A Christmas To Remember (2015) *
“Featuring” Robin Givens who makes a short appearance towards the end of the movie, A Christmas To Remember was only worth watching because it is so-bad-it's-funny-to-watch-with-a-friend as I did with my best friend. Actually, I think we may have fast forwarded through this one. It was difficult to watch even while laughing. My main complaint was that the technical skills to make a film were lacking by these filmmakers. None of the characters were mic'd nor did there seem to be any reliable audio capture equipment around because the sound was terrible. The camera was shaky and the lighting and filtering changed with almost every single cut. I know a trained camera operator was no where nearby, because composing and framing a shot was not on anyone's mind. Creatively, the story was all over the place. It looked like it was going to be a Hatfields vs McCoys situation with two rival families that would be brought together by the love of the family heads, but then all of the stories of each of the children were brought to light. And each family had at least five members. There was no way to successfully hash out and resolve at least 10 different stories. Bad production, incomplete stories, terrible personal styling. For a good laugh, read my best friend's review here: Dante Rants
- Production: Limbo contest winners low
- Suspension of belief: Mountain high
- Tropes: Rival families... anything else is unclear
- Diversity: Reverse! This was a Black cast with one white supporting character
- Paranormal: No, but it would have helped the plot
- Clownish character: I plead the 5th
- Production Co: Atlanta Dream Team Productions
- How'd you watch it: Amazon
This most certainly was not a holiday romance movie, but it was so bad I kept watching anyway. Everything in this movie was too long. It needed a serious editor, because this easily could have been cut from 1:40 to 30 minutes. I watched this movie twice: Once by myself, fast forwarding through each excessive conversation. Then another time with my bestie over the phone, as we synced scenes and I guided him through the highlights. Considering the plot, it's hard to believe that such a self-absorbed and despicable person could get everyone he treated so poorly to forgive, forget and love him just because he has cancer. Read my bestie's review here: Dante Rants
- Production value: Mid-low. They skimped on writing and editing
- Suspension of belief: High!
- Tropes: A very modified Scrooge trope
- Diversity: This film has an all-black cast
- Paranormal: None
- Clownish character: London Mitchell was a joke, but I don't think you could really call him a clown.
- How'd you watch it: Amazon
Starring Ana Kendrick with a few appearances by Lena Dunham, this is an indie film about a woman who goes to stay with her brother and his family, but along with her stuff, she brings some emotional baggage and immature-irresponsible behavior, which would have made me kick her out, but doesn't really get her any closer to consequences in this film. Its not very Christmasy, it just takes place during Christmastime. The romance happens between the already married couple who are very sweet and genuine in their care for each other and each others' lives. I see why this didn't get any marketing hype and I don't see any reason to recommend it to anyone except if you want to see Ana Kendrick play a wholly unlikeable character.
This year I tried to screen out any teen movies, but this one snuck in. Two single parents, each with a teen daughter, are trying to date each other while, unbeknownst to them one of the teen girls is bullying the other. Will the parents be able to help their children be strong and independent enough for parents to have some adult time to themselves? This movie just left me upset. One of the teenagers vandalized the other's house and no one called the cops. There was also some pretty viscous bullying incidents, but not a soul gets in trouble. It just bugs me that so much wrong happened, but no one was punished and you want me to somehow believe everything turned out alright in the end. How could it?
Camerawork was terrible in and out of focus badly composed shots. Writing was terrible and the story was all over the place.
How'd you watch it: DVD checked out from the library
The Unfinished
Christmas Catch (2018)
If you're in the mood for a silly Christmas romance this one is for you. I wasn't in that mood. I pressed stop about 45 minutes in, but 10 minutes of that was shopping on my phone.
How'd you watch it: Amazon
A Kiss On Candy Cane Lane (2019)
Sound and camera work were bad. The acting and writing were no better. Stopped at 20:00
How'd you watch it: Amazon
- Production: It was a low-budget indie as opposed to a low-budget cheesy movie.
- Suspension of belief: Medium – I find it hard that people would put up with her in their house.
- Tropes/sub-genres: Flawed character reaches rock bottom
- Diversity: This film was snow white
- Paranormal: None
- Clownish character: The main character did a great job of being an ass, but not necessarily a clown.
- Production Co: Magnolia Pictures
- How'd you watch it: Kanopy
This year I tried to screen out any teen movies, but this one snuck in. Two single parents, each with a teen daughter, are trying to date each other while, unbeknownst to them one of the teen girls is bullying the other. Will the parents be able to help their children be strong and independent enough for parents to have some adult time to themselves? This movie just left me upset. One of the teenagers vandalized the other's house and no one called the cops. There was also some pretty viscous bullying incidents, but not a soul gets in trouble. It just bugs me that so much wrong happened, but no one was punished and you want me to somehow believe everything turned out alright in the end. How could it?
- Production: Sets and styling were middle-class authentic
- Suspension of belief: High. Unbelievable.
- Tropes/sub-genres: Flawed character reaches rock bottom; Troubled teens get in trouble; New kid in school; Teen bullying
- Diversity: Color in the supporting cast
- Production Co: Pender Productions
- How'd you watch it: Amazon
Camerawork was terrible in and out of focus badly composed shots. Writing was terrible and the story was all over the place.
How'd you watch it: DVD checked out from the library
The Unfinished
Christmas Catch (2018)
If you're in the mood for a silly Christmas romance this one is for you. I wasn't in that mood. I pressed stop about 45 minutes in, but 10 minutes of that was shopping on my phone.
How'd you watch it: Amazon
A Kiss On Candy Cane Lane (2019)
Sound and camera work were bad. The acting and writing were no better. Stopped at 20:00
How'd you watch it: Amazon
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