The Holiday Dating Guide

I've watched a few movies based on a guy being coerced into a bet to win a woman in a matter of weeks with it implied that the guy betting isn't going to get emotionally involved. I can't remember one where the woman makes the bet. Not exactly a bet, more like a challenge, but it's the same thing.

The lead couple has a meet cute with a spilled drink. (Actually they sort of met earlier when he spotted her do a victory dance outside a cafe.)

Abigale is super confident. Since she is a dating coach, she should be, but at first it seemed like too much. We quickly find out that she is actually a lot of fun and what seems like arrogance is more like playfulness. This takes what could have been just decent story and focuses the viewer on Abigale having fun with Michael. It's not surprising that Maria Menounos and Brent Bailey have great chemistry.

About half way through, we learn that Abigale is a little to obsessed with following rules and that promises to be important.

There's a nice twist at the 3/4th point. It's really too bad that the next development was ruined by a crucial letter that was wrinkled so I couldn't read it despite pausing it. What follows is predictable in a general sense, but maybe with another little twist.

The relationship between Abigale and Michael is what made the movie enjoyable for me. The ending is icing on the cake.