This is another Hallmark cinematic take on Charles Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol'. Last year, it was 'A Nashville Christmas Carol'. This year, drawing inspiration from Erika Marks's book, it is 'Boyfriends of Christmas Past'. Overall, it is an entertaining Christmas movie: not one of Hallmark's best nor one of their worse. It is also, I believe, a first for Hallmark: the celebration of the Korean-American culture in their Christmas movie series. The storyline centers on Lauren Kim (played by Catherine H. Kim), a driven marketing executive tasked with pitching a baking company account days before Christmas. Years ago, Lauren's birth mother abandoned her and her father on Christmas Eve, which, as we find out, has left its scars when it comes to Lauren's love life. It is through visits from boyfriends of Christmas past that she begins to realize that she has commitment issues, and that, it is Nate (played by Raymond Ablack), her long-time best friend, who she truly loves. The script is unoriginal, of course, but it does have its funny moments. Though the story was entertaining, there were several shortcomings with the script. For example, the writers could have done a better job of setting up and developing backstories for Lauren's relationships (or lack thereof) with Nate and her mother. This would have allowed the audience to develop more of a connection with Lauren. As it was, I did find it hard to connect with the Lauren character. The acting, overall, I thought was very strong. Like many reviewers, I was impressed with Ablack's performance. Simply put, it was convincing. Kim too had a decent performance. There was, however, something missing in their relationship, namely chemistry. It was not terrible, but I was not completely convinced by Kim's performance here. As another reviewer observed, 'her character never changes'. Good friends yes. In love, hmm, I am not sure. Worth mentioning is the casting in general: it was refreshing to see so many new faces on screen. Hallmark clearly has some talent to work with in the future. Finally, though there were plenty of Christmas decorations and festive scenes, I did not get that warm Christmas vibe that I usually get from Hallmark movies, which was somewhat of a disappointment. If you are a fan of Hallmark movies or the Christmas movie genre more broadly, 'Boyfriends of Christmas Past' is worth checking out. Though unoriginal and flawed, it is a cute, fun, and entertaining movie nonetheless.
49 Reviews
It's no great it's not bad
hypzrkunt29 October 2021
I really wanted to love this movie. The actors are good but chemistry is off. He has chemistry bu5 she never exhibits it. Her character never changes. I think she is great actress n I like the movie but maybe they needed another half hour to make it work.
I will watch again but some I will watch over n over this is a once a year movie. I5 never captured Christmas in Homestead or Christmas on my mind or even mistletoe promise.
I like hallmark but there ar3 few holiday classics I will watch redgularly like Rudolph and frosty.
This isn't it. I loved a boyfriend for Christmas but this missed the mark. A shame because everyone was great at their job but I think the script ran out of time they were given.
I will watch again but some I will watch over n over this is a once a year movie. I5 never captured Christmas in Homestead or Christmas on my mind or even mistletoe promise.
I like hallmark but there ar3 few holiday classics I will watch redgularly like Rudolph and frosty.
This isn't it. I loved a boyfriend for Christmas but this missed the mark. A shame because everyone was great at their job but I think the script ran out of time they were given.
Better than expected
Sergiodave3 December 2021
It's interesting that a lot of the bad reviews are comparing this movie to Dickens' A Christmas Carol, which it is loosely based on, when truthfully it should be compared to the Matthew McConaughey movie 'Ghosts of girlfriends past', of which it is very alike. Whilst this isn't quite as good, it's more than acceptable.
It's only a Dream...
rebekahrox2 November 2021
Despite the heroine's almost deliberate lack of insight into her own behavior being very annoying, I did enjoy this one. Hallmark seems to be making a real effort this year to break out the box of its own making. Time travel is a common Hallmark trope, but in this one, it's a little different with Lauren going back in time (in her dreams) with 3 of her former boyfriends. They are trying to tell her something: she has sabotaged all of her previous relationships as soon as they try to move to the next level of commitment. Yes, it's another take on A Christmas Carol, but Hallmark has not used this in a long time, to my memory. As opposed to fake boyfriend, bad city person being transformed by small-town life, save the beloved fill-in-the-blank from a corporation, or royalty in disguise. Or food competition, snowed in, or sad widow/widower for that matter. Or magic Santa. Or kid matchmaker. Somebody stop me.
