With the 10th door on our Advent calendar open and hanging off it's hinges, it's time to settle down and relax with a mince pie and a festive film.
This week for our viewing pleasure we have;
Will You Merry Me?
Well wasn't that a quaint little Christmas movie? Yes indeed.
Here's the synopsis for this merry little yuletide tale. Henry and Rebecca, played by Tommy Lioutas and Vikki Krinsky respectively, are young lovers living in New York. Their relationship may only be 6 months old, but everything is just right, almost perfect one could say. And so, the very much in love Henry, decides to pop the question to the lovely Rebecca. All they need to do now is to tell their respective families. And as it is just before the holiday season, what better way to spread the news than to all meet up for Christmas?
Well, that's where the problem lies, Henry's family are mad. Sorry, mad on Christmas, how could they not be as their surname is Kringle! And they live in a small Wisconsin town which is also slightly doolally when it comes to Christmas. Unfortunately, Rebecca's parents are Jewish and not so up on Christmas, preferring as they do to celebrate Hanukkah, then spend Christmas in Aspen. Despite this, they decide to meet up, spend a couple of days with the Kringle's before heading off to Aspen.
However, it was never going to be that simple and the bulk of the film is taken up watching the two families get on, then fall out, then make up, then fall out again. And that previous sentence doesn't do the story line justice at all, but it shows you the approach of the film. It is actually quite a funny film and it was a joy to watch the two very different families try so hard to make the others welcome whilst trying to respect their different beliefs, traditions and foibles.
It is a very entertaining film, but it was never going to be a blockbuster and the cast is made up of mainly unknowns. (Let me just go and check IMDB to be sure of that!)
Henry's parents are Hank and Marilyn, played by Patrick McKenna and Cynthia Stevenson. Whilst Rebecca's parents are; Marvin and Suzie Feine played by David Eisner and Wendie Malick. According to IMDB each actor has been in quite a few films and or TV shows, can't say I have heard of many of them though. However, that is not the point, they are all exceptionally good, funny and not in the least bit wooden in Will You Merry Me. And despite the fact it is a TV movie, it is probably the best one we have seen here at TNiFN Towers (and we've seen our fair share of dire "made for TV" Christmas films). It does stand out as a bit of gem in that regard, in comparison to some.
The other thing that makes Will You Merry Me a decent film is the well written story line. There is just enough Christmas cheer to go round, with a handful of farce, a topping of schmaltzy cheese, a sprinkling of sadness and a modicum of magic to make it a fun, wholesome, family film that should be enjoyed by all ages.
Of course, it all turns out well in the end, that is what Christmas films are about, but it's the journey that you take to get there that counts and Will You Merry Me has sufficient buoyancy to carry you through without getting bored at all. It is akin to Christmas With The Kranks, but not so farcical. It also has just enough pathos to make you sad in places and sufficient pull to ensure you stay with it until all becomes good again.
It's a delightful Christmas film and has enough of the correct ingredients to make it worth repeat viewings. Although it is formulaic in its approach, it has enough uniqueness to make it stand out from the rest. It was never going to compete with the big Christmas blockbusters, but it definitely holds its own and is to be recommended as a definite one to watch should it appear on a TV channel near you soon.
As we said at the start; "a quaint little Christmas movie" and deserving of praise.
TNiFN Rating 78%
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