnson seemed half-hearted about everything. The best actor of the leading three was Renny Grames, and her part as the BFF was definitely secondary.
The dialogue was frequently boring. It was often too mundane and lacked any wit to spice it up.
To me it's sad because the writing in this movie does one thing as well as almost any. I often lament that a movie dilutes the screen time of the two leads in the romance with other people or sub-plots. This movie has them together almost non-stop until the misunderstanding. And the characters make a real effort to get to know each other. Somehow, that didn't translate into chemistry.
Then there are plot holes. A contractor whose business is in trouble spends way too much valuable time running around with a virtual stranger on a wild goose chase. He has no insurance for accidents. He promises to cook Christmas dinner for his parents yet clearly knows less about cooking than anyone on Worst Cooks in America. And his cupboard is empty. Mandy ignores her business equally, but at least her BFF is there to fill in. When searching for records on a very common last name, they find 4 unique results, all of whom are relevant.
And the thing that irritated me the most - if you are going to center a story around a coin, learn something about coin collecting. The first "expert" Mandy consulted used "proof" and "mint" interchangeably. They are entirely different types of coins. No one with any collecting familiarity would do that. Wear on a "proof" coin would reduce the value exponentially and they were tossing that coin around pretty freely. The first thing anyone with any collecting experience would have advised would have been to put the coin in a special protector, even if it had some wear, and probably would have done it himself immediately. But then a key plot point couldn't have happened.
The story is a fairly standard found-mystery-letter-quest. The search is pretty normal. There are no real surprises start to finish. The only tension comes from a misunderstanding that didn't really make sense on the offender's part to begin with and then was blown up out of proportion. It could have been resolved with a timely "I was wrong", but what effort was made in that regard seemed half-hearted.
Actually, a lot about the characters seemed half-hearted in terms of acting. In terms of effort, Mandy was passionate about her quest, but I didn't really feel that from Nicola Posener. Likewise in her feelings for Jonah. It didn't seem like she ever looked or smiled at him with any passion. Brad Johnson seemed half-hearted about everything. The best actor of the leading three was Renny Grames, and her part as the BFF was definitely secondary.
The dialogue was frequently boring. It was often too mundane and lacked any wit to spice it up.
To me it's sad because the writing in this movie does one thing as well as almost any. I often lament that a movie dilutes the screen time of the two leads in the romance with other people or sub-plots. This movie has them together almost non-stop until the misunderstanding. And the characters make a real effort to get to know each other. Somehow, that didn't translate into chemistry.
Then there are plot holes. A contractor whose business is in trouble spends way too much valuable time running around with a virtual stranger on a wild goose chase. He has no insurance for accidents. He promises to cook Christmas dinner for his parents yet clearly knows less about cooking than anyone on Worst Cooks in America. And his cupboard is empty. Mandy ignores her business equally, but at least her BFF is there to fill in. When searching for records on a very common last name, they find 4 unique results, all of whom are relevant.
And the thing that irritated me the most - if you are going to center a story around a coin, learn something about coin collecting. The first "expert" Mandy consulted used "proof" and "mint" interchangeably. They are entirely different types of coins. No one with any collecting familiarity would do that. Wear on a "proof" coin would reduce the value exponentially and they were tossing that coin around pretty freely. The first thing anyone with any collecting experience would have advised would have been to put the coin in a special protector, even if it had some wear, and probably would have done it himself immediately. But then a key plot point couldn't have happened.
Uncomfortable Age Difference
voxiburchenau8 November 2020
He's not the 60y/o actor Brad Johnson that populates first in search. He's Robyn Lively's (Teen Witch) brother-in-law, her husband is 50y/o actor Bart Johnson. Despite this, and despite him cleverly hiding his age, Nicola Posener was born in 1987, she's 33! He sure as heck ain't, and it shows.
The May-December casting turned me and my family off and we didn't finish the movie. They're working actors, I don't blame them, I blame casting that clearly spent #metoo binge-watching Porky's movies. She's this flawless-skinned, impeccably made-up, YOUNG, fit, sophisticated, YOUNG, woman with highlights; and while soft-spoken, charming and gentle, he's waaaaaayyyy older looking, with well-worn skin, and a hockey player's beak, lol! They don't even look like neighbors.