Anyway, The breakups always occur around Christmas, and now a life-long relationship with her best friend who's in love with her is in danger. It is not until a trip into the future where she sees her soulmate proposing to another girl that she finally sees the light. I'm afraid I failed to see why this girl was able to attract such nice and attractive boyfriends (except the first one, who wore lipstick and dressed like an elf for some mysterious reason). But the actress was good. It's not her fault her character was such a pill. The very handsome and charismatic actor who played her true love was a stand-out. What a find! He looked so familiar but I hadn't seen him in anything else. I couldn't figure it out until I finally realized that he is the image of Jon Krasinski only Indian. He stole every scene.
Anyway, The breakups always occur around Christmas, and now a life-long relationship with her best friend who's in love with her is in danger. It is not until a trip into the future where she sees her soulmate proposing to another girl that she finally sees the light. I'm afraid I failed to see why this girl was able to attract such nice and attractive boyfriends (except the first one, who wore lipstick and dressed like an elf for some mysterious reason). But the actress was good. It's not her fault her character was such a pill. The very handsome and charismatic actor who played her true love was a stand-out. What a find! He looked so familiar but I hadn't seen him in anything else. I couldn't figure it out until I finally realized that he is the image of Jon Krasinski only Indian. He stole every scene.
Quite good...
paul_haakonsen8 December 2021
Well, this 2021 Christmas movie was actually a nice take on the classic tale of the ghosts of Christmas past. When I sat down to watch "Boyfriends of Christmas Past" from writer Lisa Parsons and director Don McBrearty, I wasn't sure what I was in for. I only saw the movie's cover, and opted to sit down and watch it.
The storyline was good and enjoyable, and as I mentioned above, it was a nice take on a classic Christmas story, updated to today's society and what not. So yeah, I was definitely genuinely entertained from watching this movie. And it is a movie that I can and will warmly recommend.
The story is about Lauren (played by Catherine Haena Kim) whom is visited by past boyfriends in the days up to Christmas, as she is struggling to realize and see something that is right before her very nose.
"Boyfriends of Christmas Past" was nicely constructed and had a good narrative. And that made for a very wholesome movie. And there certainly was a nice Christmas-feel to the entire movie.
The movie has a good cast ensemble, with the likes of Catherine Haena Kim, Raymond Ablack and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee on the cast list.
My rating of "Boyfriends of Christmas Past" lands on a six out of ten stars. This one is definitely worth the time and effort.
The storyline was good and enjoyable, and as I mentioned above, it was a nice take on a classic Christmas story, updated to today's society and what not. So yeah, I was definitely genuinely entertained from watching this movie. And it is a movie that I can and will warmly recommend.
The story is about Lauren (played by Catherine Haena Kim) whom is visited by past boyfriends in the days up to Christmas, as she is struggling to realize and see something that is right before her very nose.
"Boyfriends of Christmas Past" was nicely constructed and had a good narrative. And that made for a very wholesome movie. And there certainly was a nice Christmas-feel to the entire movie.
The movie has a good cast ensemble, with the likes of Catherine Haena Kim, Raymond Ablack and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee on the cast list.
My rating of "Boyfriends of Christmas Past" lands on a six out of ten stars. This one is definitely worth the time and effort.
No Chemistry!!
brisakriner1 November 2021
This story is a mix of two movies, Christmas Carol and Ghost of Girlfriends Past. The problem with this movie is the lead actors had no chemistry whatsoever. Throughout the entire movie, you see no transition from her end, while his character transitions. The storyline was good, but the actors were wrong. You need actors with on-screen chemistry. Plus, I don't understand how the story can be so long, yet the ending culminates in under 2 minutes.
Needs a Different Title
castlegirl0924 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This movie had WAY too many storylines and put literally the main part of the movie on the back burner.
Every scene mentions that Lauren is in love with Nate, to her face, in some way, so what was the point of the movie? She made it clear she didn't want to tell him her feelings.
