All I Need for Christmas

This is actually not far from being a really good movie. The script got a little wonky here and there, but for the most part, I really enjoyed it.

I particularly enjoyed the performances of Dan Jeanette as Archer, and Mike Dopud as Ed, both new faces to me.

The story centers around a singer, Mallory Jensen as Maggie, who is having trouble making headway in her career. Her manager suggests utilizing newfangled technology to create new music, to which she reacts angrily.

Retreating to her family Christmas tree farm, she encounters Archer who is trying to recreate the one happy Christmas he can recall. Unfortunately, he is a bigwig at the very technology company Maggie despises.

Archer is also trying to escape an extremely adversarial relationship with his sister, Emily Tennant as Piper (as a redhead no less).

It's an interesting plot, in that virtually every character needs help, and is able to offer help to each other in various ways.

Excellent supporting cast. I would particularly commend the performance of Veronica Long as Clara, who was so good as Mariah, the sweetheart actress in Lights, Camera, Christmas a couple years ago.

I have mentioned before that I am a retired musician, and I always appreciate it when I see an actor performing music for real. Kudos to Mallory Jensen for that.

Seven.

7.9 stars.

What stands out about this film is the tension between the leads and also the lead male and his younger sister. While the romance is a long time coming, the buildup to it is palpable, so it's sufficient for me to come away refreshed.

There are several moments when the leads gaze into each other's eyes, but you know they're not going to kiss, they're not even leading up to it. But even in those moments you see there is potential. I thoroughly enjoy this type of tension in romantic films. So I went along with it, and the end was quite rewarding.

The cast were stellar and the story was good. Yes, this is still quite a formulaic Hallmark film, however It feels much different than most. The lead actors have a certain level of anticipation and a dramatic approach that is more prominent than most movies of this genre. They created a certain level of tension, and it was quite entertaining. It was probably the Director who orchestrated it. Along with the sister's competitive nature, and how it caused a lot of stress for the leading man, the nuanced performances were abundantly effective.

Will watch this every other year.

Yes, I am addicted to Christmas Movies, whether they be too clichéd or expected... but... Wow; 2024 Hallmark has really stepped up their game, following years of copy-past story lines. This year's Holiday Movies are original, imaginative, innovative and not as predictable,

They have definitely improved their attention to details and added authenticity to their décore.

Characters are genuinely interesting and believable, with complexed yet likeable roles!

Plots differ; more intriguing, relevant and they keep the holiday spirit alive, while providing a Holiday Twist at the last 22-minute mark!!!

It is always appreciated when local production is taken into consideration (filming in US/Canada) and also giving the viewers the opportunity to travel the world, by experiencing international holiday traditions.

So, well done Hallmark!!!

There are some great storylines going here. There are hints of some of the more common tropes. For instance, Maggie has career problems, but not exactly like so many other movies. Archer is almost unique among Christmas tropes. He is competing with his sister for the seat on the board, but is he? Archer and Piper, with her kids, have returned to the place of their one great Christmas as kids. I've never seen anything like Maggie's conundrum towards the end. Archer is the center of two relationships that face conflicts before the climax. One with Piper. One with Maggie. Maybe the one most common trope is the Christmas concert. And if the two relationship conflicts aren't enough for you, there is one more obstacle after those. I wouldn't say it is predictable.

Mallory Jansen and. Dan Jeannotte have very good chemistry. The kids are great, and so are the piggies. The dialogue is outstanding.

I didn't like a mean Emily Tennant, mostly in the sense of over competitive. She has always been a favorite of mine. I felt like she overplayed that aspect just a little.

Maggie performs twice. The lip sync is off at least the first time. I asked Jansen on X and she confirms she did all the singing. Great voice.

I'll give the writers credit here, since they tried to stretch beyond the most frequent of the cliches.

However, this movie was SLOW moving, and for me it took so long to develop I'd lost interest and had to regain some. The female lead was just quite unlikeable for the first half of the movie, and a little hit and miss through the second half.

The male lead was just about unbelievably patient with her and with his sister, and his sister wasn't easy to like either, right up to the "last eight minutes" climax, which is the piece of formula none of these movies are allowed to break away from.

While parts of the story were engaging, the relationship tension seemed forced and--once again--screenwriters believe they're business geniuses, which they aren't. LOL.