When a movie has a plot as thin and recycled as this one, the actors need to step it up and carry it. I've seen many Christmas movies where that is exactly how it worked and a simple unexciting story worked because of the leads.
The acting is horrible. Monica Keena is totally unnatural in her performance. Tobias Mehler is bland. The leads make an effort at chemistry, but Keena's childish behavior counters what chemistry there is. I got tired of her jealousy, but given the evidence, it did seem justified to a point, but the final conclusion she jumps to is ridiculous. Regarding the jealousy, I think the writers beat this horse to death. At this point, fast forward became my best friend.
Sonya Salomaa is similar to Keena. The dialogue doesn't help the acting. Background music is at times overly melodramatic and distracting.
As a slightly side note, why do romance writers tackle things about which they know nothing. There should be a law against them trying to write about business in any detail. But they do and sometimes manage to hide their ignorance by focusing attention elsewhere, but not this time. The business angle of the plot had more focus than any romance. Other than Monica Keena's acting, the story's focus on the business details is the biggest problem in this movie.
The viewer should be able to guess what the mini-secret that might otherwise be an interesting twist even though it was revealed slightly over half way through.
Note to self. In future years when I'm recording every Christmas movie in sight, avoid this one.
The acting is horrible. Monica Keena is totally unnatural in her performance. Tobias Mehler is bland. The leads make an effort at chemistry, but Keena's childish behavior counters what chemistry there is. I got tired of her jealousy, but given the evidence, it did seem justified to a point, but the final conclusion she jumps to is ridiculous. Regarding the jealousy, I think the writers beat this horse to death. At this point, fast forward became my best friend.
Sonya Salomaa is similar to Keena. The dialogue doesn't help the acting. Background music is at times overly melodramatic and distracting.
As a slightly side note, why do romance writers tackle things about which they know nothing. There should be a law against them trying to write about business in any detail. But they do and sometimes manage to hide their ignorance by focusing attention elsewhere, but not this time. The business angle of the plot had more focus than any romance. Other than Monica Keena's acting, the story's focus on the business details is the biggest problem in this movie.
The viewer should be able to guess what the mini-secret that might otherwise be an interesting twist even though it was revealed slightly over half way through.
Note to self. In future years when I'm recording every Christmas movie in sight, avoid this one.