Movie #1285 "The Christmas Card" - Kind of a flimsy story here -- believable, but not much here --- soldier kind of lost and becomes enamored with this girl who sent a christmas card so when he gets out of service, he goes to the town to seek her out. She, of course, has a boyfriend already, but that doesn't stop her and the parents and friends in the town from pushing the two of them together (the soldier and the girl not the girl and her bf) Once again, I believe it, and I believe it would take a long time to wear the girl down, but the two lovebirds are sticks --- cold fish who don't relate to each other or to each other...thank god for the older experienced actors in the film to pull it out of the doldrums and put some intrigue into it. But not before we have a strange high point --- all of a sudden in the middle of a church scene, the bf jumps up and leaves the church . Nothing is said, and girlfriend is apologizing in the next scene? Did she make him sit on a tack? or what? Missed it. I know it's good to put in the script oftentimes, "That which cannot be said" but ThAT moment was just silly. Even for Hallmark! Anyway, the ending was good, though, so I give it 3 stars out of 5.
"THE CHRISTMAS CARD" 2006 1 hour and 24 minutes NR 3 stars out of 5.
Edward Asner received an Emmy nod for his role in this holiday story about a soldier stationed in Afghanistan who gets a Christmas card addressed to "Any Soldier" and decides to track down the sender. When Sgt. Cody Cullen (John Newton) returns home, he traces the sender, Faith Spelman (Alice Evans), to her small town, where he ends up saving her father (Asner) and falling for the warm-hearted young woman. The only problem? She's engaged.
Cast: John Newton, Ed Asner, Peter Jason
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Movie #1284 .........................."Candleshoe"
Movie #1284 "Candleshoe" - fun to watch Jodi Foster in this early vehicle --- she steals the film from the great dame Helen Hayes and my very favorite British actor of all time, David Niven. In this film, he gets to do what Sir Alec Guinness (Obi- Won Kenobi)did in many of his films ---- played multiple roles. And that was fun to see what he would come up with next, whether it was the gardener or the butler or the weird old uncle..... meanwhile, all during the heist major storyline (Jodi pretending she is Helen Hayes' long lost granddaughter), there's some mystery because she is also supposed to be looking for some treasure that is being stored in the castle ---- Yes, there are some slow spots in the film, but the distinctness of the minor kid characters tries to keep the storyline moving in the right direction. And there's a really good scene between the two great females: Hayes and Foster, that's worth waiting to see at the very end. I give it 4 stars out of 5.
"CANDLESHOE" 1977 -- 1 hour and 41 minutes rated G 4 stars out of 5
"CANDLESHOE" 1977 -- 1 hour and 41 minutes rated G 4 stars out of 5
Savvy street urchin Casey and an ex-con take advantage of an elderly woman by having Casey pose as her estranged granddaughter to steal a cache of treasure they think she's hiding. But Casey begins to wonder whether their plan has any basis in truth.
Movie #1283 ........................."Christmas to Remember"
Movie #1283 "Christmas to Remember" was one of the better ones ---- good acting by the leads, esp. Mira Sorvino (haven't seen much of her since her academy award turn in Mighty Aphrodite for Woody Allen, and the story line was cool because it involved some mystery ---who is she really? She's in a car accident and suffering from amnesia, but she learns that she can cook, bake and sew without really thinking about it ---- hmmm. Clues abound and then the reveal --- The film, of course, involves cute little kids (there are 3 of them in this one) and a happy ending --- definitely in this one's I recommend it as one of the better ones. 4 stars out of 5.
"CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER" 2016 1 hour and 26 minutes
"CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER" 2016 1 hour and 26 minutes
- A harsh TV personality needs a break from her own life, so she hops into a car and drives to a small town mountain retreat. On her way there, a blizzard veers her off the road and she crashes. When she comes to, she has complete amnesia and a friendly passerby takes her in.
Director:
David Weaver
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Movie #1282 ........................."Christmas with the Kranks"
Movie #1282 "Christmas with the Kranks" --- I had to seek this one out, since I just read "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham, which this film is based upon. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, which deals with a couple whose daughter recently joined the peace corps and won't be home for Christmas so they decide to take a cruise and skip it this year, not thinking how much that entails. It isn't as easy as it sounds......anyway, I was laughing out loud more when I read the book but that could be because I knew what was coming, but also I think it's that I don't think Tim Allen is all that funny. I don't believe most of what he says --- he always seems to be putting us on, not real, so I don't buy his humor, and this film was no different. Thought I must say, the scene with the surprise twist towards the end of this movie (and book) was written so well, that he couldn't even ruin it. This is not a bad christmas film at all ---- and it has some wonderful messages to dish out, not to mention some nice shots through the window, of the frosty snowmen, etc. I recommend it, 3.6 out of 5 stars.
"CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS" 2004 1 hour 39 minutes PG
"CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS" 2004 1 hour 39 minutes PG
A break from the frenetic activity of Christmas is what Luther Krank and his wife have in mind when they decide to skip the holiday, nixing the tree and the rooftop Frosty. But can they handle the fallout from their crestfallen family and neighbors?
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Movie #1281 ........................."I'm Not Ready for Christmas"
Movie #1281 "I'm Not Ready for Christmas" --- I've liked Alicia Witt since she played the precocious daughter on the t.v. show"Cybil" so I welcomed to see this one ---And I wasn't too disappointed. She's always fun to watch, and the guy is okay and they seem to have some chemistry. The Magic part of the story was a tad too goofy for me to buy (I have NEVER liked Jim Carrey's "Liar Liar" which had basically the same premise) and that's when the story started spinning out of control for a while --- she starts coming on a bit too strong with the guy when she's honest, and it's hard to believe that she can be so honest and still have a job in the advertising world! But then that premise is tested, and the film becomes more worthwhile to watch because the theme comes across very strong then! I'm glad that turn took place; otherwise, the score from me would have been much less. I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5. Film seemed to lack its energy and storyline in the middle --- not enough of a story possibly? and then speeds to a conclusion to the detriment of the love story, but nice theme overall, and well acted. And the ending had a nice added turn that helped make it better than I expected. Title could have been a tad better? Just a suggestion.
"I'M NOT READY FOR CHRISTMAS" 2012 1 hour and 24 minutes 3.5 stars out of 5
"I'M NOT READY FOR CHRISTMAS" 2012 1 hour and 24 minutes 3.5 stars out of 5
Holly's world is turned upside down when her niece's wish to Santa Claus comes true and she cannot tell a lie. As her career and love life go into disarray, she must learn to judge between the truth and what is right.
Director:
Sam IrvinMovie #1280 ........................."Hitched for the Holidays"
Movie #1280 "Hitched for the Holidays" --- Loved this one! It's a winner! Even though I've seen the story a bunch of times (esp. the Harry met Sally ending), I actually laughed out loud during the family scenes. Okay, here's the storyline --- guy and girl don't want to be nagged by family because they are dateless for the holidays so they decide to pretend they are together just to get through the celebration time. And what a surprise, they start to get real feelings. Okay, that's all been done, but what I thought was the added treat here was the religion conflict --- He tells his folks she is catholic and she tells her folks he is jewish, which leads to some very funny scenes .....and then the humor and mayhem elevate when his mother invites her family over for a Hanukah celebration? All the people are more than competent actors and they can override the overdone storyline --- esp. Joey Lawrence and the girl lead. I've never seen her before, but to be sure, I will start to look for her because she was very authentic. And he was very charming in his part. And as silly as some of the scenes might have been in the wrong hands (esp. stealing a cop's horse on the streets of new york city), the actors are willing to pull it off. And this could be a great New Year's Eve move because it covers that holiday, as well! I give it 4.8 out of 5 stars, and I recommend this one with a big thumb's up!
"HITCHED FOR THE HOLIDAYS" 2012 4.8 stars out of 5
"HITCHED FOR THE HOLIDAYS" 2012 4.8 stars out of 5
When commitment-phobe Rob breaks up with his girlfriend before Thanksgiving, his big Italian family gives him a hard time about not being able to keep a relationship through the holidays.
Movie #1279 ........................."Merry Ex-Mas"
Movie #1279 "Merry Ex-Mas" was a different watch for me ---- I was wrapping gifts and actually didn't care what I was watching, and this was the only Christmas movie on the t.v. at the time. It was just okay --- acting was melodramatic, situations were a bit too manipulative, even more than the normal fare of Hallmark movies (but this wasn't one), and things wrapped up way too well (once again, even more than a Hallmark film). The film centered around a divorced couple that still share custody of their daughter --- when the guy finally looks like he has found happiness with another woman, the divorced wife sabotages the ex-husband's relationship. The high point revelation depended a lot on who was who and who had met whom before ---- kind of silly, but theme was strong -- we have to forgive, esp. at these holiday family celebrations. Perhaps, that's why we have them --- as occasions to wipe the slates clean. I give this 3 stars out of 5.
"MERRY EX-MAS" 2016 3 stars out of 5
"MERRY EX-MAS" 2016 3 stars out of 5
After making a Christmas wish for her single dad, Tiffany is shocked when it comes true: In short order, he falls in love with a wonderful woman and is planning a holiday wedding. But Tiffany's resentful mom has her own plans -- to ruin the nuptials.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)