Oh boy. I wanted to like this. I liked the idea of the movie. The plot seemed cute. The actual movie? A disaster. I don't know if it was the actress who played Lauren who made her so unlikeable... but man oh man...
So Colleen and Lauren (Erica Deutschman) run a Christmas business. And they are completely interchangeable. The first couple of scenes I couldn't tell them apart. Yay diversity! We soon learn that Lauren is going to be taking the lead on their new account - the Andersons. The Anderson family is like, totally "53rd in line for the British crown" and have been living Stateside for the last few years. Most of the family is in the UK for the next few weeks, except for the eldest son, James (Chad Connell).
The job is relatively simple enough. The company is hired to decorate the house - everything but the bedrooms and office, procure some gifts, and plan the family's Christmas party. Lauren's an idiot though. Straight up. Lauren's told explicitly not to decorate the office. Guess where she just can't resist leaving Christmas debris? Yup, James' office. She also tries to enlist James into helping her decorate, which... correct me if I'm wrong, is exactly what she was hired and being paid to do.
Lauren thinks James is grinchy and not celebrating the holiday right and needs to be coached. This, for a contracted employee, is just obnoxious, but as Lauren enlists James into doing more and more of her job, he catches the Christmas spirit. While he's getting less grinchy, James is simultaneously slipping on the work front and making big, important financial decisions because "it's Christmas". Seriously, these 2 should not be decision-makers.
You know what other stupid storyline I'm sick of? The ditzy American girl being clueless about how to act and dress in fancier situations. In this, James invites Lauren to a snow polo match. Fine. The crowd is a bit subdued except, of course, Lauren, who is hooping and hollering on the sidelines. She's then seen at the reception dressed way down compared to the business casual people around her. Google's your friend, Lauren.
There's a cute bit wherein James tells Lauren that his grandfather used to put charitable donation envelopes on the Christmas tree. Lauren resurrects it at the Christmas Ball, having sent all the attendees envelopes ahead of time and then inviting them to put them up on the giant tree she has.
Lauren leaves because she doesn't fit into James' world. James realizes his world needs some shaking up. You've seen the ending before.
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These 2 idiots make snowmen and name them "William" and "Kate". Gag.
Early on, when James' attorney stops in and Lauren (again) takes it upon herself to become the gatekeeper to James.
Lauren (again again) decides to move the Christmas ball from it's usual venue - a hotel - to the Anderson house. She does this with zero authorization. Why isn't she fired?
Never, ever trust or take seriously someone who drives a car with antlers and a red reindeer nose.
I have never, ever seen a party planner make a toast at the party they planned for other people.
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| via Hallmark Channel |
So Colleen and Lauren (Erica Deutschman) run a Christmas business. And they are completely interchangeable. The first couple of scenes I couldn't tell them apart. Yay diversity! We soon learn that Lauren is going to be taking the lead on their new account - the Andersons. The Anderson family is like, totally "53rd in line for the British crown" and have been living Stateside for the last few years. Most of the family is in the UK for the next few weeks, except for the eldest son, James (Chad Connell).
The job is relatively simple enough. The company is hired to decorate the house - everything but the bedrooms and office, procure some gifts, and plan the family's Christmas party. Lauren's an idiot though. Straight up. Lauren's told explicitly not to decorate the office. Guess where she just can't resist leaving Christmas debris? Yup, James' office. She also tries to enlist James into helping her decorate, which... correct me if I'm wrong, is exactly what she was hired and being paid to do.
Lauren thinks James is grinchy and not celebrating the holiday right and needs to be coached. This, for a contracted employee, is just obnoxious, but as Lauren enlists James into doing more and more of her job, he catches the Christmas spirit. While he's getting less grinchy, James is simultaneously slipping on the work front and making big, important financial decisions because "it's Christmas". Seriously, these 2 should not be decision-makers.
You know what other stupid storyline I'm sick of? The ditzy American girl being clueless about how to act and dress in fancier situations. In this, James invites Lauren to a snow polo match. Fine. The crowd is a bit subdued except, of course, Lauren, who is hooping and hollering on the sidelines. She's then seen at the reception dressed way down compared to the business casual people around her. Google's your friend, Lauren.
There's a cute bit wherein James tells Lauren that his grandfather used to put charitable donation envelopes on the Christmas tree. Lauren resurrects it at the Christmas Ball, having sent all the attendees envelopes ahead of time and then inviting them to put them up on the giant tree she has.
Lauren leaves because she doesn't fit into James' world. James realizes his world needs some shaking up. You've seen the ending before.
-
These 2 idiots make snowmen and name them "William" and "Kate". Gag.
Early on, when James' attorney stops in and Lauren (again) takes it upon herself to become the gatekeeper to James.
Lauren (again again) decides to move the Christmas ball from it's usual venue - a hotel - to the Anderson house. She does this with zero authorization. Why isn't she fired?
Never, ever trust or take seriously someone who drives a car with antlers and a red reindeer nose.
I have never, ever seen a party planner make a toast at the party they planned for other people.
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