The Mistle-Tones (2012)

Tia Mowry-Hardrict plays a young woman, named Holly, who really wants a chance to join a local Christmas singing group (headed up by Tori Spelling). When she misses out, despite being the best candidate, she decides to instead create her own group and compete in a hastily-arranged "sing off" at the local mall. Working with a number of colleagues, it's a race against time to get everyone whipped into shape and believing in their own abilities.

The cast all do fine with this big bundle of predictability and Christmas schmaltz. Mowry-Hardrict (billed here just as Tia Mowry) is a pleasant enough lead, Spelling is a fun baddie, and Jonathan Patrick Moore stands out as Nick Anderson, Holly's manager who ends up being a big help once Holly discovers a secret  that she uses to temporarily blackmail him. Andy Gala, Megan Kathleen Duffy and Jason Rogel, as well as the others appearing onscreen, are all just fine.

The script, by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, does everything that it has to do, with no surprises. Okay, there may be one or two twists to the standard formula, but not enough to worry seasoned viewers of such seasonal fare, and everything is in place by the time the end credits roll.

Director Paul Hoen keeps everything moving along nicely. There isn't a lot of time wasted - with the very first scenes showing Holly waking up late and rushing to get along to the auditions - and one or two montage moments are enjoyable enough. It's never hilarious, or too exciting, but it manages to avoid dullness for most of the runtime.

Pleasant enough, this sits alongside many other mildly diverting TV movies made with Christmas in mind. Your life will be just fine if you never see it, but it's not a bad one to help get you into the holiday spirit.

5/10

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