The ex-boyfriends maybe get 3 minutes of screen time each, again, so what was the point in the movie? They spent so much more time focused on her job project.
This doesn't even hit the Hallmark warm fuzzies. Just skip it.
Every scene mentions that Lauren is in love with Nate, to her face, in some way, so what was the point of the movie? She made it clear she didn't want to tell him her feelings.
The ex-boyfriends maybe get 3 minutes of screen time each, again, so what was the point in the movie? They spent so much more time focused on her job project.
This doesn't even hit the Hallmark warm fuzzies. Just skip it.
Enjoyed
triciahyde8720 November 2021
This was the Christmas carol redo which is not original but it was nice to see non-white people. I enjoyed the characters and the family. I loved the dad (he is on Kim Convenience in Canada on CBC). They integrated the Korean culture just slightly into the movie. I just found it more realistic than most hallmark Christmas movies. Id like to see more like this. Interracial couples. I'm from an interracial couple so maybe I identify more with it.
Light and fluffy holiday fare
ladymustang-1216031 October 2021
It looks like I'm in the minority of people who really enjoyed this movie. The visits from the boyfriends were sweet, the lead actress was engaging, loved the actor playing Nate and most of the supporting actors. It was not one of Hallmark's finest, but it was just cute and fun to watch. It was an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours and wasn't your typical Christmas movie.
Disappointing
jenrn-0972224 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I guess because this is one of the kick-off movies for Hallmark, I may have expected too much. But this movie was a disappointment. It dragged, the lead actress was very wooden, the leading man needed a shave - badly. The movie was an interesting twist on "A Christmas Carol", but fell short of it's potential. There was not much back story explored for the best friend relationship between the leads, not enough "friend" interaction between the leads throughout the movie, so I never invested in the characters or really cared if they got together. He was supposed to be her best friend. There was just no chemistry between them so it never really came across. All their scenes together were short and seemed forced, none of the easy interactions you'd see between "best friends". She didn't really seem to show any feelings for him or any of the past boyfriends. The visits from the past boyfriends were extremely short, and consisted of one short 5-minute scene with each. There's no way she would have figured out what they were trying to show her. There was way too much wasted time on chats with her coworker and scenes watching her work that did nothing to forward the story - time that could have been used to develop the characters and plot. The back story about her mother was barely mentioned, and though it was the source of her issues, it was never fully explored. It was never explored why it caused her so much trauma that she couldn't maintain any type of relationship. This was supposed to be a Christmas movie, but didn't have a Christmas feel, except some short gift wrapping and party scenes. Too much time was spent in her office, with no decorations in sight, no coworkers preparing for Christmas. I hope this isn't how all the Hallmark Christmas movies are going to go this year, because this one was just not engaging. I fell asleep and had to finish it later...
Ray Ablack
splashpont24 October 2021
Need I say more? (But I will.)
The movie is a great variation on the Scrooge theme. But it's not about money, but something more important: opening one's self to real love.
It was nice to see the next generation of faces as well. (See what I did there?) There are enough xmas movie channels to see our favorite actors of all ages (including our longtime favorites) to spread the roles out.
The movie is a great variation on the Scrooge theme. But it's not about money, but something more important: opening one's self to real love.
It was nice to see the next generation of faces as well. (See what I did there?) There are enough xmas movie channels to see our favorite actors of all ages (including our longtime favorites) to spread the roles out.
Great casting for main characters! Predictable story
mccabe-shannon29 October 2021
I really enjoyed these two main characters. It is nice to see some newer stars, and I really liked both of these folks and that had good chemistry. The story is predictable, I mean everyone knows what's going to happen by the name. The actually movie is pretty good. Wig is bad. Other boyfriends were pretty good. Definitely on the better end of hallmark movies (which i still love them all!)
Opening hearts
TheLittleSongbird2 December 2021
Expectations were rather mixed prior to watching 'Boyfriends of Christmas Past'. While absolutely adoring the timeless 'A Christmas Carol' story, reading it every Christmas and watching most of the numerous adaptations of it is something of a tradition, it has been adapted and parodied so many times and was worried that it would feel very tired and rehashed. Worried as to whether anything new would be done with it. The idea here did sound interesting and an attempt at something different.