Unlike others I thought they had chemistry. His character was upbeat, nice and fun, and they connected well. I thought she strained to convey warmth and felt Ms Posener miscast for the Rockwellian setting and tempo. I'd like to see them both again, just cast with better leads in more suitable stories.
The May-December casting turned me and my family off and we didn't finish the movie. They're working actors, I don't blame them, I blame casting that clearly spent #metoo binge-watching Porky's movies. She's this flawless-skinned, impeccably made-up, YOUNG, fit, sophisticated, YOUNG, woman with highlights; and while soft-spoken, charming and gentle, he's waaaaaayyyy older looking, with well-worn skin, and a hockey player's beak, lol! They don't even look like neighbors.
Unlike others I thought they had chemistry. His character was upbeat, nice and fun, and they connected well. I thought she strained to convey warmth and felt Ms Posener miscast for the Rockwellian setting and tempo. I'd like to see them both again, just cast with better leads in more suitable stories.
few pillars
Kirpianuscus28 December 2020
Brad Johnson, a coin and a first Christmas Carol edition, a nice enigma are the pillars of this film not bad , not exactly convincing but charming for few basic pieces and, I admitt, for the great contibution of mister Johnson.
Terribly total cheese, but not totally cheesily terrible
I_Ailurophile2 December 2021
Contrivance and artifice tends to be the top priority of storytelling when it comes to Christmas movies, and holiday-themed romances in particular. And still 'A crafty Christmas romance' astonishes with how incredibly forthright it is. The hallmarks of the plot are immediately established, as are the chief characters, and the narrative advances ever so briskly. Mandy is 100% charming, as is Jonah, and stars Nicola Posener and Brad Johnson lean wholly into the cheese. So it is with the supporting characters, all brazenly eager to help. There's only minor flourishes of predictable drama around the edges to offer a small switch from the gimmick, and even these are washed over in no time at all.
Some dialogue is rather forced, and no few other bits are repeated for emphasis. From what we see of the town, it feels like a pop-up holiday village. The Christmas cheer that seeps into the obsessive search for the author of a letter, and neighborly good will, portends manufactured joy that far exceeds all suspension of disbelief. This is without question a feature for a very particular audience, only those who appreciate the utmost ham-handedness that the entire holiday season represents. For anyone else, it's a slight strain to sit through. But here we are.
I suppose if nothing else, one definite advantage of such romance flicks is that the men aren't just trying to get in the women's pants - they're genuinely being helpful for the sake of being helpful; it's a refreshing change of pace from more mainstream fare. And I have to give credit where it's due, for while the assembled actors completely immerse themselves in the fabricated gaiety - well, that says something about their willingness to inhabit characters, doesn't it? Though restricted by the nature of the picture, I think all those involved nonetheless demonstrate their skills in sufficient measure to make the portrayals believable (or at least as believable as they could be). It's pushing the absolute limits of the constructed credulity that cinema demands to engage with this movie, or those like it, yet for what it's worth, it's a touch of lighthearted feel-good sappiness that's passably entertaining.
It would be easy, and not incorrect, to nitpick everything wrong with the writing. But it's also okay to just sit back and enjoy the kitsch for the earnest pablum that it is, and despite it all, 'A crafty Christmas romance' is well made for what it is. Undeniably overdone, still this is fleetingly enjoyable for anyone open to the genre.
Recommended for Christmas fanatics, though admittedly, probably not for anyone else.
Some dialogue is rather forced, and no few other bits are repeated for emphasis. From what we see of the town, it feels like a pop-up holiday village. The Christmas cheer that seeps into the obsessive search for the author of a letter, and neighborly good will, portends manufactured joy that far exceeds all suspension of disbelief. This is without question a feature for a very particular audience, only those who appreciate the utmost ham-handedness that the entire holiday season represents. For anyone else, it's a slight strain to sit through. But here we are.
