As with the first installment, 'A California Christmas: City Lights' (the sequel) is not much of a Christmas film, though to be fair, it is more Christmassy than the first. That said, it has an authentic and genuine feel to it, which I enjoyed. The storyline is an emotional journey that tries to develop a better sense of who the protagonists are individually and what their relationship means to them, as they set off on their new path. Fans of the first will no doubt enjoy 'City Lights', while those looking for a traditional Christmas romance/rom-com will likely find the 'slow pace' nature (and lack of drama) wanting/unappealing. Moreover, the 'Christmas' in 'A California Christmas' acts more as a backdrop to a romance movie as opposed to one about the holiday itself. The sequel follows Callie (played by Lauren Swickard) and Joseph (played by Josh Swickard) a year after they met and fell in love on the farm. They are happier than ever running the family farm and vineyard. However, their romance is threatened when Joseph's business/family obligations call him back to San Francisco. The writer (Lauren Swickard) does a good job of tapping into the deep love these two have for each other through the obstacles they face in the story, in the city. This is especially true for Callie, I felt. The writer and director did a good job of pulling you into her story. I found it easy to engage with Callie's feelings and emotions. I also enjoyed the sub-plot, which involved Manny (played by David Del Rio), a fan favorite from the first film, and Brandy (played by Raquel Dominguez), which made me laugh/chuckle several times during the film. However, the movie, at times, was 'slow' (even tiresome), I'm afraid. It could have used a bit more 'drama'. The acting in this one was just as good as the first, I thought. Lauren and Josh Swickard had great chemistry again on-screen. Lauren, in particular, did a wonderful job of portraying the emotional ups and downs of Callie's story, which I found appealing. Del Rio made me laugh again in this one, as noted above. He had a couple of funny scenes wooing Brandy, which were entertaining. The rest of the cast was solid, Laura James's performance (as Victoria) felt a bit off, at times. All in all, 'City Lights' is a new and different storyline than the first, putting a fresh spin on things for fans. It is an emotional story about love and what that means in a relationship, and about learning who we are and who we want to be. Although not a Christmas movie in the traditional sense, the movie does have a 'Christmas light' feel to it, and there is even a tree decoration scene. All in all, if you enjoyed the first installment of 'A California Christmas', you will no doubt enjoy 'City Lights'. If you are looking for a bit of romance with a touch of Christmas, then this one might be for you.
48 Reviews
Keep coming back, Please!!
incubus-091417 December 2021
Since the last one was unexpectedly really good, I was looking forward to seeing this new one as well.
I've watched a handful of Christmas rom-coms and I found that the lines between really good Christmas movies and not good ones are quite thin. This 'A California Christmas' maintains the classic elements of a cheesy Cinderella story, at the same time ,it's not too fantasy like. The scenario seems more grounded; characters facing more realistic challenges.
I still don't like seeing some rather small quarrels treated so dramatic for the sake of the story arch (why don't they try talking out if they love each other?), but I guess that's also a staple of this type of film.
To compensate for that, the two main characters have an amazing chemistry! They really look they care for each other, and willing to compromise for their partner's happiness.
Oh, I love Manny as a comic relief, he does it so well! That's a bonus.
I've watched a handful of Christmas rom-coms and I found that the lines between really good Christmas movies and not good ones are quite thin. This 'A California Christmas' maintains the classic elements of a cheesy Cinderella story, at the same time ,it's not too fantasy like. The scenario seems more grounded; characters facing more realistic challenges.
I still don't like seeing some rather small quarrels treated so dramatic for the sake of the story arch (why don't they try talking out if they love each other?), but I guess that's also a staple of this type of film.
To compensate for that, the two main characters have an amazing chemistry! They really look they care for each other, and willing to compromise for their partner's happiness.
Oh, I love Manny as a comic relief, he does it so well! That's a bonus.
Subpar Sequel
megan_chatterton26 December 2021
Ha??
Kaninusferoingus21 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I was reading all the comments and wondering if we actually looked at the same movie.
It was utterly insipid. And full of cliché. The pair is so much in love, but still, somehow, it is enough a trip to San Francisco to break them apart in a split of a second, just because, surprise, surprise, she was "not" aware of his colorful past. Really? Then the sister throws a tantrum because she is "ignored" a couple of days. The farm works by itself, while the workers play games all the day into the night (does anyone from the filming crew know what amount of work and how little glorious the work in a farm is). Then the main lead believes the machinations of the "villain", because, isn't it?, it is easier to believe a sour loser than the woman you love and who has never given you a reason to doubt her. The screenplay is simply insulting everybody's intelligence.
Sorry, no. It was a waste of time, I looked at it just because the first one was quite sweet. But this bored me to the bone and, to be honest, I am amazed about how many ow's and aw's in the reviews. So little demands have people from movies nowadays?
