A Christmas Proposal (2008 TV Movie) User Reviews

Okay at Best

[Christmas-Reviewer · 6/10 · 23 October 2016]

I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 Christmas MOVIES.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW Christmas MOVIES AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN!

Lisa Donahue will do whatever possible to stop the demolition of the small ski town of Fillmore. She soon finds herself pitted against Rick Kirkland - her old boyfriend from high school and law school who is now the attorney handling the case. After winning the case, Rick's car ends up breaking down and he and his soon-to-be fiancé Reagan get stuck in Fillmore. He soon starts to second guess his proposals to both his job and his fiancé while rekindling his love for Lisa.

The Christmas TV-movie Cliché pile on and on in this one. To me this film was a huge wasted opportunity.

What I did not like was the fact the Rick's girlfriend/finance is written as being a "Rude City Girl" who keeps putting down the everything in this small town. When Ricks friends start sabotaging his relationship with her so he can get back together with Lisa the film would of worked 10x better if his girlfriend was nice! Then the Ricks old friends would of looked like jerks. It also would of had a been a better film is his girlfriend breaks up with him because she sees "He is happier" in his hometown. The icing on the cake is when she sees that his former girlfriend is smart and nice. Shee knows that they belong together. She then tells Rick to go back to Lisa because they truly are soulmates.

None of that happens. We get the same old, same old.

Now another gripe is that this film has too many musical montages and none of them are entertaining.

Worn out theme makes this a humdrum Christmas film

[SimonJack · 4/10 · 12 January 2019]

"A Christmas Proposal" is a tired and worn out plot for a Holidays film. A small town boy (or girl) makes it big in the city and returns to the hometown with a fiancé or sweetheart in tow. They don't really want to be there but it's for business. That usually translates to a shady deal that the good guy (or girl) doesn't know about. So, naturally, he (or she) falls again for the childhood sweetheart left behind.

There's usually nothing hidden about these plots. It's just a matter of the viewers seeing how it plays out. The big city girlfriend or boyfriend is usually spoiled rich and disdainful of the "country hicks."

With no different or interesting angles in this plot, and nothing else exceptional about the script or even just very good in the acting, there is nothing to recommend this movie. It's not terrible but just very humdrum. For a Christmas film, this one is a little more risky. Although there's no nudity, the couple are sleeping together and not engaged. The little bit of scenic camera work earns it one notch more than otherwise - from three to four stars.

NOT THAT GOOD

[linda-plant2 · 4/10 · 3 January 2020]

Why was there a huge disparity between snowy scenes and men walking about in shirt sleeves like the middle of summer ???

The one thing I DID like, was the outtakes at the end of the film, its always amusing to watch them on any show or film. Maybe Hallmark should do that more, at least we'd have something to look forward to if the film is bad !

Truly awful

[caseybones · 2/10 · 15 December 2011]

Predictable plot, horrible acting, totally formulaic. A total waste of time. The "bad guys" are over the top bad and the "good guys" are so sugar sweet that I felt like I needed some insulin. It's supposedly in the mountains at Christmas time but they apparently used some back lot location for a show set in the summer because there are leaves on all of the trees and summer flowers are blooming all over the place. The characters don't even bother to pretend it's cold outside and in some scenes one character will be in a t-shirt while another will be in a coat and scarf. And naturally the final scene has the requisite cheesy snowfall. It's like a movie put together by a bunch of teenagers for a school project.

There's two hours of my life I'll never get back!

Lame and Really Bad

[vlholden52 · 1/10 · 2 December 2012]

I have to agree with the other viewers, this one is a waste of time and, believe me, I have wasted my time with Lifetime movies aplenty but this is below average. I was really confused with the lush mountainside and all the flowers abloom and, yet, the townspeople are wearing Christmas sweaters, ties, etc. Please, give us a break. Even at Tom Arnold's place that I believe is supposed to be around New York City has green leafy trees and grass. Looks more like June?? Story is predictable and boring. I enjoyed seeing Patty McCormack (spelling??) and she looked good. I wanted to check out Nicole Eggert as well. Did, now that's enough! Please don't waste your time with this one--I can't see how anyone could have the Christmas spirit with this piece of nothing!