Unfortunately, it was not done very well at all. Was not impressed by the previous 2021 Countdown to Christmas film 'You Me and Christmas Trees', and despite having stronger potential and having a less predictable premise 'Boyfriends of Christmas Past' was worse. It does very little new with such a timeless classic and despite trying to stray away from the formula a little the execution still manages to be rather predictable and ordinary. Why attempt any differences if you are going to do nothing with it or at least anything new?
'Boyfriends of Christmas Past' is not a complete shambles. The best thing about it is the very appealing and understated yet charismatic performance of Raymond Ablack, who really does make the most of what he is given and does such a good job doing so. Did like the father and stepmother characters as well.
It looks pretty good as a film, Hallmark nearly always delivers when it comes to the scenery and it's lovely here and if production was hurried and on a low budget it didn't show in the way the film is photographed.
A lot less appealing however is the lead performance of Catherine Kim, she came over as very wooden and emotionally there is next to nothing in her performance. Everything about it is bland and ill at ease. None of the rest of the cast stand out, it was impossible for the actors playing the ex boyfriends to do so considering how their characters are written. There is no chemistry between Kim and Ablack, part of it is down to her performance and a big part of the problem is how poorly fleshed out the relationship is, very little is done with it.
Which is true of all the relationships in 'Boyfriends of Christmas Past'. Promising on paper but very underdeveloped. Everything with the ex boyfriends that the film centres so heavily around had so much potential but the execution of it was at best ordinary and half-baked, the characters hurt by their screen time all being far too brief to register properly, their scenes being rushed in pace and that they come over more as vignettes than real people. The story is very predictable, with an over obvious conclusion, and quite slow going, with it also being a mess of under-baked and under-seasoned ideas rather than a cohesive story. The dialogue is stilted and full of cheese and schmaltz and will agree with anybody that says that there is too much focus on the job, that the lead character doesn't really grow (a big problem for this premise) and that it doesn't feel like a Christmas film.
Overall, very disappointing with so little done with its strong potential. 3/10.
Unfortunately, it was not done very well at all. Was not impressed by the previous 2021 Countdown to Christmas film 'You Me and Christmas Trees', and despite having stronger potential and having a less predictable premise 'Boyfriends of Christmas Past' was worse. It does very little new with such a timeless classic and despite trying to stray away from the formula a little the execution still manages to be rather predictable and ordinary. Why attempt any differences if you are going to do nothing with it or at least anything new?
'Boyfriends of Christmas Past' is not a complete shambles. The best thing about it is the very appealing and understated yet charismatic performance of Raymond Ablack, who really does make the most of what he is given and does such a good job doing so. Did like the father and stepmother characters as well.
It looks pretty good as a film, Hallmark nearly always delivers when it comes to the scenery and it's lovely here and if production was hurried and on a low budget it didn't show in the way the film is photographed.
A lot less appealing however is the lead performance of Catherine Kim, she came over as very wooden and emotionally there is next to nothing in her performance. Everything about it is bland and ill at ease. None of the rest of the cast stand out, it was impossible for the actors playing the ex boyfriends to do so considering how their characters are written. There is no chemistry between Kim and Ablack, part of it is down to her performance and a big part of the problem is how poorly fleshed out the relationship is, very little is done with it.
Which is true of all the relationships in 'Boyfriends of Christmas Past'. Promising on paper but very underdeveloped. Everything with the ex boyfriends that the film centres so heavily around had so much potential but the execution of it was at best ordinary and half-baked, the characters hurt by their screen time all being far too brief to register properly, their scenes being rushed in pace and that they come over more as vignettes than real people. The story is very predictable, with an over obvious conclusion, and quite slow going, with it also being a mess of under-baked and under-seasoned ideas rather than a cohesive story. The dialogue is stilted and full of cheese and schmaltz and will agree with anybody that says that there is too much focus on the job, that the lead character doesn't really grow (a big problem for this premise) and that it doesn't feel like a Christmas film.
