Christmas" (2018) reminds me of a Frank Capra and Irving Berlin holiday flick. I so enjoyed it with my family and it was very cinematic. I do not know this production but I Google searched the specs of the movie since it was supposedly shot on an ARRI Alexa camera. Beautiful rich vibrant colors by a poised and skilled director of photography.
The quality of the film far surpassed what I have seen on Hallmark and other family channels offering holiday features. Yes, the quality and style of the film frame by frame was sumptuous especially in the Bavarian country-style bakery of Aunt Maggie.
Not sure if the audiences picked up on this but Beverly Hills Christmas (2015) and This is Our Christmas (2018) seem like a homage to "It's A Wonderful Life" and "White Christmas". The movie in my opinion is not the traditional run-of-the-mill holiday movie offering; this movie instead is original and the story evolves naturally as opposed to forcing information down your throat to get the message.
In the opening of the movie it states: "SEVEN YEARS LATER". I assume it is implied seven years from when Angelina Foxworth was struck by a car on Christmas Eve. Ravin's Aunt Yvonne says to her second stepmother, "She just lost her mother."
The theme of loss is something that a great many people can relate to - especially a child; one year or seven years to a teen is virtually the same. It was very astute for Yvonne (Simona Fussso) to know the emotional level for that character. I smell good writing and great "teen life" research. To sum it up - IT HURTS TO LOSE A MOM.
Additionally, there are many great sub-plots and A and B stories. These include:
Dad (Vincent De Paul) dealing with the loss of a loved one and raising a teenage daughter.
Aunt Maggie (Nancy Daly) losing her bakery to an unscrupulous developer.
Nathan Winslow (Aaron O'Connel) losing his wife Laura (Natalie Pack) on Christmas Eve.
Ravin (Ravin Spangler) realizing it is important to be less self-absorbed
And Lastly, Angelina (Donna Spangler) making a significant difference with her family. (Really enjoyed Donna in this movie)
At the end of the movie all of these story lines are resolved. No, it was exactly 19 minutes before the end of the movie not what the other reviewers stated. Sorry, but some of these reviews are so cynical and they seem to find fault with every Holiday film out there. Personally, I look at the holiday films as fluffy and fun puppy dogs. Other reviewers have a propensity to look at them as Citizen Kane! LOL I enjoyed seeing legendary Academy Award-winner Margaret O'Brien as Grandma Foxworth. I enjoyed watching Meet Me In St. Louis (1944) with her; she must be collecting some hefty residuals on all of her classic Judy Garland and Vincent Minelli films! The movie is a MUST SEE! 8 stars.
At the end of the movie all of these story lines are resolved. No, it was exactly 19 minutes before the end of the movie not what the other reviewers stated. Sorry, but some of these reviews are so cynical and they seem to find fault with every Holiday film out there. Personally, I look at the holiday films as fluffy and fun puppy dogs. Other reviewers have a propensity to look at them as Citizen Kane! LOL I enjoyed seeing legendary Academy Award-winner Margaret O'Brien as Grandma Foxworth. I enjoyed watching Meet Me In St. Louis (1944) with her; she must be collecting some hefty residuals on all of her classic Judy Garland and Vincent Minelli films! The movie is a MUST SEE! 8 stars.