A Cinderella Christmas Ball

I'm not a fan of Royal movies. And Cinderella stories are a dime a dozen at Christmas. McKellar has done a few. So, were it not for my obsession to watch every Christmas movie premiere, I would have passed on this one.

It checked so many of the boxes and yet it had at least one thing that kept my interest as a viewer. Who was her father? That search which integrated learning her mother's past was just enough to raise this movie to a decent level. As another reviewer said, there are a couple of moments that bring some tears. How can you not when she watches that video?

The key mystery had at least a couple of possibles. I wasn't at all sure, but I think I was leaning towards the right one.

There are so many ways all the cliches can be overdone and this movie straddles that line but I think stays just inside it.

The acting at the dialogue gets muddled a little by the cliches. It is hard to accept the acting as good when the circumstances are so unbelievable. The story finds a way to make the one that is possibly the most unrealistic be a little believable at least.

McKellar and Oliver Rice have decent chemistry but again the unbelievable circumstances mute that a little. There is a little bit of playfulness between them despite waiting for some stickler to bring it all crashing down. I very much like that the queen is mostly reasonable. She must uphold some tradition but she isn't constantly being a stick in the mud.

Clearly, Danica McKellar is the official Chris royal movie actress at GAC Family. This is her second consecutive movie in that genre for the fledgling network.

In part, a cliched and formulaic movie (right down to ridiculous-looking palace guards and everyone in the supposedly European country speaking with pronounced English accents - like always in these movies), McKellar's Chelsea is looking for information about her mother, who journeyed to the same small country Chelsea is now in. It's that search that provides a few twists in what otherwise would be a fairly mundane movie with a cardboard cutout male lead: you know, the prince and his royal destiny, expected to propose to a childhood friend (or similar) and all of that.

As an aside, McKellar looks great. Maybe she'll take on a different role in her 2025 GAC Family Christmas movie...just for something different.

My family and I greatly enjoyed this movie. Danica McKellar is always a favorite of ours and she did not disappoint.

We loved the occasional references to her previous works. "You better run!" had us laughing and there were a few others for those that know her films.

There were good light hearted moments that added to the believability of the leading couple growing closer together and they had good chemistry.

The supporting cast was excellent as well. The queen was perfectly cast as well as the others.

And the resolution to her search for traveling to this country was a refreshing change that leant credibility to her final decision.

We will be watching this one again.

Danica McKellar movies never surprise me and being wonderful and something you want to see again and again to me that makes a great movie No surprise here she makes this long distance trip to find family. While she is making friends in the small community, she's also making a few waves, but no one gets hurt. A little romance may join in at some point. You'll have the beauty of the scenic area to enjoy as well and I am really wanting a part two I'm not gonna say why but you will figure it out real quick if you watch the movie. She does end up finding family, but I won't say who there's so many people within their storyline that plays such sweet roles..

My family loved this film. A classic Cinderella tale with an added twist. Danica McKellar and Oliver Rice have a touching ease and chemistry. The story moves at a pace and is very funny in places. Danica's scenes with butler Mark Caven being particularly hilarious. There are some very touching moments and Danica McKellar shows her full range as an actress. The dancing is beautiful and if I have any complaint I wanted more. I also really like the warmth from Sarah Orenstein as the Queen. I enjoyed the script with a unique twist on the Cinderella story, the direction and design. If you want to lose yourself in a classic Cinderella story for Christmas this is great choice. Sweet but won't send you to the dentist.