Review of Haul Out the Holly

If you accept the ridiculous premise of this movie, it is one of the funnier Hallmark movies ever. If you can't buy into it, you'll turn it off after about 30 minutes, which is what I did initially. But then I went back and finished it and was pleasantly surprised. It had many humorous lines and situations and over-the-top characters that take some getting used to. Getting Ned from Groundhog Day and basically letting him run amok was either an ingenious choice or a colossal waste of his talents. Where you land in that debate depends on how well you can buy into the (lack of a) story. This movie has no plot. Lacey's character's parents are two of the most reprehensible human beings ever in a Hallmark movie. Heaven help any non-Christian that moves into a neighborhood that forces you to celebrate Christmas and decorate your house like you're trying to win a contest. Yes, it was dumb. Yes, nothing was at stake. Yes, Lacey and Wes's characters had no reason to fall for each other. But despite all that, or perhaps because of it, it was pretty funny, and Wes and Lacey played their characters to the utmost. I might even watch it again next year.