On her way home to spend Christmas with her grandmother, Mandy runs into Lucas, her old high school rival.On her way home to spend Christmas with her grandmother, Mandy runs into Lucas, her old high school rival.On her way home to spend Christmas with her grandmother, Mandy runs into Lucas, her old high school rival.
- GinnyZ
- (as Mariah Ashley Campos)
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- Quotes
Mandy: Ooh.
Lucas: You all right?
Mandy: I cut myself.
Lucas: Really?
Mandy: Ooh, yeah, it's bleeding.
Lucas: Ooh.
Mandy: I'm gonna go sit down.
Lucas: Uh, where does your grandma keep the first aid kit?
Mandy: Uh, top shelf in the cabinet on the right.
Lucas: Oh, I found it. I found it.
[light dramatic music]
Lucas: Unit one, we got a cut. We're coming in hot.
[Mandy giggling]
Lucas: Okay. Hey, eyes right here.
Mandy: Okay.
Lucas: Follow my finger. Eyes here.
Mandy: I see you. It's not bleeding that bad.
Lucas: No, no, don't look at it, just focus. All right, knock knock.
[Mandy sighs]
Mandy: Who's there?
Lucas: Boo.
Mandy: I've heard this one.
[Mandy giggling]
Lucas: Knock knock.
Mandy: Who's there?
Lucas: Boo.
Mandy: Boo who?
Lucas: Oh, hey, it's okay, you don't have to cry about it. Just a little cut, see? Everyone gotta have a go-to joke.
Mandy: In case of emergencies.
Lucas: That's right. Just like this. Look at that emergency. How's that?
Mandy: It's great.
Lucas: Mm hm.
Mandy: Yeah, all better.
[gentle music]
- SoundtracksAll of My Wishes
Courtesy of Hard Design Music
Despite being a very uneven film, with a great first two thirds but a very disjointed and odd final one, 'Inn Love by Christmas' is one of the better 2020 Lifetime Christmas films. Have said in my reviews for other films from the batch reviewed already (some way to go before completing) about 2020 being a very mixed but far from terrible year for Lifetime Christmas films, and 'Inn Love by Christmas' compares favourably compared to some of the others from the batch.
'Inn Love by Christmas' is not perfect by all means. It is let down by the underwhelming final third, which is muddled and over the top odd as well as taking un-realism to extremes. With it being so inferior to the rest of the film, it makes the film feel disjointed. There is a twist that is very jarring and predictable, as well as adding absolutely nothing and introduced far too suddenly.
Also adding nothing is the villain, who is too much of a cartoon and felt shoe-horned in and out of place. The ending is too convenient, forced and too pat.
Much is great though. It looks lovely, with scenery that captures the festive spirit very well pleasingly shot. The soundtrack also adds to the atmosphere and is easy to remember, the music does vary in Lifetime films and can be intrusive but it wasn't here for me. The script mixes amusing comedy, sweet romance and not too sentimental drama with ease and good balance, having personality too. The direction is more than competent and seems at ease with the genre.
Furthermore, despite having an underwhelming final third, the rest of the film is very well done. Charming, heart-warming, light-hearted, with momentum never being a problem. Jonna Walsh and Jesse Hutch are very engaging leads in roles that are not too perfect or over-negative, while Jayne Eastwood is great fun. The chemistry between the leads is warm and genuine.
Overall, really liked most of the film but the final third lets things down significantly sadly. 7/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 29, 2022
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- Inn for Christmas
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