Toi et moi à Noël

Have said many times about my love of Christmas and getting a lot of pleasure out of in particular watching films, cartoons and specials during this period, something that most years has been much needed. Wanted to see some more festive films that were more recent, lower in budget and were not childhood favourites, so in a way to broaden my horizons and have been doing so since November 2019. The idea for 'Fixing Up Christmas' did sound predictable and not particularly interesting, but still watched for completest sake.

'Fixing Up Christmas' didn't really do very much for me. Some things are good, but there is also too much bad in too many crucial areas for me to recommend it. As far as Christmas films go, there are certainly far worse out there that fare even worse in the acting and storytelling stakes. There are also a lot better, that have a lot more charm and spark. There have actually been some good Christmas films out there seen in the past four years, so me not caring for 'Fixing Up Christmas' is not being said with bias.

Natalie Dreyfuss comes over quite well and the best thing about 'Fixing Up Christmas', sassy, confident and charming. She does have moments of nice chemistry with Marshall Williams, who has some charming moments.

Production values are quite nice to look at, particularly the scenery. It starts off quite charmingly.

Some charming moments apart, Williams tends to be on the stiff and too low key side and Matthew Kevin Anderson overdoes it in a role that served no point and came over as annoying. The chemistry had some nice moments, but is very thin in development, taking too long to get going and any development appears too late and is rushed, and generally is quite anaemic.

The writing too often is awkward and forced, with too many cheesy parts, with the comedy with Nick being jarringly over the top and not needed for a film that can be quite serious. The story is very predictable throughout and drags a lot as a result of overlong scenes (some of it padding) and the middle being quite thin. The last act is too contrived and convenient. The film is very bland, taking itself too seriously to be light hearted and the lack of interesting characters and underwritten storytelling stops it from having any charm or heart. The music is forgettable at best and could have been toned down and the direction is never above routine level.

All in all, didn't do it for me. 4/10.

The basic motif, for me, to see this film was Marshall Williams. He does a good job in the role of well intentioned, hard working, vulnerable ambitious and charming young Pine.

Nathalie Dreyfuss is not a bad option but her voice is far to be the most pleasant and the acting has few forced moments.

But, it is only Hallmark. The reasonable expectations just works and the story is not awful.

Sure, the steps to romance are not always realistic but the frame of modern fairy tale, the humor and the references to classic Christmas movies, food and the projected building inspired by gingerbread house are just OK.

So, nice. In few scenes, to delightful.

I actually liked this movie. I think it helped two people 'better' their careers, while essentially falling for each other.

It was a different type of Christmas movie with many elements.

The movie starts out with some of the same old plot devices. We have to get the contract and need a party planner to make our party special. If she does a great job, she'll get a promotion. The two leads have to work together to plan the party. They start out rocky and then you know the rest.

But this movie felt different for two reasons. One was the sassy, confident, fun, and quirky Holly played by Natalie Dreyfuss. And yes she had chemistry with Marshall Williams even if she was the one who stood out and him not so much. The second thing was beginning with the conflict the whole movie shifted and did some unusual things. I didn't think they all made sense, but looking back from the end explains some of it.

I actually turned this on half way through the film, which probably precludes me from an objective assessment.

However, having watched the second half of the movie, I'm very glad that I didn't watch the first half.

Watch Tom & Jerry for 10 minutes. It's a whole lot better.