It was utterly insipid. And full of cliché. The pair is so much in love, but still, somehow, it is enough a trip to San Francisco to break them apart in a split of a second, just because, surprise, surprise, she was "not" aware of his colorful past. Really? Then the sister throws a tantrum because she is "ignored" a couple of days. The farm works by itself, while the workers play games all the day into the night (does anyone from the filming crew know what amount of work and how little glorious the work in a farm is). Then the main lead believes the machinations of the "villain", because, isn't it?, it is easier to believe a sour loser than the woman you love and who has never given you a reason to doubt her. The screenplay is simply insulting everybody's intelligence.
Sorry, no. It was a waste of time, I looked at it just because the first one was quite sweet. But this bored me to the bone and, to be honest, I am amazed about how many ow's and aw's in the reviews. So little demands have people from movies nowadays?
Not as good as the first one
IsabelMovie26 December 2021
Maybe it was a mistake watching this right after the first one. It wasn't bad but somehow missed the charme of the first movie. They still had a storyline around the farm but that seemed pretty random too. At that point I started to get the vibe that Manny and the guy from Josephs old work were sublty going somewhere so it didn't make sense to me.
It's still a nice romance and I always enjoy sequels to find out what happened but it's not cheesy enough for a good christmas watch.
It's still a nice romance and I always enjoy sequels to find out what happened but it's not cheesy enough for a good christmas watch.
More complicated but less emotional
witra_as24 December 2021
More complicated but less emotional than its prequel because Shaun Paul Piccinino tried to focus more than one relationship. Josh & Lauren Swickard still showed loveable chemistry but no depth and quick fix to their troubled relationship.
So unrealistic.
leikisama20 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I absolutely hate it when they make the ordinary person so disgusted by money. No person would say no to penthouse suites, beutiful clothes, and amazing food. Because they just desperately wants to be at a soup kitchen and spend time elbow deep in cows.
Terrible
kyday-7252317 December 2021
I love a cheesy Christmas movie and I loved the first California Christmas but this is so bad it is almost unwatchable! I kept hanging in there waiting for it to get better and it just didn't... don't waste your time!!
Horrible sequel to a great movie
beezer-9722520 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Zero Christmas in this "Christmas movie" other than the title. The side romance of Manny was just dumb and the main characters seemed to be off putting this go around. The female lead got chunky or was pregnant during filming but either way the wardrobe dept should be fired because they didn't do her any favors. It felt super cheesy even for a romcom. Don't waste your time on this sequel but do watch the first one because it was great!
Love this
TaoOfPoochie16 December 2021
I love this type of movie, and I love holiday movies so when they come together like this it's great. This one is as much fun as the first one but has a lot more scenery as half the movie is in the city and half on the farm. Lauren and Josh Swickard are great, fantastic chemistry. Ali Afshar is great. Script a lot of fun with many laughs. I wish netflix would just shoot a few of these so we could binge it.
Awful isn't a strong enough word!
ronpence-4736717 December 2021
We watched this couple's first California Christmas movie last week and were excited to see this sequel. WHAT A PIECE OF GARBAGE THIS SECOND MOVIE IS! It reminds us if Lifetime and Hallmark movies, complete with background music throughout. Don't waist your time with this one.
Boring
rl-0206016 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
All these movies are the same its getting played out do you have one director to write these movies.. Girl meets hot guy falls in love.. Ex gf tries to ruin new relationship.. friend comes to visit falls in love with guy that works there.. Only good thing about this movie was helping them out in the play..lousy and boring waste of time.. Please come up with new plots.
Rubbish Movie
ntombizue28 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It's a really bad and unrealistic movie, and I mean most love movies are ridiculous but this one is extra stupid. This is not love, the war no compromise, he had to sacrifice everything, she was annoyingly weak and needy, and their relationship won't last. The little sister is annoying. Just a rubbish film.
Who gets paid to write this drivel?
sixjax19 December 2021
The most uninspired, holiday romance movie. And I've watched a lot of Hallmark movies. Zero chemistry between the two lead actors and the side story romance between the secondary actors was simply stupid. There's no justification for this horrible excuse of a romcom. Go watch anything else, if you have an couple hours to waste.
Ok
phia_phish25 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was ok. Kinda cute cliche story. My issue is with how many plot holes there are. So much is not explained, unnecessary stuff is added in and in both movies the "villains" actions are never really addressed and they just get their own love interest in the end. Why? Also why to the whole last seen. No one needed this. I understand the lead actors (who are married in real life) just had a baby but we don't need a 3rd movie about it.
Just like last year...
getthedamnbell16 December 2021
Just like last year, this is a great break from all the unbelievable crap going on in the world. It's great just kicking back and following Joseph and Callie on their city Christmas adventure. Fun, feel good holiday entertainment!
Not good
nicorip2229 August 2022
I did not think it was a good movie, it does not have great performances.
What would come to make the problem to be solved in the movie seemed quite silly and solved very quickly.
I think the story of the secondary actors is much more interesting and funny. When that happens something is not going very well with the movie.
It is the typical movie to pass the time without having to think much.
Sorry....
I did not think it was a good movie, it does not have great performances.
What would come to make the problem to be solved in the movie seemed quite silly and solved very quickly.
