Yes, we are here yet again, with yet another feelgood festive film!
Tonight we watched;
Most Wonderful Time of the Year
So, the story goes like this; the Uncle of a beautiful single Mother; Jennifer Cullen, (played by the gorgeous Brooke Burns) shares a flight with an handsome young chap called Morgan, (played by the equally handsome Warren Christie).
Morgan and Uncle Ralph (played fantastically by Henry Winkler), hit it off on the flight and get talking, when they arrive at their destination, Morgan finds his next flight is cancelled due to snow, so he is stuck at the airport. So, Uncle Ralph convinces his niece (Jennifer) to allow the "stranger" to stay with them; "just for one night.....".
Well, the one night turns in to two, and with some playful tactics from Uncle Ralph, who is convinced that Morgan is good for his niece, the stay gets lengthened.
Morgan is considerate, kind and helpful and is great with Jens' Son; Brian. He tries to help Jen find the Christmas Spirit.
Jen already has a boyfriend who is a bit of a jerk! Uncle Ralph is not keen on him and does what he can to put him down, whilst promoting Morgan.
It is a predictable storyline. And it is typical of the Christmas Romance genre, but these movies are great!! They promote love, romance, Christmas spirit, goodwill etc. And that's not a bad thing is it?
Also, Henry Winkler is superb! He does steal the film somewhat, delivering some great, dry humorous lines. Also, the chemistry between Morgan and Jen (Burns & Christie) is really evident and they provide a spark of romantic realism.
It's a great film and should be in the Top Twenty of Christmas films to watch!
Enjoy.
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Tuesday 22 November 2011
The Christmas Wish - 22nd November 2011
Here we are again, dipping into our fantastic, festive, film fun!
This week we chance our arm, with another made for TV film from 1998;
The Christmas Wish
I could complete this review, by stating just 3 words;
Watch. This. Film!
However, I will give you some insight into this truly magical story.
Will Martin (Neil Patrick Harris), is a young man who moves from New York, back to his home town to manage the family real estate business after the death of his grandfather.
Will had grown up with his grandparents because his parents were killed in a tragic car accident when he was very young. Therefore his grandparents were the most important people in his life, and Will knew that they were very close to each other throughout their married life. As he said, they were so close they were almost like one person.
After his grandfather's death, his grandmother Ruth (played superbly by the wonderful Debbie Reynolds) starts to read her husband's journals that he wrote in volumes, one for every year of their married life. In the journals it mentions that he goes to see a woman named Lillian every Christmas Eve.
It was a secret that he kept from Ruth and she and Will fear the worst.
This is where the Christmas Wish comes in, Ruth wants to know the answer to the mystery; who is Lillian?
Will is determined to find out the truth and why his grandfather would keep this a secret from the family.
In his quest, Will discovers many things, including humility, humanity, love and forgiveness. It has everything a Christmas movie should have.
The key element of this film, is the story (adapted from the book by Richard Siddoway). The story is believable, it has you wanting to know more, it keeps you enthralled, entertained and reminded of what Christmas is all about and it does this right up until the last moment. At the end, you will discover the answer to the mystery, and when you do, get those tissues ready, for I defy even the hardest of hearts not to be softened by the truth behind the mystery.
Sadly, as this is a made for TV American film, it's not available on DVD in this country. We found it on True Movies 1 (Sky 321, Virgin 424, Freesat 302). If you can get True Movies, please look out for it.
This week we chance our arm, with another made for TV film from 1998;
The Christmas Wish
I could complete this review, by stating just 3 words;
Watch. This. Film!
However, I will give you some insight into this truly magical story.
Will Martin (Neil Patrick Harris), is a young man who moves from New York, back to his home town to manage the family real estate business after the death of his grandfather.
Will had grown up with his grandparents because his parents were killed in a tragic car accident when he was very young. Therefore his grandparents were the most important people in his life, and Will knew that they were very close to each other throughout their married life. As he said, they were so close they were almost like one person.
After his grandfather's death, his grandmother Ruth (played superbly by the wonderful Debbie Reynolds) starts to read her husband's journals that he wrote in volumes, one for every year of their married life. In the journals it mentions that he goes to see a woman named Lillian every Christmas Eve.
It was a secret that he kept from Ruth and she and Will fear the worst.
This is where the Christmas Wish comes in, Ruth wants to know the answer to the mystery; who is Lillian?
Will is determined to find out the truth and why his grandfather would keep this a secret from the family.
In his quest, Will discovers many things, including humility, humanity, love and forgiveness. It has everything a Christmas movie should have.
The key element of this film, is the story (adapted from the book by Richard Siddoway). The story is believable, it has you wanting to know more, it keeps you enthralled, entertained and reminded of what Christmas is all about and it does this right up until the last moment. At the end, you will discover the answer to the mystery, and when you do, get those tissues ready, for I defy even the hardest of hearts not to be softened by the truth behind the mystery.
