The Christmas Calendar (2017)

When Emily, a struggling baker in a small town, receives a handmade Christmas Calendar from a secret admirer, the local residents become obsessed with finding out the identity of the sender.

Director:

Allan Harmon

Writers:

Cookie Boyle, Walter Sawadsky

Stars:

Laura Bell Bundy, Brendon Zub, Paloma Kwiatkowski

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laura Bell Bundy	...	Emily
Brendon Zub	...	Gerard
Paloma Kwiatkowski	...	Chey
Frazey Ford	...	Ivy
Johannah Newmarch	...	Adele Atmore
Jordan Ninkovich	...	James (as Jordan Ninko)
Greg Rogers	...	Wally Walters
Steven Cree Molison	...	Art
Curtis Tweedie	...	Eddie
Jacqueline Robbins	...	Edna
BJ Harrison	...	Pearl
James Pizzinato	...	Chuck
Hilary Strang	...	Pam
Susan Wilkey	...	Nonna
Cassidy Slingsby	...	Chloe

Storyline

Emily, a lawyer, returned to her small hometown of Nelson Creek four months ago following the death of her Nonna to take over running Nonna's business which she named after her granddaughter: Emily's Bakery. Beyond not seeing Nonna before she passed, Emily is not sad about this new career path as baking has always been a passion ever since Nonna took her into the kitchen at age five, and discovered in making the move back to Nelson Creek that law never really was. This new life in Nelson Creek hits a snag when she learns that Nonna was deep in debt - the massive loan which Emily didn't know was for her law education - and may have to sell some of Nonna's assets, the house where Emily now lives and/or the bakery. The house may be the more prudent item to liquidate with Forge Mart, the chain supermarket located across the street from the bakery, having just opened its own in-house bakery, it the only other made-from-scratch bakery in town as competition to Emily which lessens the market...

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | bakery | competition | secret admirer | light comedy | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Laura Bell Bundy (Emily) is also known for her role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical (2007) in which she also plays a lawyer.

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Goofs

The menu board in Emily's bakery has carrot misspelled as 'Carrott'

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Soundtracks

Paris in Love
Composed by David Wurst (as David H. Wurst), BMI
Published by Wursthaus Music, BMI
Courtesy of CSS Music, BMI

User Reviews

The very under-baked calendar

'The Christmas Calendar' has a very appetising title. While it was not an innovative one, the concept also sounded promising. Part of me was rather wary though, having seen and heard lots of people disliking the film and for many of my past Christmas film viewings the general consensus has more often than not spot on or close to. Have been known to have some contrarian opinions myself so was preparing myself for being pleasantly surprised.

Only to be met with disappointment. 'The Christmas Calendar' is one of those films that does nothing with any of the promise it had and is a very weak and under-baked film overall, despite having a few good things in the mix. While there are worse Christmas films and worse films out there, there are so many flaws here in 'The Christmas Calendar'. All big and the worst of the flaws are quite terribly executed. Of all the recently viewed Christmas films, this is one of the worst.

As said, 'The Christmas Calendar' has a few good things. It looks good, the scenery is attractive enough and well complemented by the photography. Some of the soundtrack is pleasantly nostalgic.

Laura Bell Bundy is the best thing about the film though. She has a very lively presence and is very charming.

Sadly that can't be said for the rest of the cast, the supporting cast all overact in very colourless roles and Brendan Zub is too stiff and intense as the male lead. Much has been said about his accent and understandably, it is distractingly awful and gives him too much of a creepy vibe. His chemistry with Bundy is barely existent and any signs of it has no spark and doesn't look comfortable. The relationship is severely under-cooked and doesn't develop. None of the characters are well developed and their negative character traits are overdone, only Emily is halfway rootable.

Furthermore, the script is not too brilliant either. Too half-baked and veers on sugary as well as bland. It often sounds awkward as well. The story lacks charm, heart and any conflict, is paper thin and never gets into gear. Everything is obvious from the get go and there are too many less than realistic contrivances in a film that plays it too safe, yet another film as well to finish on a prematurely obvious and too tidy note.

Overall, weak. 3/10

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

1 November 2017 (Canada)

Also Known As:

The Christmas Calendar

Filming Locations:

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Really Real Films, JN Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Color:

Color