Christmas Joy

I would crawl over a pack of McVitties chocolate digestives for Danielle! She was lovely in this. It was so nice seeing her give up a big city job for the prestigious cookie crawl. North Carolina is finally portrayed in a wholesome way and not the opium addicted place we know from the news. Christmas garlands for all. Even Matt who was very slow to move even when her dough was stirring.

First off the good: The lead actress was adorable. Picture perfect for the role. I was definitely interested pretty quickly in her story line.

The problem was there was ZERO chemistry with the leading man, and I saw no hope that there ever would be. I am sure the actor is fine, but the character he was playing - well: he had no guy friends, his friends were his parents and little old ladies (including Joy's aunt), he likes to bake, decorate, do interior designing and party planning, making ginger bread houses, and talking a lot about feeling and memories... He didn't seem to have any hobbies, interests or passions that would be considered traditionally male oriented. He just liked to hang out with the old ladies and do their kind of things. uh... well he did drive a pickup truck, so umm I guess he could be interested in a woman... maybe... Platonically. I don't know why they have him in the flannel shirt on the cover, because I don't think he wore anything other than fitted sweaters and slacks the entire movie. I seriously cannot even imagine them ever sharing a bedroom.

I often root for the nice guys and feel bad when they get jilted for the rich CEO or childhood sweetheart in these movies, but I honestly found myself hoping this guy was just a placeholder until the local fireman or outdoorsy neighbor guy took notice of her and her stunning beauty. No such luck...

She did say all her romances just fizzled, so maybe she is just saving time and going with no flame right from the start.

So much potential... Oh well. I hope to see her in more of these types of roles.

Review Date 6/15/2019

I Have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films and Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

Joy Holbrook is an intuitive market researcher in DC who has captured the attention of the account's CEO and is about to get a sweet promotion, just in time for the holidays. She receives an urgent phone call from home and she rushes back to Crystal Falls, NC to help her Aunt recover from surgery and is reunited with her former crush, Ben. To keep her Aunt focused on healing, Joy volunteers to take Ruby's place with the town's legendary baking competition, the "Cookie Crawl," much to the amusement of Ben who knows Joy has absolutely no idea of the Herculean task before her.

Now the reviews are all over the place but what the film does best is having "Christmas Spirit". I also love the fact they didn't make the lead a hard headed business woman. I also love the fact at the end you realize that this film celebrates women helping other women.

Very Good Film. I was impressed!

Danielle Panabaker as Joy was very pleasant and a competant actress. She had a real girl next door Vibe which I appreciate. However, Matt long made this movie. He was simply adorable. Nothing all that special, yet nothing to fill one with contempt or distress either.

Familiar formula: girl goes back home and while spending time there she reconnects with people and with the place she grew up in. I can understand why people may have find this a little bit boring and slow.

I liked it. I have seen Danielle before and I've always enjoyed watching her act. Matt, however is new to me. And their chemistry was amazing. Honestly, they lack the "perky" trait we are so used to in these movies, but the relationship seemed real. The storyline is plain, nothing surprising. I mean, do these events really happen during Christmas in real life?

Danielle and Matt's acting made Joy and Ben's personas believable. And that was appealing.