A Holiday Spectacular (2022) -
The feel of this film was as if Sam from 'Quantum Leap' (1989-93) had landed in Maggie's (Ginna Claire Mason) body to make sure that she didn't make the mistakes that she surely would have done otherwise, because this film had the same vibe as that series and the same production values too.
The whole thing was a bit shiny and glorified, like the old Hollywood films, where everyone was perfect and beautiful, lived in gorgeous places and nothing was taken very seriously. I also made a note that it was a tad twee and I think that what I meant by that was that everything about it was old fashioned in a 1980's/early 90's film making kind of way. Styles, directions and storytelling that didn't fit anymore.
And the story itself was a bit basic and simplistic. However, without the filter that made it seem more like a flashback than the main narrative and with a bit of grit it might have had potential.
I think they must have been trying to replicate a certain style, but it was just too dated and also very slow.
It was another of this years selection that focussed less on a romance and more on a dream or a different type of relationship, but this one probably shouldn't have. Her desire to be a dancer was sweet, but it was definitely nothing new and without the heart of a romance it fell a bit flat.
It didn't need the Christmas setting either, because the season didn't really add any extra magic, but that may have been because of how it was directed/edited. There were elements of magic, but not done in an exciting way as it could easily have been with a bit more thought. I only really tuned in to it for a Christmas vibe, so I would have liked more of that.
I didn't really rate the acting either. None of the cast stood out as horrendous, but equally there was no one that showed their worth in a film full of ham and cheese. Perhaps the corny delivery was all part of the tone that the producers were trying to create, but either way it didn't work for me.
Honestly, it wasn't the worst film ever, by a long shot, but it definitely lacked anything to make it special or to sparkle among a million others from its genre.
Not one that I will revisit though.
4.5/10.
The feel of this film was as if Sam from 'Quantum Leap' (1989-93) had landed in Maggie's (Ginna Claire Mason) body to make sure that she didn't make the mistakes that she surely would have done otherwise, because this film had the same vibe as that series and the same production values too.
The whole thing was a bit shiny and glorified, like the old Hollywood films, where everyone was perfect and beautiful, lived in gorgeous places and nothing was taken very seriously. I also made a note that it was a tad twee and I think that what I meant by that was that everything about it was old fashioned in a 1980's/early 90's film making kind of way. Styles, directions and storytelling that didn't fit anymore.
And the story itself was a bit basic and simplistic. However, without the filter that made it seem more like a flashback than the main narrative and with a bit of grit it might have had potential.
I think they must have been trying to replicate a certain style, but it was just too dated and also very slow.
It was another of this years selection that focussed less on a romance and more on a dream or a different type of relationship, but this one probably shouldn't have. Her desire to be a dancer was sweet, but it was definitely nothing new and without the heart of a romance it fell a bit flat.
It didn't need the Christmas setting either, because the season didn't really add any extra magic, but that may have been because of how it was directed/edited. There were elements of magic, but not done in an exciting way as it could easily have been with a bit more thought. I only really tuned in to it for a Christmas vibe, so I would have liked more of that.
I didn't really rate the acting either. None of the cast stood out as horrendous, but equally there was no one that showed their worth in a film full of ham and cheese. Perhaps the corny delivery was all part of the tone that the producers were trying to create, but either way it didn't work for me.
Honestly, it wasn't the worst film ever, by a long shot, but it definitely lacked anything to make it special or to sparkle among a million others from its genre.
Not one that I will revisit though.
4.5/10.