Throughout my whole Christmas film completest quest undertaken since late 2019, an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with Hallmark's output. There was however always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. One could see that with enough of Hallmark's output but not all.
'Christmas with the Darlings' is not a Christmas classic, but seeing it the amount of effort that went into it was more than evident throughout. Hallmark's Christmas output has been very variable, the best ones being surprisingly well done and the worst being terrible. 2020 was an uneven year for Hallmark when it comes to their Christmas films, with the best being very good and the worst being weak but not terrible, and 'Christmas with the Darlings' is easily one of the best. Along with 'Five Star Christmas' and 'Cranberry Christmas'.
Have never expected much originality from Hallmark, and attempts at doing something different were quite rare. 'Christmas with the Darlings' is not much of an exception, with the story being yet another variation on a very familiar and still done to death (for Hallmark) formula. So story-wise it is rather predictable with some slow spots here and there.
Perhaps the ending is a touch on the pat side, common with Hallmark. And maybe Carlo Marks occasionally tries too hard, giving too much with his facial expressions at times.
But really there is very little wrong here. Regarding the side story, to me it was not a distraction at all and was tastefully done, relatable (being somebody with a sister in a very happy same sex marriage) and refreshing. At the same time, it actually could have been more fleshed out or at least there could have been more of it.
A lot is done extremely well. Katrina Law gives a performance of admirable restraint and perky energy while Marks is on the whole funny and charming. Their chemistry is very warm and genuine, which carries over in the chemistry between everybody else. The children are also acted beautifully, not a bland or annoying one among them, and their personalities are individual. The supporting cast are also very good, while the film is very tastefully directed.
Moreover, the production values still manage to be great, one of the best looking Hallmark festive films of that year. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. Most of the soundtrack is nostalgic and appealing to listen to, capturing the festive spirit well. Hallmark had a real habit of over-scoring their films but that's not as much the case here. The script just about avoids being corny and saccharine, both of which are common for Hallmark, and the story is mostly very engaging, easy to be uplifted by and heart-warming. The family values are handled with honesty and so relatably and this film absolutely is family friendly, being about family with different kinds of relationships. Did like the characters too and they came over as more real than a lot of Hallmark Christmas films.
Concluding, really liked it on the whole. 8/10.
