Have said quite a few times that Christmas has always been a special time of year for me. If somebody was to ask what my favourite time of year is, my answer would be Christmas and has been for as long as can be remembered. Due to the nostalgia it brings, the atmosphere, the family time and all the Christmas traditions. Have yet to tire of it, and that is highly unlikely to happen, it would take a lot to change that for the world.
Saw 'Christmas Town' as another film seen as part of my quest to see as many different festive films other than the ones already watched every year as possible. Seeing it, 'Christmas Town' is not one of the very worst (quite, it at least didn't insult my intelligence like some other recent festive films did) but it is still the complete opposite of a good film. All the potential traps that some festive films have fallen into, especially recently, are fallen into here in 'Christmas Town' and much of it is a chore to sit through.
The best thing about 'Christmas Town' is Nicole De Boer, who really does try hard and is quite charming.
Only one other good thing and that is the pleasant soundtrack, the one thing of the film that remotely resembles anything to do with Christmas.
Everybody else overplays, especially Gig Morton who has no likeability or subtlety whatsoever. The chemistry feels forced throughout, romantic and otherwise, and the acting makes amateur dramatics pantomime acting more professional in comparison. None of the characters are interesting or worth relating to, they are little more than sketchy stereotypes that are either bland, annoying or both. Especially true to this is the truly insufferable Mason.
'Christmas Town' could have thrown in as many festive details as it could, but the Christmas spirit just isn't there and what is included is shown in passing but little more than that. There is an overload of cheese and schmaltz, with no charm. The dialogue is toe-curlingly bad a vast majority of the time, and the story, comprising of a few cliche-ridden, underwritten and overplayed subplots, is not just predictable but there is just nothing to it. Most of it is paper thin too and seldom comes to life properly and the dull direction doesn't help. The film looks cheap, looking like it was made in a rush on a minimal budget, and authenticity is nowhere in sight.
All in all, not unwatchable but very bad. 2/10 Bethany Cox
Saw 'Christmas Town' as another film seen as part of my quest to see as many different festive films other than the ones already watched every year as possible. Seeing it, 'Christmas Town' is not one of the very worst (quite, it at least didn't insult my intelligence like some other recent festive films did) but it is still the complete opposite of a good film. All the potential traps that some festive films have fallen into, especially recently, are fallen into here in 'Christmas Town' and much of it is a chore to sit through.
The best thing about 'Christmas Town' is Nicole De Boer, who really does try hard and is quite charming.
Only one other good thing and that is the pleasant soundtrack, the one thing of the film that remotely resembles anything to do with Christmas.
Everybody else overplays, especially Gig Morton who has no likeability or subtlety whatsoever. The chemistry feels forced throughout, romantic and otherwise, and the acting makes amateur dramatics pantomime acting more professional in comparison. None of the characters are interesting or worth relating to, they are little more than sketchy stereotypes that are either bland, annoying or both. Especially true to this is the truly insufferable Mason.
'Christmas Town' could have thrown in as many festive details as it could, but the Christmas spirit just isn't there and what is included is shown in passing but little more than that. There is an overload of cheese and schmaltz, with no charm. The dialogue is toe-curlingly bad a vast majority of the time, and the story, comprising of a few cliche-ridden, underwritten and overplayed subplots, is not just predictable but there is just nothing to it. Most of it is paper thin too and seldom comes to life properly and the dull direction doesn't help. The film looks cheap, looking like it was made in a rush on a minimal budget, and authenticity is nowhere in sight.
All in all, not unwatchable but very bad. 2/10 Bethany Cox