I suppose if nothing else, one definite advantage of such romance flicks is that the men aren't just trying to get in the women's pants - they're genuinely being helpful for the sake of being helpful; it's a refreshing change of pace from more mainstream fare. And I have to give credit where it's due, for while the assembled actors completely immerse themselves in the fabricated gaiety - well, that says something about their willingness to inhabit characters, doesn't it? Though restricted by the nature of the picture, I think all those involved nonetheless demonstrate their skills in sufficient measure to make the portrayals believable (or at least as believable as they could be). It's pushing the absolute limits of the constructed credulity that cinema demands to engage with this movie, or those like it, yet for what it's worth, it's a touch of lighthearted feel-good sappiness that's passably entertaining.
It would be easy, and not incorrect, to nitpick everything wrong with the writing. But it's also okay to just sit back and enjoy the kitsch for the earnest pablum that it is, and despite it all, 'A crafty Christmas romance' is well made for what it is. Undeniably overdone, still this is fleetingly enjoyable for anyone open to the genre.
Recommended for Christmas fanatics, though admittedly, probably not for anyone else.
Boring
OddlesOfNoodles17 November 2020
Boring, predictable and cheesy a Christmas movie
It's not the best Christmas movie but it's not the worst. Storyline is so so, kind of drags on. I agree with some of the other reviews - the age difference between the leads is distracting.
Nice guys CAN get the girl !
Lew77718 November 2020
I take on board everything reviewers have said so far about this film - & they're pretty correct. It's a bit amateurish, the leads don't have that spark together , the dialogue's pretty wooden & the age difference between the 2 leads doesn't feel right. However, for me, the naïve storytelling & enthusiastic acting , coupled with Brad's nice-guy -always-cheerful approach didn't make the film bomb. Overall it's a so-so rating for a so-so film and a win for the nice good guys out there !
Okay...
buckeye-713568 November 2020
Cute little Christmas mystery.
Racingphan231 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Aka Crafting Christmas, this heartwarming tale will bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye.
Nicola Posener is delightful in the lead. And Brad Johnson brings a rugged, real person look to the male lead.
Renny Grames is super cute in the best friend role.
It's time to lick the Hallmark habit and try some unique Lifetime Christmas movies.
Not an awful lot that is crafty here
TheLittleSongbird21 September 2021
Quite the opposite. 'A mediocre at best Christmas Romance' is a more appropriate title, but that is not corny enough for Lifetime. The 2020 Lifetime Christmas efforts did vary and often veered between mediocre and slightly above average and were indicative at times of rushed productions. But there were enough of them that were still watchable and more (was pleasantly surprised by some) and were not amateur efforts. Actually think on reflection that the standard was of better quality than 2019's batch.
'A Crafty Christmas Romance' though is one of the misfires and one of the worst 2020 Lifetime films. There were a few good things, not massive though, that are sadly outweighed by the flaws, with the worst flaws being absolutely terrible. Is it among the worst that they ever did? Not quite, but it is one of the closest the 2020 output got to being on the same level as the worst of Lifetime's 2019 Christmas output, which is really not a good sign.
Shall start with the good. The production values are quite decent, don't look rushed or look like no effort had been put into them. Actually saw some professionalism that was not present elsewhere. The music was also quite pleasant in a nostalgic way.
Did feel too that some of the dialogue was cute.
That is sadly pretty much it with the good. The acting ranges from bad to awful all round. Nobody looks at ease and clearly look embarrassed or confused by what they were given, not a surprise. That is particularly apparent in the wooden lead performances. The chemistry just isn't there, completely disconnected and development-wise it goes nowhere for most of the time until rushing it through in the contrived and too pat final quarter. Didn't care for any of the characters, which had no personality or/and annoyed.
Excepting moments of cuteness in the dialogue, the script a vast majority of the time is truly awkward and very stilted in a verbose way. Almost like a hastily written first draft not checked through. The story never grabbed me with a very dull first half, which felt slow, over-stretched and uneventful. When it picks up marginally too late, it's very contrived and the whole film has no warmth or charm, no nothing. The direction is routine at best and is often disorganised and hesitant.
Bottom line, not good at all. 3/10.
'A Crafty Christmas Romance' though is one of the misfires and one of the worst 2020 Lifetime films. There were a few good things, not massive though, that are sadly outweighed by the flaws, with the worst flaws being absolutely terrible. Is it among the worst that they ever did? Not quite, but it is one of the closest the 2020 output got to being on the same level as the worst of Lifetime's 2019 Christmas output, which is really not a good sign.
