6 reviews
Sloppy lazy reuse . just tweeked the storyline a little and changed up just enough to more or less reuse and old plot and call it original(not)
Love Christmas and Christmas films, and there are good festive Hallmark films out there. No, there has never been any personal bias against Hallmark. Having said that, expectations were not high. The premise sounded ridiculous and shallow, it did not look promising and trusted Christmas Hallmark film fans had a very low opinion of it. Decided though to see 'A Christmas for the Books' and was determined to not say anything personal against the lead actress or attack her looks like others have.
'A Christmas for the Books' unfortunately did turn out to be that bad, even when trying to judge it for what it was and not take it too seriously. It was hard to do any of those things with so much done wrong, the worst components done to an insulting degree. It actually was even worse than advertised and made out to be, and of my recent festive film quest 'A Christmas for the Books' by quite some way is down there with the worst. Something that is not being said with any pleasure or intended disrespect.
The best and only really good thing about 'A Christmas for the Books' is the location for the apartment. That was really lovely, an adjective that cannot be used for the rest of the film.
Everything else is a failure. The look of the film in general is drab, failing to capture the magical atmosphere of the holiday and the editing and the flow from frame to frame looked like it was done in a rush. This did not look like a film made by people that loved Christmas. Music is an important thing for talking about when reviewing anything and Christmas has some of the catchiest and most timeless tunes around. Didn't find much special with this component here.
Dialogue is ridden with cheese, soap and contrivance, enough to cause unintentional laughter and groans. Not things you want to feel watching something that should uplift, warm and move you, of which the dialogue for 'A Christmas for the Books' does none of those things. The story is basically the same formula and similar plot-line for most Hallmark festive films, but without any of the heart, charm and warmth of most of them. There is no energy here, it is cold emotionally, the story is even more ridiculous than the premise suggested (nothing rings true) and there is no substance whatsoever.
Not to mention the dubious messaging and a lead character that is impossible to endear to. The acting is weak, particularly from Chelsea Kane, am not going to go on about her looks to the extent that others have done but my brief take on it is that she does look ill. Drew Seeley phones in and the rest of the cast just have nothing to work with. The chemistry throughout is as stiff as one can get.
On the whole, very bad and not one for the books. 2/10
'A Christmas for the Books' unfortunately did turn out to be that bad, even when trying to judge it for what it was and not take it too seriously. It was hard to do any of those things with so much done wrong, the worst components done to an insulting degree. It actually was even worse than advertised and made out to be, and of my recent festive film quest 'A Christmas for the Books' by quite some way is down there with the worst. Something that is not being said with any pleasure or intended disrespect.
The best and only really good thing about 'A Christmas for the Books' is the location for the apartment. That was really lovely, an adjective that cannot be used for the rest of the film.
Everything else is a failure. The look of the film in general is drab, failing to capture the magical atmosphere of the holiday and the editing and the flow from frame to frame looked like it was done in a rush. This did not look like a film made by people that loved Christmas. Music is an important thing for talking about when reviewing anything and Christmas has some of the catchiest and most timeless tunes around. Didn't find much special with this component here.
Dialogue is ridden with cheese, soap and contrivance, enough to cause unintentional laughter and groans. Not things you want to feel watching something that should uplift, warm and move you, of which the dialogue for 'A Christmas for the Books' does none of those things. The story is basically the same formula and similar plot-line for most Hallmark festive films, but without any of the heart, charm and warmth of most of them. There is no energy here, it is cold emotionally, the story is even more ridiculous than the premise suggested (nothing rings true) and there is no substance whatsoever.
Not to mention the dubious messaging and a lead character that is impossible to endear to. The acting is weak, particularly from Chelsea Kane, am not going to go on about her looks to the extent that others have done but my brief take on it is that she does look ill. Drew Seeley phones in and the rest of the cast just have nothing to work with. The chemistry throughout is as stiff as one can get.
On the whole, very bad and not one for the books. 2/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 23, 2019
- Permalink
I've seen this actress Chelsea Kane in another Christmas movie and I felt the same way about her in each movie. Which is: I don't understand why someone in the make-up department didn't fix her hair.
It looked dirty and dry and in great need of a good conditioner.
She isn't a lovable actress. Or even likable. There is nothing about her that would make me think that she could get any guy.
Hallmark, with so many actresses out there, why choose Chelsea Kane?
I won't be watching this movie or any other movie she's in.
And while they're at it, fix her makeup.
I can't be the only one who feels this way. Her hair is so ugly that it distracted me from paying attention to what the movie was even about.
Turned this one off after 20 minutes.
She isn't a lovable actress. Or even likable. There is nothing about her that would make me think that she could get any guy.
Hallmark, with so many actresses out there, why choose Chelsea Kane?
I won't be watching this movie or any other movie she's in.
And while they're at it, fix her makeup.
I can't be the only one who feels this way. Her hair is so ugly that it distracted me from paying attention to what the movie was even about.
Turned this one off after 20 minutes.
- malachite-78432
- Dec 12, 2020
- Permalink
Could never get into this movie, thought the leads were stiff, did not mesh. It has popped up frequently in the Hallmark 24/7 viewing season, guess some some folks like it.
What I got distracted with were all her growths and her stupid name LOL. The hair didn't help.All the acting was bad, but it's a Hallmark movie so I've learned to accept it. The best of the worst was by the actor playing Ted, and the worst imo was Valerie! The plot again like most Hallmark movies was the same one dimensional plot.
- lazygafiltafish
- Dec 29, 2020
- Permalink
To finish this film was a real struggle to be honest. Boring plot, tacky sets and actors that definitely didn't produce any chemistry between them whatsoever. Maybe not that easy with such a boring plot.
The leading actress is so thin that she's almost invisible in profile. Her styling and makeup is also out of this world! She looks like an old Chinese woman with a bleached mop on her head! I have nothing against Chinese old women nor cleaning equipment but I think the sky would fall down before this quite handsome guy even would look at her less so be her boyfriend.
Best thing with this movie is the short length. Any longer and I would have had to be sedated to finish it. Do I have to say that this is not one of the top ten Hallmark movies?
The leading actress is so thin that she's almost invisible in profile. Her styling and makeup is also out of this world! She looks like an old Chinese woman with a bleached mop on her head! I have nothing against Chinese old women nor cleaning equipment but I think the sky would fall down before this quite handsome guy even would look at her less so be her boyfriend.
Best thing with this movie is the short length. Any longer and I would have had to be sedated to finish it. Do I have to say that this is not one of the top ten Hallmark movies?