3 Times a Charm (2011) User Reviews

As neat a story about responsibility as you can get....

[perkypops · 6/10 · 5 August 2012]

I am absolutely staggered that this film is hovering under 5 in the scoreboard because there is nothing to dislike about it. Sure it isn't going to win awards but for it intended audience it is neat, concise, entertaining and does deal with its subject matter in a very clever way.

It is a clever take on Groundhog Day in that heroine Emma has three chances at arriving at where she sets out to be after helping a strange woman in the car park of the local shopping complex. Prior to that we have already witnessed Emma as someone who really does put herself out for everyone. During the second and third repeats of Emma's relived day or so, we see changes in behaviours which all lead to rather different outcomes. And this is done without sophistication, without being too clever, and without losing touch with the point of the film.

My only complaint was swallowed by a revelation at the end of the film and so you'll forgive me if I don't write it down here. You'll probably guess what I was going to say if you go and see it. It isn't a bad film and it is a rather good story, well acted and well shot.

Six out of ten.

Help is where you find it

[olympicator · 6/10 · 5 August 2020]

This movie was about diverting expectations. It's about about a straight-A student who finds out that she does not understand the people around her as well as she thinks she does.

I'm just going to say it - this movie would seem really surprising to, say, a 14 year-old. The plot points in this movie are clever, but they are clever in ways that we have already seen before, and we've already seen done better (watch "Groundhog Day," "Rocky," "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," and "The Breakfast Club" for starters). This movie acts against the expectations that it sets up, but it is still not terribly original. The acting was good but could have been a little more serious. Some scenes just felt too silly and sentimental.

But I enjoyed this film. I've read a lot of people dismiss Lexi Giovagnoli as an amateur, but I like watching her. Carlo Marks, by comparison, was kind of weak. The others were okay, fun if a bit two-dimensional.

It's no coincidence that Chris needs help with a history test, because history is about people making decisions and then other people living with the results of those decisions. "3 Times a Charm" is a movie about learning more about the people around you, and learning to make decisions that will benefit those people. In the end the movie felt a bit underdone and underwhelming, but at least it tried to show us that lesson, because a lot of movies these days do not.

A fun movie with a message

[herrcarter-92161 · 7/10 · 20 May 2023]

This was a fun movie to watch, and it had a good message. Was the writing and acting a bit amateurish? Yes. But its heart was in the right place and the filmmakers did the best with the talents at their disposal. Hurling harsh criticism at this movie would be like panning your child's school play because it wasn't as good as a Broadway production. I wouldn't have the heart to do it.

That being said, since my hobby is writing, I do have to point out a few things that I wish the screenwriters had done better. I felt like they simultaneously tried to do too little and too much. In time-loop/do-over movies such as this, you need more than 3 times going back (actually 2, because the first time wasn't a redo) to really develop the character arc of the main character who's supposed to be learning a lesson. Then, at the same time, they had too many characters whose lives needed to be impacted by the do-overs. There wasn't enough time to develop all those characters. A Movie of this genre that I really like was 12 Dates of Christmas. It took 12 times for her to get it right, which is about right, and they did have quite a few characters, but they only concentrated on one or two of them for each do-over. That seemed to work much better.

I also really wish they spent more time developing the relationship between Emma and Chris. I wish that Chris himself had showed Emma how much his relationship with his mom meant to him, especially since Barbara, the fairy-like character, turned out to be the ghost of Chris's mom. It would have been much more impactful.

The supporting characters were kind of weird and somewhat stereotypical, as were their relationships. They never really gave us any reason to believe that Paul and Sandy should be a couple and it wasn't believable. Honestly, both of them kind of gave off gay vibes to me. Celeste's phantom relationship with the dweeb that was shorter than her seemed really far-fetched, though it would explain why she was afraid to show him in public.

Finally, Chris's scummy dad was so over-the-top bad, he was a caricature. What disappointed me was that Chris seemed okay with the horrible way his dad treated women, and even acted like he idolized him a bit. The storyline was that he was a decent kid with good grades until his mom died and he moved in with his dad. I'd think that his dad's cheating ways were what caused his parents to split up in the first place. I would think Chris would be disgusted by his dad's behavior with women, let alone with his condoning Chris's cheating in school.

The acting from the 2 leads was adequate. I've seen Lexi Giovagnoli in other movies that I liked. This was her first lead role, and it definitely shows, but even as a young, less experienced actress, she still had a certain likability that makes up a lot for her as yet undeveloped acting skills. Carlo Marks has also done a lot of other better movies since this one, and seems to be one of Hallmark's main leading men now. His performance here was sincere and pretty engaging, though.

I'm a sucker for time loop movies and fantasy movies involving angels and other similar characters that help out the mortal protagonists in movies. I enjoyed this movie because of that and because I liked the basic premise of the story. I also liked the message that you can have good outcomes in your life without compromising your standards, and that helping other people is more important than just trying to make yourself happy. Watch this movie with a less than critical eye to its rough edges, and you will enjoy it too.

It's now on Hoopla and Pluto. Glad that some of these smaller movies that might never have seen the light of day a few years ago can now have a second life on streaming, and that new generations of fans can enjoy them.

Emma gets to redo the last two days of her junior year of high school.

[Elizabeth-2488 · 10/10 · 17 August 2012]

This film actually was quite entertaining and those of us who watched it, really enjoyed it! Some of those bad ratings where given before the film was even out, so not sure how they could rate it? Even my 19 year old son really liked it. He did not expect to watch the whole thing when we watched it, but he didn't want to miss what would happen next. It was a very cute, fun and entertaining movie about Emma who tries to make everyone happy, even if it means compromising herself. She has an opportunity to relive the last two days of her junior year and these two days will affect her future life. I like the way this story unfolds! It was one of those films where you have to stick around to find out what will happen next. It is a feel good movie and I would highly recommend it to anyone!! I enjoyed the writer's sense of humor and you will enjoy the characters in the film! I loved the first review and I agree with her overall, but I would give it a higher rating! It is an excellent coming of age movie that the whole family can enjoy!

A wonderful family film

[theluvchef-361-789683 · 10/10 · 17 August 2012]

I really enjoyed the movie, so did my grandchildren. Unlike many movies they make today, this movie was a real story that didn't rely on special effects. It wasn't a movie with sex and violence and the story had a consistent and entertaining direction. It reminded me a little bit of the movie Groundhog Day, with a unique twist. I liked how the main character was given a dilemma and how she had an opportunity to learn from her mistakes and make the best possible choice, which required hard work. There was also a great twist at the end, that I didn't see coming. I would strongly recommend this film to be shown in schools because it was a situation that could commonly happen in schools today.

The movie was funny, but more importantly, it had a very positive and moral message about a young girl taking the high road when she couldhave taken the easy way out. The characters were cute and funny and the relationship between the 2 main characters was heart warming. This film was a breath of fresh air and my family thoroughly enjoyed it too. I wish Hollywood would make more films like this, well done writer, actors and everyone else involved.

Warm and charming movie full of heart.

[sapphiremoon-54103 · 8/10 · 18 October 2020]

This is a feel good fantasy movie. If you had 3 wishes. What would you do differently. Lexi Giovagnoli plays Emma who is asked by the cute jock Chris Duvall played by the talented and handsome Carlo Marks. To cheat on a test so he can pass the test and not lose his football scholarship.

The movie is very well done with humour and great chemistry between the two leading actors. There is also extra comic relief added by the bratty brother Jeremy played by Matthew Giovagnoli.

Without giving it away there is a twist and a great ending.

Well worth seeing.