Sadly, as this is a made for TV American film, it's not available on DVD in this country. We found it on True Movies 1 (Sky 321, Virgin 424, Freesat 302). If you can get True Movies, please look out for it.
Tuesday 15 November 2011
Christmas Do-Over - 15th November 2011
So our countdown to Christmas speeds through November with this weeks Christmas movie;
Christmas Do-Over
From 2006, Jay Mohr stars as Kevin the haphazard ex-husband to Gill (Daphna Zuniga) in this Groundhog Day styled movie.
Kevin gets to have Christmas with the family of his ex-Wife, so that he can catch up with his Son, Ben. Typically, the lazy Kevin leaves everything to the last minute, including his Sons' Christmas present, so his appearance of Christmas Day ends in disaster after disaster, with his ex In-laws not really wanting him there. His ex-Wifes' boyfriend turning up adds to the turmoil, highlighting quite spectacularly Kevin's inadequacies as a Husband, Father and man generally.
It's only when his Son, at the diner table says; "I wish it could be Christmas everyday................" that the trouble really starts.
And we then proceed to an extremely manic, fast paced Groundhog Day style repetition of Christmas Day, until Kevin works out the right recipe to get things back to normal.
The only difference with Christmas Do-Over and Groundhog Day is that Groundhog Day is good!
That is a little harsh, there are some very funny moments in the film, some good banter with the characters, it's just that there is this love triangle with the ex-husband, boyfriend and Wife. Someone will have to lose out in the end. And if this was truly a good feelgood film, then it would have worked out OK, but the ending is dire! In fact it is worse than that, it's unexpected, it's short, it's leaves loose ends and after getting through the whole film extremely disappointing.
Christmas Do-Over had the potential to be a really good film. It failed.
Watch, enjoy if you can, but don't blame me if you feel cheated out of 90 minutes of your life.
Christmas Do-Over
From 2006, Jay Mohr stars as Kevin the haphazard ex-husband to Gill (Daphna Zuniga) in this Groundhog Day styled movie.
Kevin gets to have Christmas with the family of his ex-Wife, so that he can catch up with his Son, Ben. Typically, the lazy Kevin leaves everything to the last minute, including his Sons' Christmas present, so his appearance of Christmas Day ends in disaster after disaster, with his ex In-laws not really wanting him there. His ex-Wifes' boyfriend turning up adds to the turmoil, highlighting quite spectacularly Kevin's inadequacies as a Husband, Father and man generally.
It's only when his Son, at the diner table says; "I wish it could be Christmas everyday................" that the trouble really starts.
And we then proceed to an extremely manic, fast paced Groundhog Day style repetition of Christmas Day, until Kevin works out the right recipe to get things back to normal.
The only difference with Christmas Do-Over and Groundhog Day is that Groundhog Day is good!
That is a little harsh, there are some very funny moments in the film, some good banter with the characters, it's just that there is this love triangle with the ex-husband, boyfriend and Wife. Someone will have to lose out in the end. And if this was truly a good feelgood film, then it would have worked out OK, but the ending is dire! In fact it is worse than that, it's unexpected, it's short, it's leaves loose ends and after getting through the whole film extremely disappointing.
Christmas Do-Over had the potential to be a really good film. It failed.
Watch, enjoy if you can, but don't blame me if you feel cheated out of 90 minutes of your life.
Tuesday 8 November 2011
A Christmas Romance - 8th November 2011
And here's the second film in our Tuesday Night is Film Night Christmas season, an adorable family film;
A Christmas Romance
Starring Olivia Newton-John, as the widow Julia Stonecypher, this Christmas tale tells the story of her struggle to make ends meets, living as she does with her two daughters, on a remote mountain.
Her luck runs out just before Christmas, the bills have mounted up and the bank sends out a representative to discuss her options and the necessity to sell up. And so enters the love interest in the tale; Brian Harding played by Gregory Harrison.
Brian arrives at the remote farm, just as a blizzard is drifting in and after some doorstep arguing over the unpaid bills, drives off only to crash his car moments later. Obviously Julia takes him back in to care for the now delirious and concussed banker.
So what turns out to be mutual disdain for each other evolves into a romance, you'll have to watch it for the complete details!
For me there's a few things that make this an ideal Christmas story, firstly and foremost it is the story, it is atypical of this type of film but it works and works very well. Based on the novel of the same name written by Maggie Davis, it provides a good heart warming tale of Christmas spirit, where love and happiness win over the hardship and depression.
Secondly, the cast is great, Olivia Newton-John is loveliness personified, with her bouncy blond pony tail. Gregory Harrison plays it well as the love interest, plus and very importantly the two girls who play the Sonecypher daughters are excellent. Chloe Lattanzi as Deenie and Stephanie Sawyer as Emily Rose, really do make a great difference and play their roles excellently. Mind you, Chloe Lattanzi has had plenty of practice of being a daughter to Olivia Newton-John, as she is her real life daughter!