Overall, very disappointing with so little done with its strong potential. 3/10.
Bad casting
bmss-3458726 October 2021
Just wondering if anyone finds this disturbing. The main character was played by Catherine Haena Kim, (DOB May 19,1984) 37 years old. And the dad played by. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (DOB. Aug.16, 1972) 49 years old. So the dad was 12 years old when the daughter was born?!? I'm fully aware that the the movie TRIED to make the dad older and the daughter younger, but even with the simple math, the story line would put Lauren Kim age about 34.... Young dad at 20?!? The dad look way too young to be over 50 years old. Yet alone mid 50's.... Not sure which is worst, this or "A Christmas Melody", where Lacey Chabert and Mariah Carey graduated together.....with a 10 years difference in age. I guess Mariah was REALLY bad at school where she had to repeat each grade twice.😁
Not the best, but enjoyable to say the least
firebolt-0551720 November 2021
Despite most of the negative or indifferent criticisms that others have posted, this movie is far from the worst that Hallmark Channel has delivered for Christmastime. While I will agree that the movie could have used a few tweaks to make it much better, I definitely enjoyed it and will add it to my list of cheesy Christmas movie guilty pleasures.
So much food in this best friends to lovers romance.
cgvsluis12 December 2023
Why do men fall for emotionally unavailable women? Seriously Lauren Kim should have a sign that says run away. She is a serial commitmentphobe and her friends have let her get away with it. Clearly affected by her mother leaving her and her father, Lauren has left every relationship that has gotten serious. This is where the boyfriends of Christmas past come in...to show her the error of her ways. Meanwhile her best friend, Nate has been right there in love with her all along, but Lauren seems to be the last one to see it.
Filmedin Ontario, Canada there were some great locales that I would love to see including a Christmas shop with a working train and a domed outdoor structure that was decorated for Christmas.
As a romantic, I felt this really lacked romance except for the end, so I can't recommend it to romantics, but I can recommend it to people who enjoy a different holiday take on a Scrooge-like story.
Filmedin Ontario, Canada there were some great locales that I would love to see including a Christmas shop with a working train and a domed outdoor structure that was decorated for Christmas.
As a romantic, I felt this really lacked romance except for the end, so I can't recommend it to romantics, but I can recommend it to people who enjoy a different holiday take on a Scrooge-like story.
At least the fantasy aspect of being visited by ghosts was cool.
ELashes24 October 2021
I don't know if marketing people themselves are actually the ones writing these stories or what, but if I have to see one more Hallmark movie about a marketer I'm going to throw my hot chocolate at the screen. I'm sick of movies about people trying to reform workaholics in general. "Oh my gosh y'all look how busy I am!" Too busy to watch Hallmark movies I bet, so have mercy on the rest of us. Just once I want to see some chill people falling in love and enjoying their lives. I would ask what the selfless social worker even saw in her but he was one of those dudes who waits around forever to date a woman by being her "friend," so never mind they deserve each other. Kind of a toxic story, the emotional parts weren't emotional, and the funny parts weren't funny.
Loved it!
pgibbons-8395326 October 2021
The lead actor and actress were both fantastic. The dad and stepmom were charming and fun. I had no idea what to expect, but I truly loved it. I hope to see these leads become regulars on Hallmark! I truly don't know what the negative reviews are talking about, everyone did a wonderful job.
Fairly entertaining Hallmark
herrcarter-9216112 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I thought this movie was reasonably entertaining. Apparently, a lot of other IMDb reviewers didn't agree with me. What I liked most, though, was that it was more original than your typical Hallmark offering. There was no return to a small town to connect with an old flame. No noble small business in danger of destruction by an evil corporation. Nothing to do with food, wine or dogs. This movie was based on a book, so I guess that allowed Hallmark to escape the tired, cookie-cutter storylines generated by their standard cabal of writers.
