This is the best of the Christmas-themed romantic comedies I have seen this year. The title makes it look like it will be silly, but it has the ideal balance of silly and serious, with a positive message about real beauty. Still, I like physical beauty more than inner beauty, and the lead actress is certainly pretty, but beginning to show her age. The main point of the movie is Belle discovering or rediscovering what real beauty is.
I've never heard of most the people in this movie, but Jenn Gotzon is likable enough and certainly pretty. Her spoiled attitude goes away pretty quickly and she seems comfortable with her new situation, and it is almost believable that she will adapt to her new situation and make it permanent. And when she gets upset later (this is inevitable if you follow the formula) her attitude seems justified. According to the closing credits, she is telling her real story, or at least a fictional version of it. The characters are still said to be fictional.
Jim Chandler is also good, a believer in traditional values but kind and accessible. He has his flaws but they can be excused.
The two leads have a daughter which they chose to make the fictional daughter. She has her good scenes, but sometimes I wondered if she was twins, and whether one twin wasn't quite as good an actor. But when she is good, she's quite appealing.
Corbin Bernsen is the one actor I actually heard of, and he did a good job, but I didn't know him. He is the one who has to pass on the legacy of this farm and tourist attraction to his son.
Roxzane Mims is a warm and kind employee who played an important role in making everything work.
Natasha Bure is the voice of reason who gives Belle reassurance back in New York City by phone. And she's quite pretty. Without those glasses, maybe she could have been a model. Or even with them really.
Sandra Ellis Lafferty was Belle's grandmother and, based on one imdb review, appeared in a scene I missed since football ran over. But she was good in the one scene I saw, a flashback where she taught her granddaughter what real beauty means.
And a video of young Belle with her father was quite adorable.
Robert Amaya is quite a character, the man who has to find Belle jobs and is having a hard time. I also have to mention Henry Cho who was quite nice as one of the employees.
Several young people with only a few lines did quite a good job. They were either excited about seeing a celebrity or excited about doing something they would enjoy.
I didn't know Delilah who we heard read from her diary as Belle read the words. I have mixed feelings about the DJ but I have to admit she was good in her brief scene.
John Schneider had a good scene as himself, but I didn't realize who he was. He and his band did a good song which was unfamiliar,
On the subject of music, I wasn't happy with the songs in this movie. Some were unfamiliar and most weren't a style that I enjoyed. Even "Joy to the World" was done in contemporary worship style. But maybe others like the music in this movie.
It is family friendly and fine for kids. And the Christian message is there. Santa Claus appears briefly (he would have to, given the title) but he isn't prominent.
Not necessarily the best choice for a Christmas romcom, but a fine job nevertheless.
I've never heard of most the people in this movie, but Jenn Gotzon is likable enough and certainly pretty. Her spoiled attitude goes away pretty quickly and she seems comfortable with her new situation, and it is almost believable that she will adapt to her new situation and make it permanent. And when she gets upset later (this is inevitable if you follow the formula) her attitude seems justified. According to the closing credits, she is telling her real story, or at least a fictional version of it. The characters are still said to be fictional.
Jim Chandler is also good, a believer in traditional values but kind and accessible. He has his flaws but they can be excused.
The two leads have a daughter which they chose to make the fictional daughter. She has her good scenes, but sometimes I wondered if she was twins, and whether one twin wasn't quite as good an actor. But when she is good, she's quite appealing.
Corbin Bernsen is the one actor I actually heard of, and he did a good job, but I didn't know him. He is the one who has to pass on the legacy of this farm and tourist attraction to his son.
Roxzane Mims is a warm and kind employee who played an important role in making everything work.
Natasha Bure is the voice of reason who gives Belle reassurance back in New York City by phone. And she's quite pretty. Without those glasses, maybe she could have been a model. Or even with them really.
Sandra Ellis Lafferty was Belle's grandmother and, based on one imdb review, appeared in a scene I missed since football ran over. But she was good in the one scene I saw, a flashback where she taught her granddaughter what real beauty means.
And a video of young Belle with her father was quite adorable.
Robert Amaya is quite a character, the man who has to find Belle jobs and is having a hard time. I also have to mention Henry Cho who was quite nice as one of the employees.
Several young people with only a few lines did quite a good job. They were either excited about seeing a celebrity or excited about doing something they would enjoy.
I didn't know Delilah who we heard read from her diary as Belle read the words. I have mixed feelings about the DJ but I have to admit she was good in her brief scene.
John Schneider had a good scene as himself, but I didn't realize who he was. He and his band did a good song which was unfamiliar,
On the subject of music, I wasn't happy with the songs in this movie. Some were unfamiliar and most weren't a style that I enjoyed. Even "Joy to the World" was done in contemporary worship style. But maybe others like the music in this movie.
It is family friendly and fine for kids. And the Christian message is there. Santa Claus appears briefly (he would have to, given the title) but he isn't prominent.
Not necessarily the best choice for a Christmas romcom, but a fine job nevertheless.