Shall start with the good. The production values are quite decent, don't look rushed or look like no effort had been put into them. Actually saw some professionalism that was not present elsewhere. The music was also quite pleasant in a nostalgic way.
Did feel too that some of the dialogue was cute.
That is sadly pretty much it with the good. The acting ranges from bad to awful all round. Nobody looks at ease and clearly look embarrassed or confused by what they were given, not a surprise. That is particularly apparent in the wooden lead performances. The chemistry just isn't there, completely disconnected and development-wise it goes nowhere for most of the time until rushing it through in the contrived and too pat final quarter. Didn't care for any of the characters, which had no personality or/and annoyed.
Excepting moments of cuteness in the dialogue, the script a vast majority of the time is truly awkward and very stilted in a verbose way. Almost like a hastily written first draft not checked through. The story never grabbed me with a very dull first half, which felt slow, over-stretched and uneventful. When it picks up marginally too late, it's very contrived and the whole film has no warmth or charm, no nothing. The direction is routine at best and is often disorganised and hesitant.
Bottom line, not good at all. 3/10.
Good Enough
PennyReviews30 December 2020
Huge age differenxe
teebear8177 November 2020
How does this kind of mis casting take place? The lead woman is a pretty actress who is it was not for a huge nose would be beautiful, is cast in a romantic relationship with a man who is 26 years older than her. The wife and I noticed the age difference immediately. I checked both of them.. I consulted IMDb and found out she was born in 87 and he was born in 61. also there's a huge looks difference, she is way above him in the looks Department.. there is no way their relationship was believable ....The srory was not bad, it was different. The acting was good, but the pairing of a younger pretty woman with a bland looking man old enough to be her father was absurd.
Trust the reviews, it's pretty bad
taylornan4 December 2020
Happens in real life
judymathes7 November 2020
Crafty Christmas? More like crappy.
Whitneywest1022 November 2020
I'll usually try to review things that I don't enjoy with a positive spin. But for the love of Christmas movies, I hope these two people are never cast again. Their was zero chemistry. The whole thing felt stiff and forced. I am never getting those two hours of my life back. The premise was sweet and had potential but the execution was terrible. It gets a 10/10 for background and Christmas decor. Which can usually make up for a sub par film. But all the lights and garland in the world couldn't save this disaster. Make no mistake, the 2 I have given this was for the decorations. This film was such a cringe-y mess. Would not recommend.
Move along... There's nothing to see here folks.
KinoshaKid5 December 2020
How nobody stopped this before they began shooting...? If you read the other reviews, they're pretty spot on. Boring, barely there plot, age difference etc.
I can't say I watched the whole thing so much and I got good use of the FF button. The acting wasn't as bad as others have noted save for the' Leading Man' Brad.
Wow. You've got a guy that looks like an ex-boxer-turned-hocky player in his early 60s, trying to act like the love interest of a cute 20 something!!??
Who's only"spark" was with the Priest. The only thing I read from him, was that he would rather try on her clothes than take them off- except that she's his ex boyfriends daughter. I know, that's not in the script. Honestly, I gotta give the lead actress some serious credit considering what/who she was working with.
Of course I had to zoom to the big -'I love you' ,kiss, fade out- moment. Had all the excitement of sniffing an old sock to see if it was dirty.
Ok enough ranting. My nausea has faded (yes, actually made me a little nauseous). My staring at the gorey traffic accident has passed, time to drive on.
I can't say I watched the whole thing so much and I got good use of the FF button. The acting wasn't as bad as others have noted save for the' Leading Man' Brad.
Wow. You've got a guy that looks like an ex-boxer-turned-hocky player in his early 60s, trying to act like the love interest of a cute 20 something!!??
Who's only"spark" was with the Priest. The only thing I read from him, was that he would rather try on her clothes than take them off- except that she's his ex boyfriends daughter. I know, that's not in the script. Honestly, I gotta give the lead actress some serious credit considering what/who she was working with.
Of course I had to zoom to the big -'I love you' ,kiss, fade out- moment. Had all the excitement of sniffing an old sock to see if it was dirty.
Ok enough ranting. My nausea has faded (yes, actually made me a little nauseous). My staring at the gorey traffic accident has passed, time to drive on.
