For a movie about a writer getting inspiration for a book, this movie really failed the basic challenge of having something happen. The basic story is a familiar one, great girl is single for the holidays but is in need of a "boyfriend" for the family. So she gets a fake one. In this case her best friends brother. A writer who is also looking to write a story during the trip. To avoid weirdness they put it all into a contract and she agrees to build him a website for his services. Off to the family mansion the go but that is where this movie spins its heels. The lead actors have an easy chemistry and you can see how comfortable they are with each other but showing the audience what exactly would make these two fall in love... just isn't there. Also, there are problems with the supporting characters. The "ex" just doesn't come across as someone pine worthy so it is hard to really get invested in the main character's dealings with him. Also the family takes up just too much time. I see that they hired some big actors for the roles (the spectacularly botoxed Cheryl and Jordan Ladd) but I don't care about the family. I am here for the romance - a romance they didn't really write.
Review of The Christmas Contract