The performances were pretty good. The character of Lauren wasn't super likable, but to be fair, Catherine Haena Kim played her to perfection. She is a commitment-phobic workaholic who pushes away every guy who gets close to her, and that's how Catherine played her. It would have been nice for us to see glimpses of a caring, flesh-and-blood human being under that cold exterior, but that only came at the very end. Raymond Ablack was great as her super understanding friend Nate, who is secretly in love with her. As a character, I thought Nate was just a little too perfect. He's a caring soul who devotes his life to foster kids, and he is a selfless friend to Lauren, and lets her take his friendship for granted way too many times. I'm glad that he eventually stopped taking the abuse from her and put her in her place toward the end of the movie. My teenage daughter would call him a simp, which is slang for a guy who is so in love with a girl, he lets her walk all over him. Thankfully, he eventually got a backbone.
I think this is a fairly clever twist on the classic "A Christmas Carol". Lauren certainly isn't as odious as the original miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, but in her own way, she is just as toxic in the way she historically pushes away good guys who sincerely love her. I do wish we had seen her show more regret as she cycled through her past relationships, and more realization that Nate was more than just a friend. She didn't really change until close to the end, when she sees Nate proposing in the future to another (let's be honest, much nicer) girl. That's way too quick of a character arc.
Many will make a big deal out of the fact that the cast of this movie was more racially diverse than we usually see on Hallmark. I personally couldn't care less, as long as the actors give good performances. I did, however, enjoy that the heroine and her family were Korean and that Korean food and culture played a role in the movie. It just made it more interesting.
To summarize, this movie, though not perfect, was enjoyable enough, and I give it a lot of points for originality.
The performances were pretty good. The character of Lauren wasn't super likable, but to be fair, Catherine Haena Kim played her to perfection. She is a commitment-phobic workaholic who pushes away every guy who gets close to her, and that's how Catherine played her. It would have been nice for us to see glimpses of a caring, flesh-and-blood human being under that cold exterior, but that only came at the very end. Raymond Ablack was great as her super understanding friend Nate, who is secretly in love with her. As a character, I thought Nate was just a little too perfect. He's a caring soul who devotes his life to foster kids, and he is a selfless friend to Lauren, and lets her take his friendship for granted way too many times. I'm glad that he eventually stopped taking the abuse from her and put her in her place toward the end of the movie. My teenage daughter would call him a simp, which is slang for a guy who is so in love with a girl, he lets her walk all over him. Thankfully, he eventually got a backbone.
I think this is a fairly clever twist on the classic "A Christmas Carol". Lauren certainly isn't as odious as the original miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, but in her own way, she is just as toxic in the way she historically pushes away good guys who sincerely love her. I do wish we had seen her show more regret as she cycled through her past relationships, and more realization that Nate was more than just a friend. She didn't really change until close to the end, when she sees Nate proposing in the future to another (let's be honest, much nicer) girl. That's way too quick of a character arc.
Many will make a big deal out of the fact that the cast of this movie was more racially diverse than we usually see on Hallmark. I personally couldn't care less, as long as the actors give good performances. I did, however, enjoy that the heroine and her family were Korean and that Korean food and culture played a role in the movie. It just made it more interesting.
To summarize, this movie, though not perfect, was enjoyable enough, and I give it a lot of points for originality.
Cute concept, but...
mcmiller5324 October 2021
The lead actress Catherine Kim is too old for the part and is a fairly modest actor to make up for it. Not a good combo. Great acting could've saved the obvious age difference between the two leads especially up against the vibrant leading man.
The leading man, Raymond Ablack, was unhelpful by being a first rate actor and made the disconnect between the two even more distinct.
The story was benign and writing was fair but uninspired. This all kept it from being a "watch again" for me. Do more with Mr. Ablack, tho, please. He has real star quality and acting chops. Agree with others that he needs a shave, tho.
All in all, blah.
The leading man, Raymond Ablack, was unhelpful by being a first rate actor and made the disconnect between the two even more distinct.
The story was benign and writing was fair but uninspired. This all kept it from being a "watch again" for me. Do more with Mr. Ablack, tho, please. He has real star quality and acting chops. Agree with others that he needs a shave, tho.
All in all, blah.
Another twist on a Christmas Carol
Jackbv12324 October 2021
Of course from the title, it's going to be pretty obvious that this is some kind of twist on A Christmas Carol. Unfortunately for me, there have been too many. For the viewer that likes a clever twist on that classic, you may well enjoy this.
