For It Is Man's Number: mary lambert

Showing posts with label mary lambert. Show all posts

Sunday, 17 December 2023

Netflix And Chill: A Castle For Christmas (2021)

Okay, these films still woerk within the Christmas movie formula, but there have been various extra tropes that have become popular over the past decade or so. Instead of just focusing on a successful businesswoman holidaying in a small town where she falls for a man who spends his time looking ruggedly handsome and chopping trees (replanting at least two for each one he cuts down, of course), there are many films that have our lead character falling for a charming royal, spending time in a grand estate/castle, and/or being amusingly bamboozled and warmly welcomed by the residents of a small Scottish town. A Castle For Christmas is one of these films.

Brooke Shields plays Sophie, a very successful author who has just upset most of her fanbase by killing off a very popular character. Needing to get away from everything for a while, to keep away from the angry mob and spark her creativity again, Sophie heads to Scotland, visiting a castle that she remembers being a big part of her family many years ago. The good news is that the castle is up for sale. The bad news is that it is currently owned by a grump Duke named Miles (Cary Elwes). Sophie and Miles butt heads as they negotiate moving ahead with a sale that the latter doesn't really want to see through to completion, but there's also a spark of romance there.

Written by first-timer Ally Carter and the more experienced Kim Beyer-Johnson, A Castle For Christmas is absolutely everything you want/expect it to be. It allows the stars to shine, keeps things moving towards a very Christmassy finale (of course), and fills the screen with a number of supporting characters who see the reality of the central situation before our leads do. Director Mary Lambert knows what she needs to do, and she gets the job done, helped by a cast that approach the material with plenty of enthusiasm.

Shields has fun in her role, and gets to establish her character believably enough with an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in the opening sequence (featuring a cameo from . . . Drew Barrymore). Elwes also has fun, his amusing grumpiness almost making up for his attempt to deliver his dialogue in a Scottish accent. Almost. The other good thing is that the two look well-suited to one another, and it's somewhat refreshing to watch this kind of tale based around a couple who are in their late fifties/early sixties (not that either Shields or Elwes look as rough as I will at that age). Lee Ross is good value as Thomas, a helper to the Duke, a tour guide, and general handyman, and extra fun comes from some local knitting club members who befriend our lead (the knitters played by Andi Osho, Tina Gray, Eilidh Loan, and Stephen Oswald).

It's quite bland and safe, as so many of these films are, but it's also good enough to make you smile and enjoy the distraction while you get everything prepared for your own festive celebrations. I've already watched it twice, because I first watched it last year and forgot to write up a review, and neither viewing made me resent giving it my time, although I should note that I didn't find it as enjoyable and cute to see the Drew Barrymore scenes this time around (considering her woeful lack of judgement during the recent major strike action).

6/10

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Sunday, 3 December 2023

Netflix And Chill: Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

With no shade or disrespect intended, it's wild to see the long and winding road that director Mary Lambert's career has taken since hitting a relative high when she helmed a notorious Stephen King adaptation back in 1989. She has since jumped around in a number of different genres and styles, and has recently started to deliver some cheery and cheesy Christmas movies for Netflix. The good news for Christmas movie fans is that she's as good with this material as she is with anything else she could choose to direct.

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a comedy with plenty of heart to it, a standard Christmas movie format, that sees Charlotte Sanders (Heather Graham), her husband, Rob (Jason Biggs), and their young children, Grant (Wyatt Hunt) and Dora (Abby Villasmil), end up at the home of Jackie Jennings (Brandy Norwood) for Christmas. Jackie has the gorgeous Valentino (Matt Cedeño) for a husband, and a young prodigy in the shape of daughter, Beatrix (Madison Skye Validum). Is that a bad thing? It is for Charlotte, who has spent years being irritated by the seemingly perfect family life that Jackie sets out in her annual family newsletter. Maybe she can take this opportunity to see what lies below the surface though, and to prove that all isn't as lovely as it appears to be in the Jennings household. You might already be able to guess how this works out.

Co-written by first-timer Todd Calgi Gallicano and the much more experienced Charles Shyer, this is a fun film that sets up everything you expect to happen in any standard Christmas movie around some enjoyable set-pieces that are elevated by the star power of the cast. And you can stop your sniggering now. They may not be at the top of the Hollywood tree, but this central cast feel a step or two up from the usual assortment of bland and inoffensive people used in so many of these films.

Lambert works well with everyone, and there are times throughout the first half of the film in which things come together with surprisingly effective results. It's still very standard fare, but it feels as if it might be a bit more amusing, and even a bit more risqué, than most. That's only temporary though, and the halfway point turns sharply to drive headlong into much more familiar territory. It's still a bit better than many other festive viewing options though, thanks to the development of the main characters, and the fun performances from the people portraying them.

Graham is the nominal lead, with viewers watching her go on a complete journey from start to finish, and she's used well here. I like Graham in most things, whether or not she's the right person for the role, but she's very comfortable with the particular blend of comedy and drama she has to work with here. Brandy may not be as firmly established as a working actor, but she's really good in her role, allowed to act with a constant air of optimism and joy that works because of her earnestness and warmth. Biggs is decent in support, and Cedeño is used mainly for his handsome looks (but also does well in complementing his onscreen wife with equal amounts of heart and unselfishness). Young Villasmil may not have much to do, but does just fine, and both Hunt and Validum get one or two moments to shine in their respective plot strands, although I am using the words "plot strands" fairly loosely here.

I liked this. Although still constrained by the requirements of the specific kind of movie it is, Best. Christmas. Ever! feels like something that hasn't been made with the same focus on budget and formula than many others that are released around the festive period every year. I won't rush to rewatch it, it's no new holiday classic, but I also wouldn't mind if I was in the same room with someone else putting it on for their first viewing. How's that for a glowing endorsement.

6/10