Destined at Christmas

The first GAC Family Christmas movie I've watched in 2022 was pretty good.

A fresh story: two people meet whilst shopping on Black Friday, feel a spark...and then are separated and spend the next month or so trying to find one another with very little in the way of detail about one another - all they each have is a first name. Of course, there are the usual plot devices that you get in these movies, like a few near misses between the two main characters and the introduction of and old/new love interest. Nonetheless, still a pretty good watch. I haven't seen Shae Robbins or Casey Elliott in a film before, but they were pretty good in this one. All in all, just enough original material to keep you (well, me) interested.

This was a low key charmer of a movie.

The plot involves two people who meet while shopping on black Friday, then get separated and spend the rest of the movie looking for each other.

The chemistry between leads is good, and the lead actress is especially appealing.

I did not much care for the supporting cast.

In order to enjoy these movies, we have to forgive much, and this is no different. I would've had that girl's number long before the lead actor even thought of it, and some of the plot twists get a little far fetched.

Still, we know how it's going to come out or we wouldn't be watching it.

For my money, this is a nice start to '22, and an improvement from last year on GAC.

My wife and i really enjoyed this. This movie has none of the political platform traps that we are starting to see, which seems to go along with the GAF label, current trends free.

The synopsis for the movie is misleading, making me believe whoever wrote the thing did not in fact watch the movie. While it is true they are looking for one another after meeting, what is not said is that they each have vague clues to go by, which gives it an extra layer.

But, the real kicker is that unbeknownst to each, they are connected at so many different levels through interpersonal relationships. This adds many more multiple layers to the story.

They took some time planning out this one --Thnx.

I like the movie, but it does have an issue in the plotting design.

The couple meets at the beginning of the movie, develop an affinity for each other, then are separated, each only knowing the other's first name.

They spend the rest of the movie trying to "detective out" the other's identity, plus of course a few near misses. That makes the plot dodge most of the Christmas romance cliches (except he of course is a single dad with an adorable daughter and no mention of what happened to his wife ... but they can't dodge them ALL LOL).

The issue is that after the very early minutes of the movie, the leads can't appear together again until, or course, the very end. I don't think that's a spoiler. ;-)

I like the story and the characters, but a lot of the scenes don't build the story and just fill time. It's worth a watch but I don't see it being on our repeat list despite the fact the ending was well done.

This was a wonderful start to Great American Family Christmas. Two people looking for presents on Black Friday find more than they "bargained" for. This movie is a magical and suspenseful Christmas ride that has you holding hope until the very end that love would find a way. You will enjoy the acting, storyline, twists and turns, and most of all the happy ending.

The two leads, although not in much of the movie together, have you rooting for them from the start. The daughter does a great job as a kid actor as well, and may be from the credits the actual daughter of the main actor in the movie.

Have fun with this movie!