It is hugely enjoyable and cute for what it is, and interesting to see the process of the building of the festival float with flowers throughout the whole film. I found it quite enjoyable. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 12/26/2020
12 Reviews
Not much romance but the floats are nice
phd_travel3 April 2019
He needs a float for his company she is the maker. They bicker and bicker then suddenly there is romance.
The float prep is interesting. Marc Bendavid and Rachel Boston are the couple.
Not quite enough for a romance movie.
The float prep is interesting. Marc Bendavid and Rachel Boston are the couple.
Not quite enough for a romance movie.
Pleasant Enough
Christmas-Reviewer2 January 2017
BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THAT PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.
Andy is a passionate artist whose family has been building Rose Parade floats for generations. When her Dad gets sick, Andy is forced to take the helm and supervise the construction and decoration of their client's float. And to make matters worse, she's saddled with the extra challenge of dealing with a demanding businessman whose company commissioned the float. She learns they are not happy with her at all!
This was the last "Hallmark Christmas Movie for 2016". Even though it premiered in New Years Day 2017.
Now I about cringed when I saw Rachel Boston because I still have nightmares of seeing the film she did called "Holiday High School Reunion". Rachel however is a fine actress and brings her A Game Here. Now the plot is very predictable. It offers nothing exciting. What does work the best in this entire story is that you are rooting for the two leads to hookup
Andy is a passionate artist whose family has been building Rose Parade floats for generations. When her Dad gets sick, Andy is forced to take the helm and supervise the construction and decoration of their client's float. And to make matters worse, she's saddled with the extra challenge of dealing with a demanding businessman whose company commissioned the float. She learns they are not happy with her at all!
This was the last "Hallmark Christmas Movie for 2016". Even though it premiered in New Years Day 2017.
Now I about cringed when I saw Rachel Boston because I still have nightmares of seeing the film she did called "Holiday High School Reunion". Rachel however is a fine actress and brings her A Game Here. Now the plot is very predictable. It offers nothing exciting. What does work the best in this entire story is that you are rooting for the two leads to hookup
A festive rose that doesn't bloom
TheLittleSongbird29 June 2021
Actually liked the idea of the story, which had a setting that set itself apart from a lot of Hallmark's festive efforts. Even if it still sounded formulaic, which is pretty much what one expects from Hallmark anyway. The title was quite cute, refraining too much from being too cheesy like film titles from Hallmark can be in game attempts to be cute and catchy. Still saw the film for completest sake and as someone who has never immediately written a Hallmark Christmas film off, enough of their stuff is watchable.
There is plenty of films of theirs that are average and below. While not one of their worst, 'A Rose for Christmas' is one of them. In no way is it a masterpiece, with too many major flaws. It also isn't an abomination either, as there are a few good things. Not one of Hallmark's best by any stretch from that year or overall, but also not one of their worst on both counts. 'A Rose for Christmas' was hardly doomed from the start, but the potential it had is not lived up to unfortunately.
It does have good things. It looks pleasant and professional enough visually. The scenery is particularly lovely. Did like everything to do with the float preparation, which was interesting and charming and never forced and that it isn't focused on too much was appreciated.
Marc Bendavid is an amiable male lead, while Michael Kopsa is touching and his story has a good deal of heart.
However, there are many major flaws with 'A Rose for Christmas' which stops it from blossoming. A big weak link is Rachel Boston, have liked her in other things but she didn't work for me here. To me she over-compensates and her delivery all round lacked any kind of shade or subtlety. Really didn't like her character either, too abrasive and selfish and she doesn't treat others well, she also never really grows as a character. There is no chemistry at all between Boston and Bendavid, with a completely underdeveloped, rushed and abruptly introduced (late in) romance.
Furthermore, the script is cheesily awkward, treacly and even repetitive. There is an awful lot of bickering and it got too much and very old fast. It made me struggle to care for the lead characters with that amount of negative energy. Of the characters, the only one to be interesting or connect with her was the father. The story is dully paced, very thin with an over-stretched-feeling middle act and no surprises at all. Emotionally, it is very bland as well, the charm is not there, it takes itself too seriously and the only heart comes from the father.
All in all, lacklustre. 4/10.
There is plenty of films of theirs that are average and below. While not one of their worst, 'A Rose for Christmas' is one of them. In no way is it a masterpiece, with too many major flaws. It also isn't an abomination either, as there are a few good things. Not one of Hallmark's best by any stretch from that year or overall, but also not one of their worst on both counts. 'A Rose for Christmas' was hardly doomed from the start, but the potential it had is not lived up to unfortunately.
It does have good things. It looks pleasant and professional enough visually. The scenery is particularly lovely. Did like everything to do with the float preparation, which was interesting and charming and never forced and that it isn't focused on too much was appreciated.
