A Very Yorkshire/British Christmas (2019) -
The first time I watched this I came away feeling good about it and would probably have told people to give it a go and that was likely to be because the leading man was and is still right up my street.
And it was a good job that Mark Killeen playing Andrew was pretty, because the director certainly didn't get the best performance out of him in this film or any of the other actors for that matter.
The British ones all seemed to stand out quite badly, as if they were specifically told to ham it up in a more stage like fashion. And the town crier was positively embarrassing. Not to mention Katie, Andrew's kid, who was so sickly that all of my teeth fell out at once.
What was a shame was that the story was actually more interesting than the usual formula and that the locale and filming of it were really quite beautiful showing some of the lovely bits that Yorkshire has to offer. The camera managed to catch the great beauty of the area with some fantastic setting shots, whereas the same ones in the American films are usually city or identical townscapes and all become very similar to each other, whereas Knaresborough's bridge itself is quite unique and an outstanding monument.
But with supporting actors behaving like characters from the first ever episode of 'Coronation Street' (1960-) and with acting skills perfect for silent films, it all felt very twee and quite forced this second time around. There were no natural performances, except perhaps from the two American ladies involved. There was one scene in the cafe which made my skin crawl it was so bad and if the kid had said "Sweetheart" one more time . . .!!
If Mark Killeen hadn't been so gorgeously hot and rugged I might not have watched this one all the way through the first time or this second time remembering it with a higher regard than it deserved.
What I did like was the romance between the two leads. Artistic souls drawn together. I'm not sure that I believed her need to return to the states though. I think it would have been pretty easy for her to stay, but it also would have been a lot easier to get another flight too, in real life, or to come back in the new year. We are only a small island, but Britain has more than enough airports and even the two furthest points- Lands End to John O'Groats, wouldn't take a couple of hours in a plane.
Whew! I will be dreaming about Mr Killeen tonight though! But maybe in his better role from 'Game Of Thrones' (2011-9). However my Mother has forbidden me to watch this film with her ever again, which was a shame because there was a lovely warmth to it, ruined by the performances.
4.5/10.