Greetings, salutations, and a seasonal welcome to all you movie aficionados. Here are my considerations and recommendation for A Date By Christmas Eve.
Story: 1.50/2 - Direction and Pace: 2.00/4 - Performances: 1.25/2 - Enjoyment: 1.50/2
Total 6.25/10
If you wanna fall in love by Christmas Eve, well, there's an app for that! And the thanks for that incredible software go to Julie McNiven, who stole the idea from her colleague Chelsea Simms. But Chelsea doesn't need to worry, some people know about the injustice. One of whom is Mrs Kringle, who bestows Chelsea's app with a smidgen of Elfen Santa Magic - The glamour to award Christmas gifts to nudge people back onto the Nice List. But of course, with great power comes blah, blah, blah. You know the given gifts will return to her double and triple fold. And luckily for the viewer, the writer and director, Jake Helgren, utilises these to add humour, unveil truths, and build characterisations: It's one reason the story works so well. Helgren is an outstanding scribe. He develops fascinating characters and gives them witty and heartfelt dialogue. I especially adored the segment where Rod, Chelsea's beau, proposes to her because of the gift she bestowed upon him. It works brilliantly, not just because of the writing, but all the performers are on point, their delivery is spot on for the comedic elements, and Helgren's cinematography adds the cherry to the icing on Rod's proposal cake.
As I stated, the acting is excellent, and all the performers deliver their portrayals flawlessly. It's a shame that a few characters are a tad on the stereotypical side, but the actors and actresses make up for their conventionality. For example, Rod is Mr Perfect, but Taylor Frey adds a slight campiness and overcooks the character to raise laughs, and it works. Plus, it was nice to see Morgan Fairchild again, this time as Mrs Kringle - she looks great for her age.
Though Helgren films the story in a predominantly conventional style, he adds the odd pleasing composition and subtly different camera angles. The more pedestrian filming allows the performers to shine and the story to unfold. However, I would've liked a little more of the heart-warming atmosphere, which comes and goes.
But, as it stands, A Date For Christmas Eve was a highly entertaining pleasure to watch. Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend the movie for your viewing pleasure this season of goodwill.
Please check out my HO! HO! HO! Christmas Belles list to see where I ranked the movie.
Take Care, Stay Well, And Best Wishes For A Merry Christmas.
