This was the HM Christmas movie I was most excited for last year, but I forgot to record it and was gone when it was on and just never caught. So glad when it came on today.
I mean Emily Osmant and Casey Deidricl? This is like dream casting as I absolutely love them both. I think they could both have great HM careers in the right roles.
A lot of reviews seemed to get mad about the 16 Candles likeness- I enjoyed it (as a big John Hughes fan) and so many other Of these movies are pretty much copies of each other- and this doesn't shy away from it- being a milestone bday like 16, the siblings wedding, set in the northern suburbs of Chicago (although obviously not), and the high school older crush. It's cute.
Another reviewer said what does she have to be upset about- she is 30 owns a store and lives in a nice house. 1) unless that store was super successful which it doesn't appear to be, she probably wouldn't be able to afford that at that age in the area but more importantly 2) just because you're doing well by someone else's standards doesn't always equate happiness especially if you've been putting off what you really want to be doing.
Emily Osmant- she is totally adorable. Others said it seemed like she phoned this one in. I disagree. Because she wasn't a super bubbly character like in some of her other performances, doesn't mean she wasn't into this. I think the acting fit the role. I actually liked the more subdued realistic person. I could relate to it and it seemed natural.
Casey Deidrick- I could just look at him for hours and enjoy whatever it was. The beats did need a bit cleaning up, but I feel that way with a lot of guys the last few years. I thought there was chemistry between them. It was restrained as it had to be- the best friends sister, who he had known forever, he is leaving to go back to Central America in a few weeks etc etc etc. I could have wanted a touch more emotion in the performance but overall good.
The side characters: the parents were both good. I wasn't a huge fan of the brother. The sister in law was annoying but I totally get it. The brother had a "bachelor" party but the SIL didn't have any friends around to help- just the husbands family- but she grew up nearby - she had no friends around? Leah's friends were a bit superfluous.
Yes nobody is having an outside wedding at Xmas in Chicago. That's just silly. They barely had any help getting the new house together and it'd be ready for a wedding?! There is a lot going on here- the birthday, the wedding, the missing dress, the new house, the moving of the wedding, him selling the house, Him going back to Central America, the dads health (which seems totally fine minus her mentions of it and her stopping raveling because of it), the budding romance, I mean that's a lot going on in a 90 minute movie. Also why is the SIL staying with her?! A lot of stuff doesn't make sense but what HM movie doesn't have a list of things that don't make sense haha.
I love the slow burn. The feelings always being there. There is a good foundation. It's sweet.
Overall very good movie. I may not eagerly rewatch it but I'm glad I finally did catch it! Definitely better than many in this genre- you don't walk away with the overly saccharine nauseating overly acted unbelievable after feelings, but a few things could have improved it.
I mean Emily Osmant and Casey Deidricl? This is like dream casting as I absolutely love them both. I think they could both have great HM careers in the right roles.
A lot of reviews seemed to get mad about the 16 Candles likeness- I enjoyed it (as a big John Hughes fan) and so many other Of these movies are pretty much copies of each other- and this doesn't shy away from it- being a milestone bday like 16, the siblings wedding, set in the northern suburbs of Chicago (although obviously not), and the high school older crush. It's cute.
Another reviewer said what does she have to be upset about- she is 30 owns a store and lives in a nice house. 1) unless that store was super successful which it doesn't appear to be, she probably wouldn't be able to afford that at that age in the area but more importantly 2) just because you're doing well by someone else's standards doesn't always equate happiness especially if you've been putting off what you really want to be doing.
Emily Osmant- she is totally adorable. Others said it seemed like she phoned this one in. I disagree. Because she wasn't a super bubbly character like in some of her other performances, doesn't mean she wasn't into this. I think the acting fit the role. I actually liked the more subdued realistic person. I could relate to it and it seemed natural.
Casey Deidrick- I could just look at him for hours and enjoy whatever it was. The beats did need a bit cleaning up, but I feel that way with a lot of guys the last few years. I thought there was chemistry between them. It was restrained as it had to be- the best friends sister, who he had known forever, he is leaving to go back to Central America in a few weeks etc etc etc. I could have wanted a touch more emotion in the performance but overall good.
The side characters: the parents were both good. I wasn't a huge fan of the brother. The sister in law was annoying but I totally get it. The brother had a "bachelor" party but the SIL didn't have any friends around to help- just the husbands family- but she grew up nearby - she had no friends around? Leah's friends were a bit superfluous.
Yes nobody is having an outside wedding at Xmas in Chicago. That's just silly. They barely had any help getting the new house together and it'd be ready for a wedding?! There is a lot going on here- the birthday, the wedding, the missing dress, the new house, the moving of the wedding, him selling the house, Him going back to Central America, the dads health (which seems totally fine minus her mentions of it and her stopping raveling because of it), the budding romance, I mean that's a lot going on in a 90 minute movie. Also why is the SIL staying with her?! A lot of stuff doesn't make sense but what HM movie doesn't have a list of things that don't make sense haha.
I love the slow burn. The feelings always being there. There is a good foundation. It's sweet.
Overall very good movie. I may not eagerly rewatch it but I'm glad I finally did catch it! Definitely better than many in this genre- you don't walk away with the overly saccharine nauseating overly acted unbelievable after feelings, but a few things could have improved it.