Tag: Christmas Films

Marrying Father Christmas (2018)

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3 and a Half Stars

Marrying Father Christmas (2018)
Rated TV-G

| Description

• Drama

Two years ago, Miranda set out on a journey to find her biological father. Instead, she found a new family as well as the love of her life, Ian. After a beautiful proposal the previous Christmas, Miranda and Ian are now preparing to marry while surrounded by those who mean the most to them—but it seems there may be more family secrets from the past waiting for Miranda.

| My Thoughts

What with the way this third movie in the Father Christmas series ties in the two preceding movies, I’d say it’s certainly worth watching the three of them in order, as I did.

Changes from Book to Movie?

As to how this third movie compares to the third book in the Christian fiction series the movies are based on? No opinion from me on that score, unlike in my previous related reviews. Having only read the first two books, I just enjoyed this third Christmas flick for what it is.

Not Cute but Family-Oriented

Concerning the story, I’d say it finds a way to stretch out the central issue from the preceding movies, rather than giving the characters a totally different, totally fresh problem to tackle. But I went with it. The characters’ problem could make for a sordid tale if that were the goal, but of course, this work of Hallmark handles the issue in mild, family-oriented fashion.

The movie’s got its modest share of schmaltz, including where it comes to the expected brand of kiddie parts that are supposed to be adorable. And in the case of the older kid who’s done significant growing up since the movie series got started (he looks to be around twelve or thirteen at this point), the cutesy ring bearer role they stick him into is clearly too young of a role for him to pull off cutely. But everyone acts like it’s cute anyway.

Gentle Suspense, Easy Romance

Even so, the movie’s predictable aspects make for comfortable viewing, and the gentle suspense adds an interesting wrinkle to the story. The conflict isn’t too simple but isn’t too stressful, and the romance has an easy, grown-up quality. As I mentioned in my review of the first movie, Miranda and Ian aren’t corny as a couple.

Plus, the glowing, main event the characters have been waiting for succeeded in giving me wedding feels. A sweet (but not saccharine) peak to it all.

Satisfying in the way of wholesome holiday fare.

Here’s my review of the first book the movies are based on, Finding Father Christmas.


Go to Nadine's Holiday Books

Marry Us for Christmas (2014)

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3 Stars

Marry Us for Christmas (2014)
Rated TV-PG

| Description

• Comedy

A wedding is set to take place in the Chandler family on Christmas Eve. But secrets between the intended couple and another (surprise!) engagement in the family throw a wrench into the holiday wedding plans.

| My Thoughts

Why on earth did it take so long for me to find out that Marry Me for Christmas (the movie preceding Marry Us for Christmas) is but one in a series of five holiday flicks? Chandler Family Christmas flicks, to be exact. I watched the first movie seven years ago, and I’m doing a bit of catching up.

A Light Piece of Work

Now. I’m not sure if it’s because Christmas movies of this flavor were more of a novelty to me back then or what have you, but I do remember enjoying the previous movie more.

Marry Us is billed as a comedy, and it is indeed a light piece of work, with humor and sarcasm and such. But I didn’t find it funny enough to make me laugh. It’s more in the mildly amusing category for me.

Fill ‘Er Up?

Also, the movie doesn’t quite fill up its own space in general. Not enough pop or snappy timing or chemistry to it. Not enough extras to give the movie a fuller feel, including where the awaited wedding scene is concerned. (And, if it were me, I would have chosen a shorter gown for the bride. One she could walk down the aisle smoothly in, instead of having to reach down in front of her to hold the skirt out of her way, looking somewhat shaky on her feet during the aisle shots from behind her.)

Plus, a big home improvement project is a key part of the story, but there aren’t any significant before or after shots to show that the house in question looks any better in the end.

A Major Focus: Family

Still, I found the story itself interesting. The points of conflict aren’t simplistic or easily brushed away after two seconds. And again, comedy though it is, I’d say the serious parts of this holiday picture are the best. Besides, I’m all for “PG” Christmas entertainment where family is a major focus.

Continuing the Series?

While this movie takes care of the central issue—getting the main couple married—it’s made quite clear that the bride and groom have more to work out in their careers and whatnot. So I plan to watch at least one more movie in the series.


Go to Nadine's Holiday Books

The Christmas Shepherd (2014)

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4 Stars

The Christmas Shepherd (2014)
Rated TV-G

| Description

• Drama

Buddy, a German Shepherd with a Christmas Day birthday, means the world to widowed children’s book author Sally Brown. When a thunderstorm causes Buddy to run away from home, he ends up being adopted by a single father, Mark, and his daughter Emma.

| My Thoughts

Admittedly, even as much as I loved Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey as a kid, animal movies in general have never been my go-to kind of flick.

But the longer I watched this one, the fonder of it I became. Granted, the movie doesn’t center on Buddy the whole time. He’s a catalyst at key points but isn’t the protagonist.

A Rush, Then a Groove

During the first half-hour or so, the story takes some pretty big jumps in time, and there’s fairly rushed pacing to the scenes. It’s almost as if the characters fit in some quick lines while the scenes are hurrying by to get out of each other’s way.

Afterwhile, the movie gets into a better groove to tell its story of family and connection. The down-to-earth romantic thread has a mature flavor and believable rhythm to it. Also, though I wondered if young Emma would be one of those one-dimensional, self-absorbed bundles of angst for 95% of the movie (as it sometimes happens with adolescent kids in family flicks), that isn’t the case here. Emma turns out to be both an imperfect and admirable character.

Plus, Sally Does Books!

As a writer, I often have added appreciation for movies and novels about writers. Sally’s occupation was a nice bonus for me.

Yup. I quite enjoyed this family flick.


Go to Nadine's Holiday Books

Engaging Father Christmas (2017)

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4 Stars

Engaging Father Christmas (2017)
Rated TV-G

| Description

• Drama

In this sequel to Finding Father Christmas, Miranda leaves Seattle with a suitcase full of Christmas presents to join her long-lost family—and the man she loves, Ian—in Carlton Heath for the holiday. But what began last year as a search for Miranda’s father leads to the leaking of a sensitive family secret.

| My Thoughts

Well! I liked the novella Finding Father Christmas a little better than the movie based on the book. Now with the book’s sequel and this second movie, it’s the other way around for me.

Changes from Book to Movie

I feel like the sequel novella reminisced and pretty much coasted until it reached important stuff in the last quarter. In contrast, I’d say this related movie takes better advantage of the suspense theme, letting it build throughout the story. It raises the stakes for the characters, adding tension and more of a sense of a driving plot—without sacrificing the general warm Christmassy nature of the story.

Also unlike the books, the movies let us see the development of Miranda and Ian’s romance, from their meeting to falling in love. So the continuation of their relationship onscreen has the chance to be more than schmaltz. It’s sweet but with enough of a real feel to stay interesting.

A Bit More Time Needed

One dramatic turn and turnaround for the couple here is rather rushed. I could have done without the little handful of standard holiday flick-ish “cutesy kid” moments in the movie if it would have given Miranda and Ian’s conflict a bit more time/breathing room.

Continuing the Series?

All in all, I quite enjoyed this. Especially the theme about owning one’s story in truth and grace—and a family doing the same. I plan on watching the third movie later this year.

Here’s my review of the first book, Finding Father Christmas.


Go to Nadine's Holiday Books