Plot Summary
Dax is a spoiled rock star who is in trouble with the law and his publicist, so he needs publicity stunt to make him look good so that his merchandise will begin selling again. Thus, he flippantly agrees to grant the Christmas wish of a desperate fan by staying with them over Christmas holiday. Little does he know that he has been chosen to stay with a conservative pastor’s family in a small rural town in order to fulfill the wish. But love will probably find him there, so what’s he complaining about in the UP universe?
Production Quality (2.5 points)
UP has been able to successfully replicate the Hallmark production model by having respectable productions. Once again, Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas checks all the needed production boxes, including fine video quality, audio quality, and camera work. The soundtrack is about what you can expect, and the sets and locations are slightly limited. There are also plenty of Christmas props. The editing is mostly fine except for the stupid title cards throughout. Otherwise, this is a model production that comes with the territory of made-for-TV movies.
Plot and Storyline Quality (0 points)
Yawn. What else can we possibly say about this thoroughly worn out plot concept? A troubled rich city character gets stuck in a small town (actually more like one house) with a conservative group of characters, and he reconnects with his childhood or something and finds ‘unexpected’ love. In some ways, rendition seems like a satire or just pure click-bait. Characters are too empty due to stock dialogue as the circumstances sweep them along in inevitability. The Christian message is very vague and is designed to pander to Christian audiences. As expected, the progression is extremely predictable as two people are thrown together, don’t like each other at first, like each other after small talk, have their relationship get complicated by a strawman alternate love interest, get ‘torn apart,’ and then get thrown back together again to patch things up in the last few minutes before the credits roll. I think that about sums it all up.
Acting Quality (2 points)
UP has done a better job than Hallmark has at assembly mostly professional casts. They appear to actually coach their cast members and attempt to make them seem realistic. There are a handful of minor errors throughout this case that keep it from being perfect, but on the whole, it is a respectable effort.
Conclusion
Another day, another Christmas film from the movie factory. What is left to be said about companies like UP and Hallmark? They have to please the investors, so they roll out safe, predictable films that will be watched once during the holidays and then be forgotten. The plots are mindless, and they look good on the outside, so the mission is accomplished, and it’s on to the next one.
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 10 points
Box Office Revolution 