Christmas in Boston - 12th November 2012

Doesn't time fly? We are already at week 2 in our festive film fiesta. This week we delve into the somewhat "hit & miss" area of the "made for TV" movie.

So, will it be a Christmas cracker or a tinsel covered turkey? Let's find out, as we discover all about;

Christmas in Boston

As titles go, it's a bit of a non-starter, it certainly doesn't grip you does it? The film was only marginally better. Let us take a look at the storyline, then elaborate on the finer points.

Christmas in Boston follows the story of pen-pals Seth and Gina. They have been pen-pals since school, some 13 years ago. Now they are both grown up, both with jobs. Gina is a lowly journalist, Seth works for a major toy company.
They are still writing to each other, only now via email, rather than letter. They have never met. They have never spoken to each other on the telephone and they have never seen each other.
The only thing they have done is exchanged photographs over the years.

Enter plot twist number one. Actually they both thought themselves to be too awkward and ugly to send photo's of themselves, so they both sent photo's of their best friends; Ellen and Matt. Luckily they have remained best friends, although Ellen and Matt are unaware of the subterfuge they are embroiled in.

Plot twist number two. Seth has to attend a major toy conference in Boston (at Christmas, come on, it is a festive film!) And Gina, who lives in Boston, has to cover it for her newspaper. Which makes a change from the obituaries she normally writes.

So, the pen-pals of 13 years will finally get to meet. But hold on! Gina thinks Seth looks like Matt. And Seth thinks that Gina looks like Ellen!

Confused? It's OK, you will work it out.

So is the film any good? Well, yes it's alright. It is certainly your archetypal feelgood Christmas holiday romance. The storyline is fairly unique. The four main characters are likeable, funny and realistic. The actors playing the parts do a pretty good job too.

I think if you paid full price at the cinema to see this film, you would want some kind of discount. However, at the end of the day it is, what it is, which is a sometime bittersweet romance, with some funny moments, a good plotline, a happy ending and all set against a fine festive backdrop.

Enjoy.