AKA Christmas By The Book.
Chelsea Kane plays Joanna Moret, a lifestyle guru who has also published a successful book about weighing up your relationship by a series of auditing rules. Drew Seeley is Ted Domrose, a young man who has just been ditched by his lady, Valerie (Alanna LeVierge), when she realised that their numbers didn't add up right, as it were. When Joanna is offered the job of creating a fantastic Christmas for George MacAllen (Gary Brennan) and his son, Del (Chad Connell), she wants everything to be perfect. Which means they mustn't find out that she split from her own boyfriend some time ago. So she ends up asking Ted to help her, and assures him that she will help him win back Valerie in exchange.
Written by Thommy Hutson, who may be known to horror fans for his involvement with the fairly definitive feature documentaries on the Friday The 13th and A Nightmare On Elm Street franchises, this is as predictable as most films of its ilk, anchored by leads who are pleasant enough, but just not quite as good to spend time with as some other TV movie mainstays. Director Letia Clouston has made a few of these films recently, although far from the lengthy list of titles that we see from some directors, and it shows. This has nothing to make it memorable in any way, despite being put together competently enough. Now I know that you're thinking "well, these things are never memorable anyway", and you'd be right, in a way. But if you're a fan of these movies, if you've seen enough of them, then you know that there's usually some aspect that can stand out, whether it's appealing leads, picture-perfect snow-covered scenes, a few witty lines from a supporting character, or the big final set-piece that sees Christmas cheer being spread while new romance is consumated (in a chaste way though, just sealing it with a kiss).
Kane and Seeley are decidedly okay. The former spends far too long sticking by her own guidelines though, despite having first-hand knowledge of how they don't necessarily apply, and that leaves Kane slightly mired. Seeley doesn't have that problem, he's just not got that spark to him, and has no cute chemistry with his co-star. Brennan and Connell are fine as the people wanting a great job done perfectly, and also willing to soften at times when they need to view Kane's character as a full human being, and not just a guru/event planner. The highlight is LeVierge, who comes swirling into the proceedings like a small snowstorm, and adds some much-needed energy with her few scenes. It's just a real shame that she's not in it more.
Once again, this is absolutely fine to put on for this time of year, a bit of background entertainment while you get on with everything that needs done on the run up to Christmas. It just doesn't do anything more, and is easily pushed to the back by so many other Christmas TV movies that do exactly the same thing, just a little bit better.
4/10
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