Marc Bendavid is an amiable male lead, while Michael Kopsa is touching and his story has a good deal of heart.
However, there are many major flaws with 'A Rose for Christmas' which stops it from blossoming. A big weak link is Rachel Boston, have liked her in other things but she didn't work for me here. To me she over-compensates and her delivery all round lacked any kind of shade or subtlety. Really didn't like her character either, too abrasive and selfish and she doesn't treat others well, she also never really grows as a character. There is no chemistry at all between Boston and Bendavid, with a completely underdeveloped, rushed and abruptly introduced (late in) romance.
Furthermore, the script is cheesily awkward, treacly and even repetitive. There is an awful lot of bickering and it got too much and very old fast. It made me struggle to care for the lead characters with that amount of negative energy. Of the characters, the only one to be interesting or connect with her was the father. The story is dully paced, very thin with an over-stretched-feeling middle act and no surprises at all. Emotionally, it is very bland as well, the charm is not there, it takes itself too seriously and the only heart comes from the father.
All in all, lacklustre. 4/10.
the float
Kirpianuscus25 December 2020
A nice romance around creating a float. Not impressive, maybe not real credible but good spices for an old recipe. Seductive and charming in few scenes, it has, in essence, as main characters, the huge bear and the waterfall. And, unfortunatelly, not real much.
watch with ear plugs and subtitles !
linda-plant21 November 2019
Until I read another thread on here, I thought I was the only one who thought that Rachel Boston shouted her lines instead of delivering them in a normal voice. Does she believe her audience are all hard of hearing ? with that and her constant wide eyed form of acting, she is always an irritating watch.
HALLMARK, whoever is responsible for the set dressing can they please make the snow look more realistic !! the 'melting' pavement snow is so obviously white sheeting, that one of the characters almost tripped up as her foot caught in the fabric when she was in shot and walking along !!! I did laugh.
The storyline was different and the rest of the cast made it an easy view.
HALLMARK, whoever is responsible for the set dressing can they please make the snow look more realistic !! the 'melting' pavement snow is so obviously white sheeting, that one of the characters almost tripped up as her foot caught in the fabric when she was in shot and walking along !!! I did laugh.
The storyline was different and the rest of the cast made it an easy view.
Rose for Christmas "Rose Up" to the Occasion- Well Done
gehewe18 February 2017
The movie was well done. The writers put in the little things that make a movie interesting and memorable (e.g., a quote from Van Gogh was used, we develop some nick-names, an auction scene). The two main characters Andy "chaos" (Rachel Boston) and Cliff "bulldozer" (Marc Bendavid) were well developed with the supporting cast adding humor and advancing the story well. The focus on the main characters is always a plus for me, so many Christmas movies fail because they needlessly develop the supporting cast too much. Rachel Boston was always there to move the story along with her smile and enthusiasm. I was impressed that the movie was still fresh and exciting right until the end. Michael Kopsa was used well in the key role as the father. I disagree with the 2 previous reviews. This one is worth the watch.
Very boring, very average
namtrac-979384 February 2017
This movie is predictable to a T. It follows the typical romantic comedy recipe where the female lead and male lead are at odds and fall in love in the end. The female lead is your common daddy's girl who likes art, and the male lead is supposed to be this hotshot Mr. Business city boy type who ~~just doesn't understand ART!~~ You pretty much know they're going to end up together as soon as the male lead walks into the room.
Another huge problem is that the movie fails at creating any tension. Okay, so Rose needs to build a parade float because her father is too sick to do it. And if she doesn't make the float on time...what happens? She's just not in the parade? Why wouldn't she be able to do it next year? Why should I care about this float and how it's made?
Part of the movie is just them advertising for help they need to build the float (which begs the question: how has Rose's father has been making this float for a while if he's not getting the same people or amount of people every year to make it, and why is it a problem this year?). This brings in a bunch of side characters who I suppose are adding a little comedy to the film (like how the blonde college girl sneezes a lot while making the float), but all the jokes just fall flat.
There are also some details that the director and crew overlooked while making the film. For example, in the beginning of the movie, Rose is welding something together. She wears the suit and the mask (in a way that hides her face so we can have the clichéd joke where the male lead thinks Rose is a man because he can't see her face and she is doing something some people consider masculine), but she doesn't tie her hair up in a ponytail or bun. (I would've given this movie two more stars if her hair had caught on fire in the middle of the scene.)
Overall, this movie is boring. You know how it's going to end, and the writers don't add anything different or unique to try to make this movie stand out. Give this one a skip.
Another huge problem is that the movie fails at creating any tension. Okay, so Rose needs to build a parade float because her father is too sick to do it. And if she doesn't make the float on time...what happens? She's just not in the parade? Why wouldn't she be able to do it next year? Why should I care about this float and how it's made?