A Christmas Romance is a film that you should look out for, if you like cutesy, heartwarming, Christmas feelgood films, with a little romance thrown in. It's an ideal film to curl up with on a cold winters evening, a real fun, feelgood festive film.
A Christmas Romance
Starring Olivia Newton-John, as the widow Julia Stonecypher, this Christmas tale tells the story of her struggle to make ends meets, living as she does with her two daughters, on a remote mountain.
Her luck runs out just before Christmas, the bills have mounted up and the bank sends out a representative to discuss her options and the necessity to sell up. And so enters the love interest in the tale; Brian Harding played by Gregory Harrison.
Brian arrives at the remote farm, just as a blizzard is drifting in and after some doorstep arguing over the unpaid bills, drives off only to crash his car moments later. Obviously Julia takes him back in to care for the now delirious and concussed banker.
So what turns out to be mutual disdain for each other evolves into a romance, you'll have to watch it for the complete details!
For me there's a few things that make this an ideal Christmas story, firstly and foremost it is the story, it is atypical of this type of film but it works and works very well. Based on the novel of the same name written by Maggie Davis, it provides a good heart warming tale of Christmas spirit, where love and happiness win over the hardship and depression.
Secondly, the cast is great, Olivia Newton-John is loveliness personified, with her bouncy blond pony tail. Gregory Harrison plays it well as the love interest, plus and very importantly the two girls who play the Sonecypher daughters are excellent. Chloe Lattanzi as Deenie and Stephanie Sawyer as Emily Rose, really do make a great difference and play their roles excellently. Mind you, Chloe Lattanzi has had plenty of practice of being a daughter to Olivia Newton-John, as she is her real life daughter!
A Christmas Romance is a film that you should look out for, if you like cutesy, heartwarming, Christmas feelgood films, with a little romance thrown in. It's an ideal film to curl up with on a cold winters evening, a real fun, feelgood festive film.
Tuesday 1 November 2011
The Year Without a Santa Claus - 1st November 2011
So here we are then, Tuesday Night is Film Night has gone all festive and all are films from now until the New Year will be Christmas themed. We kick off our festive film fun, with a movie from 2006;
The Year Without a Santa Claus
John Goodman stars as the big man in the Santa suit, in this 2006 made for TV film. The basic premise behind the film, is that Santa has become disenchanted with the modern, spiritless Christmas. The North Pole has become commercialised and Santa decides to take a year out!
Will Christmas be cancelled?
Can Santa be persuaded to return?
Will we make it to the end of the film?
Does anybody care?
Well of course! Jingle and Jangle, two of Santa's Elves take it upon themselves to fly down to South Town and find Iggy Thistlewhite (the son of South Towns' Mayor), who has put together a Christmas Fayre to put the spirit back into his community. He'll be able to restore Santa's faith in Christmas, won't he?
OK, it's your bog standard Christmas TV movie, the basic premise is there; a moralistic story aiming to restore the true meaning of Christmas. It's not a bad film, there are however some ludicrous elements, which will have you looking at each other, thinking; "is this for real"?
It's wholesome harmless fun, but it could have been a lot better.
One highlight for me was Carol Kane as Mother Nature, a similar character to the one she played in Scrooged (she was the fairy styled Ghost of Christmas Present).
Hopefully the Christmas movies will improve in the coming weeks, but we are trying to watch some of the ones we haven't seen before, maybe we should throw in a couple of classic films too, just to build up the quality.
Watch this space.
The Year Without a Santa Claus
John Goodman stars as the big man in the Santa suit, in this 2006 made for TV film. The basic premise behind the film, is that Santa has become disenchanted with the modern, spiritless Christmas. The North Pole has become commercialised and Santa decides to take a year out!
Will Christmas be cancelled?
Can Santa be persuaded to return?
Will we make it to the end of the film?
Does anybody care?
Well of course! Jingle and Jangle, two of Santa's Elves take it upon themselves to fly down to South Town and find Iggy Thistlewhite (the son of South Towns' Mayor), who has put together a Christmas Fayre to put the spirit back into his community. He'll be able to restore Santa's faith in Christmas, won't he?
OK, it's your bog standard Christmas TV movie, the basic premise is there; a moralistic story aiming to restore the true meaning of Christmas. It's not a bad film, there are however some ludicrous elements, which will have you looking at each other, thinking; "is this for real"?
It's wholesome harmless fun, but it could have been a lot better.
One highlight for me was Carol Kane as Mother Nature, a similar character to the one she played in Scrooged (she was the fairy styled Ghost of Christmas Present).
Hopefully the Christmas movies will improve in the coming weeks, but we are trying to watch some of the ones we haven't seen before, maybe we should throw in a couple of classic films too, just to build up the quality.
Watch this space.
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