I thought the acting was only fair, especially for the leads. Likewise the chemistry. And the story was just too plain. The point of the visitations is pretty obvious from the first one. It seemed like the movie was just stretching out a very simple storyline with a very predictable ending. Dream, wake up, and repeat.
To make matters worse for me, what Lauren does in her job, what has been done in so many similar situations in other movies, is something I hate, and the one thing I was hoping wouldn't happen. You'll know what I mean when you get there.
I thought the acting was only fair, especially for the leads. Likewise the chemistry. And the story was just too plain. The point of the visitations is pretty obvious from the first one. It seemed like the movie was just stretching out a very simple storyline with a very predictable ending. Dream, wake up, and repeat.
To make matters worse for me, what Lauren does in her job, what has been done in so many similar situations in other movies, is something I hate, and the one thing I was hoping wouldn't happen. You'll know what I mean when you get there.
Raymond Ablack Should Have Been The Lead
Aussie0825 October 2021
I'm watching this now and it's ... okay at best. It barely tips over the line into "watchable". I applaud Hallmark for widening the pool of actors they constantly recycle, but that's one of only two good points.
The second being Raymond Ablack. I'll get this out of the way, the man is gorgeous with a capital G. To the person who, in another review, said the actor needed a shave ... what does that tell viewers about the actual film? (And in my *opinion*, no, he doesn't.) The actor is very babyfaced, and without the scruff, it would've only made the age gap between the actors would have looked far bigger.
Which is weird because they're actually only four years apart, but Catherine Haena Kim looks much older. Perhaps it was wardrobe and makeup? In the flashbacks the "younger" Lauren looks like a 45 year old woman in a bad wig.
Speaking of awkward, lord is Kim bad in this. Perhaps she's fantastic in other roles, but here every word that comes out of her mouth feels wooden. Whether she's talking to her parents or Nate, she almost always reads as stiff and out of place. I wish they'd made Ryamond Ablack the lead instead. He has a charm and kindness that is the saving grace of this film.
I'll update this if things change by the end of the film, but as it stands, unless you're a fan of Ablack, or are desperate for two Asian leads in Christmas film (which is cool), this one is skippable.
The second being Raymond Ablack. I'll get this out of the way, the man is gorgeous with a capital G. To the person who, in another review, said the actor needed a shave ... what does that tell viewers about the actual film? (And in my *opinion*, no, he doesn't.) The actor is very babyfaced, and without the scruff, it would've only made the age gap between the actors would have looked far bigger.
Which is weird because they're actually only four years apart, but Catherine Haena Kim looks much older. Perhaps it was wardrobe and makeup? In the flashbacks the "younger" Lauren looks like a 45 year old woman in a bad wig.
Speaking of awkward, lord is Kim bad in this. Perhaps she's fantastic in other roles, but here every word that comes out of her mouth feels wooden. Whether she's talking to her parents or Nate, she almost always reads as stiff and out of place. I wish they'd made Ryamond Ablack the lead instead. He has a charm and kindness that is the saving grace of this film.
I'll update this if things change by the end of the film, but as it stands, unless you're a fan of Ablack, or are desperate for two Asian leads in Christmas film (which is cool), this one is skippable.
So so
tsinghacu24 October 2021
It's an okay movie but the whole Christmas past thing is over played. Also Lauren... Is not it. Her acting is terrible. Nate is great. I actually met him on set for Degrassi auditions haha small world. They should've cast another female though. Sorry Lauren. The ending was pretty obvious. Within the first few minutes I knew what would happen.
Forced, Very Forced
YabbaDabbaDabba6 November 2021
I tried, I really tried. I guessed correctly that it was a 2021 movie attempt, ugh, that tried but just failed. I just hope this forced miscasting isn't a trend. There was absolutely no chemistry, and by the way, they should have cast professionals for behind and in front of the camera. Good script, well acceptable anyway, that was poorly executed. Out of charity, I decided to grade it a 2 when it should have been a 1 (or less). Big hint: Use pros next time.
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