Part of the movie is just them advertising for help they need to build the float (which begs the question: how has Rose's father has been making this float for a while if he's not getting the same people or amount of people every year to make it, and why is it a problem this year?). This brings in a bunch of side characters who I suppose are adding a little comedy to the film (like how the blonde college girl sneezes a lot while making the float), but all the jokes just fall flat.
There are also some details that the director and crew overlooked while making the film. For example, in the beginning of the movie, Rose is welding something together. She wears the suit and the mask (in a way that hides her face so we can have the clichéd joke where the male lead thinks Rose is a man because he can't see her face and she is doing something some people consider masculine), but she doesn't tie her hair up in a ponytail or bun. (I would've given this movie two more stars if her hair had caught on fire in the middle of the scene.)
Overall, this movie is boring. You know how it's going to end, and the writers don't add anything different or unique to try to make this movie stand out. Give this one a skip.
Terrible premise, worst script
indiedavid19 November 2019
Even by Hallmark standards, this film is dreadful. Companies do not send liaisons to oversee the structural designs of parade floats. If they did, it wouldn't be a pompous middle management who conducts international business for the company. The dialogue is just horrible and seems like it was written by an amateur. Rachel Boston must not read this scripts or she is obligated to do whatever Hallmark throws her way. Sad.
A Rose for Christmas
omijer2 November 2017
At best, this movie showed the viewer some of the work that goes into preparing a float of the Rose Parade. That may be the most interesting part of this film. The lead actor is quite attractive and did his best in a role that was predictable but still romantic enough to satisfy the Hallmark movie viewer. The most distracting and almost irritating aspect of the film was Rachel Boston's performance. She is attractive, tall, slim, perky. But her acting range is so limited, it made the role too one dimensional..Her lines seem all to be at the same voice pitch and volume..twangy, flat and very loud. Whatever lines she was delivering all sounded too loud..too forced, not at all nuanced. Her delivery is one dimensional as well..through a smile and gritted teeth..She should have modulated her voice..her volume, her range of emotions in her lines. It is lovely to see an actress smile in film, but this actress smiled throughout every scene..so there was no range of emotions visible..
her costars did a great job..Her leading man is quite talented, handsome, romantic..just what a Hallmark movie watcher wants to see. But the lead actress needs some lessons in how to slow down, tone down, let the word s of the script determine her volume and her smile level
sorry..this film had great potential..but it became almost grating to have to watch it with the sound on.
Sorry.
her costars did a great job..Her leading man is quite talented, handsome, romantic..just what a Hallmark movie watcher wants to see. But the lead actress needs some lessons in how to slow down, tone down, let the word s of the script determine her volume and her smile level
sorry..this film had great potential..but it became almost grating to have to watch it with the sound on.
Sorry.
Excellent for its genre
amillwar2 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Look, if you are looking for a great epic like The English Patient or Lawrence of Arabia, you are looking in the wrong direction. I am one for deep films, but Hallmark movies aien't it. Actually, this is one of my favorite movies from Hallmark. I like that it focuses on the Rose parade, showing us that the holiday season, for so many, extends far past the pile of crinkled wrapping paper on Christmas morning. I like the energy of the female lead and the somewhat cynical-but-willing attitude of the male lead. I know reviewers took issue with the conflict, and I think they were looking for some major tension. I think this film represented internal conflict more than external (which was Andi not disappointing her dad and getting the float finished). Andi's internal conflict was that she had to prove to herself she was a good teacher, artist, and leader. Once she checked these off her list she could move on with her career and life. Grand? No. Heartwarming and fun--not to mention colorful with all those roses!--absolutely.
Some Roses Have More Than A Few Thorns
Mistletoesecret10 January 2023
Such as: poor pacing, poor characters, and an uninteresting, very generic plot. There is also a clear setup for an interracial couple, which would've been a nice step towards inclusion. This is never paid off, and abandoned after one scene. These are just a few of my thorns.
Why does Andy have to be Andy? Why does Cliff need to speak Mandarin? Why can't we all just get along and make a cool float? The answer: North Lake Financial Group. We have studied 100+ hallmark movies, we see how this group has tormented parades over the years.
Overall, a disappointing end to the 2016 Countdown to Christmas and an overall disappointing year.
Why does Andy have to be Andy? Why does Cliff need to speak Mandarin? Why can't we all just get along and make a cool float? The answer: North Lake Financial Group. We have studied 100+ hallmark movies, we see how this group has tormented parades over the years.
Overall, a disappointing end to the 2016 Countdown to Christmas and an overall disappointing year.
- The Mistletoe Secret Podcast.
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