Terrible

[RockExaminerJes · 1/10 · 25 December 2011]

Not even worth watching when it comes on TV during Christmastime. Definitely some of the laziest film making I have ever seen. The movie is supposed to take place on the east coast during December (they mention stopping in Connecticut on the way home) except the cast is constantly wearing short sleeves, and the trees are full and there are flowers in bloom. Also the main character's car looks like it has a California license plate (although they never focus on it). Its not that hard to at least dress your characters in sweaters and act like its cold...especially when at the end it starts snowing for a moment so I assume they would be a little cold without coats on! The characters are also incredibly shallowly written, and you can't really care about them at all.

O Little Town of Fillmore

[wes-connors · 3/10 · 14 November 2013]

During the Christmas season, wealthy land developer Tom Arnold (as Alexander Malone) wants to turn small town Fillmore into a ski resort. He sends future son-in-law David O'Donnell (as Rick) and snobby daughter Sarah Thompson (as Reagan) to seal the deal. In the town, which is suffering from a notable lack of snow, Mr. O'Donnell meets opposition from old law school girlfriend Nicole Eggert (as Lisa). It's nice to see veteran Patty McCormack (as mother Maggie). Neither the plot about the town nor the rekindling of an old romance has much appeal. Everyone has nice, snowy-white teeth.

*** A Christmas Proposal (12/21/08) Michael Feifer ~ David O'Donnell, Nicole Eggert, Tom Arnold, Sarah Thompson

Dire,

[julienicholson-12168 · 4 December 2017]

Possibly the worst movie ever.

Entirely predictable story line, city girl friend vs old hometown sweetheart.

I didn't like or care for any character, everyone was so rude to the city girl yet still the boyfriend drags her along to gatherings so the nice small town people can continue to be rude to her.

It's not often I use the word hate, but i really hated this movie. I didn't feel festive, I felt cross. I couldn't understand why the boyfriend let the small town people be so rude and yet he never once said anything in return.

Normally I can find at least one positive, sadly this time I can't.

No.

[kmanthei-12391 · 1/10 · 2 December 2015]

I agree with the other reviewers, but I don't even care about the inconsistencies in wardrobe/location/weather, nor about the cartoonish acting (this is lifetime holiday afterall). Without those two huge issues, this is still THE WORST all around.

Here is my list of "I'm probably taking this too seriously" peeves:

• Every character is a bad person, from the evil developers to the "friends" conspiring to ruin a relationship they know nothing about in order to rekindle a long-dead one that both involved parties vocally deny wanting. - Big city people bad, small town people good. - Why does every main character that leaves a small town have a soul mate waiting back there to destroy their current life (aka rekindle their endless love and move back home with mom and dad)? - OMG an old building is about to be torn down...HISTORICAL LANDMARK. (But wait for it, even though the proof is in minute 10, the discovery is not until the last possible second.)

That's what I've got so far. I'll let you know what else I see when I re-watch it tonight.

I propose that you only watch this one if you are a dyed-in-the-wool romcom fan

[inkblot11 · 6/10 · 3 December 2019]

Rick (David O' Donnell) thinks he has the world on a string. First, he works for a rich developer (Tom Arnold) and is getting wealthy. Next, he has had the good fortune to become quasi-engaged to the boss' daughter, Reagan (Sarah Thompson), who also works for daddy dearest. But, ho ho ho, the power couple is sent to Rick's small hometown to tell the folks of the Big Boss' new plan. This is bulldoze the town, with compensation to home owners, and make it into a ski resort/spa. Everyone can just build a new house somewhere near the new resort. Naturally, some folks are very resistant to this concept, including Rick's ex-girlfriend, Lisa (Nicole Eggert). As the small town's main lawyer, Lisa has the power to know how to fight. At a town meeting, it appears fight she will. As Rick and Reagan speed away to tell Papa, Rick is so upset he wrecks the auto. Now, the couple is "stuck" in Dullsville, with entertainment options like bowling and going on a hayride. But, as Rick spends more time in his childhood home and with his lovely ex-gal, long forgotten sparks may be rekindled! This film is fair but has some tedious moments. The cast is just fine, with the above players being good and supported by the very funny David DeLuise as the autoshop owner. Scenery and costumes are above average, too. The problem lies in the script and direction, with a slow pace that ruins some of the film's progress and the outcome being predictable from the first ten minutes. Nevertheless, romcom fans will probably like it while they wrap presents for the season and sip cocoa.