I think the story of the secondary actors is much more interesting and funny. When that happens something is not going very well with the movie.
It is the typical movie to pass the time without having to think much.
What would come to make the problem to be solved in the movie seemed quite silly and solved very quickly.
I think the story of the secondary actors is much more interesting and funny. When that happens something is not going very well with the movie.
It is the typical movie to pass the time without having to think much.
Sorry....
I did not think it was a good movie, it does not have great performances.
What would come to make the problem to be solved in the movie seemed quite silly and solved very quickly.
I think the story of the secondary actors is much more interesting and funny. When that happens something is not going very well with the movie.
It is the typical movie to pass the time without having to think much.
Is Callie's Full Name "California"?
wesley-hackelton21 December 2021
Please, if someone knows, can you tell me? I need to know. It just feels like it would be a missed opportunity to name the movies "A California Christmas", and to name the main character "Callie", and *not* have Callie be short for California.
Cheesy
sassyjln19 December 2022
I would have given this movie a better rating if it had of been close to the same quality as the first movie. But the stupid slow mo music scenes were almost too much to bare, as was much of the other content. I just hoping that they will spare us from a third movie, but regardless, I won't be wasting two hours of my time on a third. I'm actually surprised by how many five star and higher reviews that there are. One good thing that I can say about these movies is the beautiful scenery that is shown. More so in the first movie (which I already mentioned was better than the first) than in the second.
Too many flaws
debi_taylor3 September 2022
If the places were fictional... It would be understandable, but they go to all the trouble and expense to take a helicopter ride from Petaluma to Marina Green, which would take the about the same amount of time as it would to drive. Less than 45 minutes.
Then driving around the city in a rental sports car, when you can afford a private helicopter makes no sense. And each cut was at different alternating locations at least 5 miles from the last, each time travelling in a totally opposite direction to no where. The helicopter may as well have landed on top of the hotel in the first place.
The movie is set in early December, yet it's clearly not filmed at that time of the year. And although it doesn't snow in San Francisco, you can hardly get around the city without wearing coats and multiple layer, not backless dresses.
All of the continuity holes were so irritating because they were so obvious to anyone whose been to San Francisco, but could have easily been avoided. It just made it incredibly difficult to watch.
The secondary characters back on the farm, and their storyline were way more interesting.
Then driving around the city in a rental sports car, when you can afford a private helicopter makes no sense. And each cut was at different alternating locations at least 5 miles from the last, each time travelling in a totally opposite direction to no where. The helicopter may as well have landed on top of the hotel in the first place.
The movie is set in early December, yet it's clearly not filmed at that time of the year. And although it doesn't snow in San Francisco, you can hardly get around the city without wearing coats and multiple layer, not backless dresses.
All of the continuity holes were so irritating because they were so obvious to anyone whose been to San Francisco, but could have easily been avoided. It just made it incredibly difficult to watch.
The secondary characters back on the farm, and their storyline were way more interesting.
A great sequel to the first Cali Christmas
redloveskools16 December 2021
You never know what to expect with a sequel, usually disappointing. California Christmas City Lights was fantastic. The story had a great pace and Lauren Swickard once again carried the film with her incredible talent. Her chemistry with her hubby is nice to see also. Sometimes you see actors and they have no chemistry and tanks the film or show.
David del Rio did not disappoint. So funny. Love the Brandy character.
Well written, well done!!
David del Rio did not disappoint. So funny. Love the Brandy character.
Well written, well done!!
Manny is the funniest, movie is okyish
darkharlezucreek17 November 2022
Typical cheesy Xmas Netflix movie. My almost 10 yr old is REALLY into these. Part one kept her entertained, bit she is not as into this sequel, and is kind of bored. It checks all the boxes (dude with no shirt, Gala, big city, small town, dead parent...etc) but doesn't feel too christmassy. Manny is funny. The cows are cute, some of the acting is halfway decent. There is wine, wine wine and more wine. Manny disco washing the truck was our favorite part. It's not as good as part one (if you can call part one good) but it works for what it is meant to be. Personally I like th NYC/small New England Town versions better when it comes to these. Christmas movies need snow.
Animals badly treated
adk-5955319 March 2022
A donkey should not be inside a room for hours , just to figure in a christmas scene
And !!!
Calves should not live in small boxes !!! This is awfull !!! They should be able to run ! They don't have enough space to move freely and these plastic shelters don't protect them from the heat !
This is sad !
And !!!
Calves should not live in small boxes !!! This is awfull !!! They should be able to run ! They don't have enough space to move freely and these plastic shelters don't protect them from the heat !
This is sad !
escapist holiday fun
snaisux4kash17 December 2021
Was stuck watching 18 hours of bollywood trash on an international flight home for the holidays and this was waiting for me when i got home. It was heaven after all that cr-p! These two are so cute together. It's a lighthearted fun holiday romance, and it's great at being that. Like a lot of christmas romcoms its light on the christmas but heavy on fun and good feelings. Would love to see more of these two.
See also
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