A Playful Romance (2021) Poster

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7/10
Not the usual
Jackbv12322 November 2022
This movie is not a rom/com. It is more of a rom/dram or really a dram/rom. Throughout much of the first half, I was having troubling getting into the flow because I was anticipating just another Christmas movie based on the common premise of saving the town theatre while giving a performance of A Christmas Carol. The story does focus primarily on the fate of the theatre and the role that theatre has played and is playing in the lives of the principal characters. And that extends beyond just Riley and Sam.

It is tempting to see Regina as just a mean theatre owner who assumes some of the traits of the villain who wants to tear down tradition and replace it with condos. But the actors and director did a good job of playing this so that something seemed off about that assumption. There was a twist about half way that made me totally reevaluate how I was perceiving this story.

The acting is good and so is the dialogue, but don't expect a comedic dialogue. There is chemistry between Jamie Perez and Thomas McDonell, but again, don't see it the way it usually fits into the Christmas romance movie. In some ways, Maureen Keiller is the lead. Or perhaps more accurately one of the three principals. I felt like she overplayed the vindictiveness a little, but then I'm not sure how the alternative would have fit the overall scheme. I also think the climax was melodramatic almost to the point of being cheesy, but maybe it needed to be.

There was a nice caroling scene just before the twist. The theatre cast performed two carols and they were much more than the usual Silent Night.

This movie is well done. Don't take my rating as a reflection of that. Quality of acting, dialogue and plot - 9 stars. My personal enjoyment 5 stars. Net 7 stars. But not one I think I will want to watch next year.
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1/10
How to Bully an Old Lady at Christmas--Spoilers
lauraly21 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
An elderly theatre owner wants to sell the theatre she owns with her nephew, and they have made plans to do so. The theatre director, and various cast members then proceed to guilt her and bully her into not selling and handing over the title to the theatre director. The theatre is saved, who cares about the old lady? The important thing is everyone worships her dead husband throughout the whole movie, with no care for her. And the neighborhood gets to keep the theatre, which wouldn't be in such financial trouble if anyone bothered to attend. The Christmas stories from Hallmark and Lifetime are really falling short the last couple of years.

Since when does retiring and selling your property qualify you as a villain or Grinch?
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8/10
One of the best new holiday movies this 2022 season
jensenholmesPA21 November 2022
I wasn't expecting this to be one of my top tier of holiday movies this year, but here we are. I loved this. Let me count the ways.

First, an excellent script. So many of these holiday TV movies have manufactured drama and conflict, things that could easily be resolved if only people would just talk to each other. Not here. The conflict in this story is presented early on and the tension is kept up throughout. We have a true Scrooge of a villain, and she isn't a-kiddin'. Yet you can ultimately understand her motivation.

The conflict resolution in the final act is beautifully done with a Big Gesture that releases the tension/conflict in an authentic way. It made sense for the characters.

Second, there's the romance. Both leads are extremely appealing. They had great chemistry and fit well together as a couple. Jamie Perez as Riley truly sparkled. She had a strong and fun personality and was convincing as the director of a local theater company. Thomas McDonell as Sam was more laidback with a soft edge that worked with in contrast to her drive.

And then there was the A Christmas Carol theater production. I wanted to see more of it. We only got the a few short readings. But there was some nice caroling by the show's cast midway through that was impressive, and there were echoes of the Scrooge story in the main storyline.

All told, this is a keeper and is in my top five this season.
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