Bad

[Jackbv123 · 3/10 · 30 December 2017]

All the comments about weather are true, but this is a minor issue because most of the holiday movies have this same phenomenon to some extent or another because it is well known that the movies are made year round. I am curious about all the scarves that Nicole Eggert wore almost constantly during the movie, yet usually without a coat, even indoors, and I wouldn't call any of them stylish.

I have a much bigger problem with Reagan. She isn't just unlikeable, she is hate-worthy. She constantly makes comments which aren't just rude, but mean. This woman is mean spirited even to her boyfriend. She and Rick never have any chemistry in this movie which you would at least expect in the beginning.

Lisa isn't much better, but at least she isn't mean. There isn't a lot of chemistry here either.

Rick has no idea what he wants. He stumbles into renewing his relationship with Lisa. One wonders how he could be a successful corporate lawyer.

The whole business deal is convoluted and confusing. The whole thing is just out there and assumed to be fundamentally bad. There are times during the movie where the biggest message I was getting was - all progress is bad and the way things are is good. This theme is overdone and made into a cliché.

There are too many meaningless musical interludes - fluffy filler.

There are many other problems which involve spoilers, so I'll just leave it at that.

Snooze

[OddlesOfNoodles · 3/10 · 17 November 2020]

Ugh no thanks This movie was so boring and the acting was terrible. I've watched a lot of Christmas movies and I could barley finish this one.

Worst movie ever? Maybe not, but pretty close to it.

[bandafrog · 24 December 2012]

This is a movie filled with marginal talents doing less than their limited best in a truly insipid film. I concur with previous reviews and offer this warning: stay away. Far away. You're better off watching a loop of a Yule log burning. Probably the funniest aspect of it is the way they kept showing Nicole Eggert from the neck up, avoiding any angles that might show how much weight she's carrying. Truth to tell, this is a cynical Christmas movie effort. The people who made it were just trying to exploit the public's insatiable appetite for insipid Christmas fare and can't accept the very attractive Nicole Eggert with extra weight on her.

Bad, bad

[patricia_gonzalezram · 1/10 · 24 December 2018]

I had to change the channel. I tried, but it was SO BORING.

An insult.

[rebekahrox · 1/10 · 10 December 2018]

This movie is so lazily written directed and acted that it is actually offensive. And the most annoying soundtrack ever pushes it over the cliff.

Don't watch

[mjsmaryjean · 1/10 · 21 January 2024]

Was c to be a cozy home town. About 2 lawyers. One wantscto tear down the town to b put up ski resort and destroy the town. First scene shows this beautiful country inn. Which should have been in contry with land. But no, there is a cemetery across the road. Who in their right mind Pickvthat location. They must have been on no budget or drunk. It ruined it for me. If beginning is like that, then rest of movie must be pretty bad.this was not a Christmas movie but a disaster don't bother with it. Any one stupid enough to pick bad locations should be fired. You then expect bad acting. And I only watched 5/10 minutes.

Absolutely terrible.

[dfdzyt · 2/10 · 26 November 2022]

Another awful "hallmark-esque" movie with terrible acting and a comically unbelievable script. Right from the cringe-worthy beginning you can tell how bad it's going to be. I'm inclined to think based on the script and wholesomeness that this was written with Christian values in mind, not that that's a bad thing, but it will give you an idea of what you're getting yourself into. For any of us living in the real world you will be sorely disappointed. If you were to play it off as a satire you might be able to laugh off a bit of it or possibly turn it into a drinking game? Please do yourself a favor and avoid this at all costs.

I couldn't say.

[adamjohns-42575 · 18 November 2020]

Even the fact that David O'Donnell was looking extremely hot, in a very Patrick Dempsey kind of way, could not get me to finish this film. It was daft from the beginning, pretty much at the moment Tom Arnold appeared. I should have switched it off then, but even only five minutes later I knew it was a no goer for me, which is a shame because I do like David Deluise and he hasn't even turned up by that point.

I have no idea what the story is about to review in depth, but I'd say don't bother unless you like silly Tom Arnold films.

Unrated as unfinished.