Decent plot overall, but characters lack chemistry
gallod-9526425 November 2020
I watch a lot of Lifetime movies during the holidays. In most cases it the same story with a different theme. Blogger visiting a town known for their Christmas cheer. Running a bookstore or newspaper for the holidays. Boy meets, or reconnects with, girl, there is a misunderstanding along the way, but love always wins. This movie has two characters, one of which owns a do-it-yourself craft store while the other runs a construction company in financial straits. Although it has potential for a feel good Christmas movie, the lack of chemistry between the main characters makes it difficult to watch and a bit boring. But, I'm still watching to find out the rest of the story behind the coin.
Never written a review before
rlk22325 November 2020
I've never done this before. I LOVE all the Xmas movies and rank them for myself, almost all 7 or 8, but sometimes a 9 or 10 for those I really want to see again. The lowest previous ranking I've ever given is 5. This was the worst I've ever seen: acting, storyline, chemistry, and the ridiculous age difference between the leads. It's not that people that far apart in age can't fall in love, but at least a knowledge it (I.e., Murphy's Romance) rather than thinking we won't notice.
*dnf*
rebekahrox18 November 2020
Heart-warming Christmas movie
stefaniapintia10 December 2020
Hello Daddy!
adamjohns-4257522 December 2021
A Crafty Christmas Romance (2020) -
It wasn't really worth calling this film a "Crafty" Christmas just because she owned a craft shop, when in actual fact it was more about reuniting someone with a lost book, but it wasn't a bad story at all. It was very cheesey, but nicely so and it did at least have a very Christmassy feel and warmth to it.
The acting wasn't the best that I've ever seen and the last time that I reviewed this one I actually slated them all and the director for making it so twee, but upon reflection, it was probably meant to be more warm and fuzzy than a cinematic masterpiece and in that respect it was successful.
Brad Johnson as Jonah certainly had a charm about him and a lovely smile, but it was fairly obvious that they were trying to cover up the fact that he was 28 years older than his love interest Mandy, played by Nicola Posener.
There were definitely similarities to 'The Charm Bracelet' (2020), which was done better, but it was a nice concept regardless, because who wouldn't want to be reunited with something they'd lost? And wouldn't the world be a great place if people actually made an effort to do things for others in ways like that? That's probably why I keep tuning in to films like these, because they show what the world could be like if we were all just that little bit more pleasant to each other and selflessly did things for others. I'd rather live like that.
I think that the budget that they didn't spend on A-list actors or the director must have gone on the fabulous decorations and beauty shots, because they were quite beautiful and very well presented.
It was a cute enough film, but I wouldn't expect to add it to an annual viewing list.
4.75/10.
It wasn't really worth calling this film a "Crafty" Christmas just because she owned a craft shop, when in actual fact it was more about reuniting someone with a lost book, but it wasn't a bad story at all. It was very cheesey, but nicely so and it did at least have a very Christmassy feel and warmth to it.
The acting wasn't the best that I've ever seen and the last time that I reviewed this one I actually slated them all and the director for making it so twee, but upon reflection, it was probably meant to be more warm and fuzzy than a cinematic masterpiece and in that respect it was successful.
Brad Johnson as Jonah certainly had a charm about him and a lovely smile, but it was fairly obvious that they were trying to cover up the fact that he was 28 years older than his love interest Mandy, played by Nicola Posener.
There were definitely similarities to 'The Charm Bracelet' (2020), which was done better, but it was a nice concept regardless, because who wouldn't want to be reunited with something they'd lost? And wouldn't the world be a great place if people actually made an effort to do things for others in ways like that? That's probably why I keep tuning in to films like these, because they show what the world could be like if we were all just that little bit more pleasant to each other and selflessly did things for others. I'd rather live like that.
I think that the budget that they didn't spend on A-list actors or the director must have gone on the fabulous decorations and beauty shots, because they were quite beautiful and very well presented.
It was a cute enough film, but I wouldn't expect to add it to an annual viewing list.
4.75/10.
Below average in most departments
Sergiodave8 April 2022
I don't have a problem with age differences in movies but Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales are more believable than this coupling. The acting is pretty hammy, but that could also be partly due to the script, the dialogue is awful. The story is dull and the whole production feels very cheap. One to avoid.
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