A few key words are all that are necessary to not just summarize the plot but convey the nature of the film. I mean to say, this should perhaps have been marketed as "A holiday 'Parent trap' starring the doomed love interests of 'Starship troopers' and also the guy from 'Sharknado.'" This isn't to say that 'Christmas in Palm Springs' isn't enjoyable, even as it's masterminded by B-movie maestro Fred Olen Ray; save for the very worst of all such genre fare, holiday movies are reliably cheesy but charming. If you appreciate such fare on some level, are a fan of someone involved, or just in any way looking for something light and frivolous, then this is a good time - only, there's also no mistaking the heavy-handedness that characterizes the picture, even by Christmas Movie standards.
That heavy-handedness is reflected above all in overzealous and forced pacing, and acting that's often entirely too emphatic. I don't blame the cast, mind you; given Ray's career-long propensities as both writer and director, I have no doubt whatsoever that his guiding hand pushes everyone and everything in a very specific way. But furthermore, the sound design is oddly imbalanced, with dialogue blaring and grating on the ears, while other audio including the music is peculiarly squelched into the background. Dialogue, scenes, and story beats strain suspension of disbelief as all aspects of the writing are penned in much the same fashion as the characters - with personality, skills, and or intelligence that could generously be described as "colorful," if we were staring directly at the sun and it were a neon kaleidoscope. This is a feature that's profoundly lacking of tact or nuance.
For the total lack of subtlety in the writing and direction, every contribution from those both behind and in front of the camera are shaped in kind. The cast actually is quite charming, or at least tries to be, including Dina Meyer, Patrick Muldoon, Bill Cobbs, and young Kirstin Dorn (who weirdly looks like she could be Raffey Cassidy's sister). The sheer brusqueness of the production, however, strips much of the authenticity from their performances, to my chagrin. I do earnestly admire the work applied in terms of hair and makeup, wardrobe, production design & art direction, editing, and cinematography. In the latter aspects especially, however, and by way of production values generally, in execution 'Christmas in Palm Springs' is defined by a bare-faced zest that's overbearing. There's kitschy cleverness in the screenplay that I enjoy, or at least lightheartedness - though, again, Ray's insistence of including every far-fetched idea with the low-grade sensibility of "Just go for it!" is without fail A Lot to take in; the climax is cringe-worthy outrageousness as much it is a guilty pleasure. No matter how warmhearted and endearing this is, there's nonetheless no mistaking the truths of how this was made, and the slant behind it.
Still, despite the B-movie tack, when all is said and done there's no disputing that this only wants to be a goodhearted bit of silly fun. Its heart may be constricted by the pointedly overcooked writing and direction, becoming almost recklessly gauche at times - but then, this isn't any big surprise, either. Ultimately, whether one is keenly aware of the B-grade origins or just the type of fare represented in holiday films, it's probably safe to say that one already knows well what they're getting into before they ever sit to watch; no one who engages with this sincerely should have any illusions about it. With that in mind, it's easy to just kick back, relax, and soak in the ham-handed revery. 'Christmas in Palm Springs' isn't exactly a must-see, but if you're looking for something easy to relax with, especially during the holiday season, you could do much worse.
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