Katie (Briana Evigan, Step Up 2: The Streets) is a princess to an imaginary European country Montserai. I wonder if we took all the imaginary European countries from movies and jammed them next to each other on a map, which real life country would lose the most land? Anywayz, she's in NYC for some ceremony that her family is obligated to fulfill. Katie lost her parents (take a shot) when she was very young, and the last strong memory of her mother involves exploring NYC and its Xmas Fair, and the presenting of a camera by her mother.
Katie, now in her 20s, obviously understands her obligations, as she has been sticking to them for years, but just this one time, wants to go to a gallery opening of some of her favourite photographers. Her mother instilled in her a life long love of photography. But no, Obligations! So, after a heartfelt conversation with her mother's attourney (Greg Evigan [yes, her dad], BJ & the Bear), she runs off into the city on her own.
Not long after her escape does she encounter some rapscallions who steal her purse and the camera her mother gave her. Our Hero, Jack (Paul Campbell, Battlestar Galactica) dashes off to capture them, but they escape in the crowd. Katie and Jack chat, and she refuses any assistance, as she is a Capable Independant Princess.
Meanwhile we learn a bit about Jack. He's a contractor reno-ing a condo/apartment for a rich friend. Jack is great friends with a retired magician, who fills in the Possibly Really Santa role for this movie (he's not) and has a sister dating a reporter, who plays the part of The Dick. Jack has an issue with Xmas (take a shot) because he was dumped around this time of years (finish your drink).
Katie's not doing so well on this Independent Thing, meanwhile her Aunt has sent the Montserai Secret Police (OK, probably just protection detail) into the city to find the Princess. Auntie is panicking, not for the girl's welfare, but about how many obligations Katie is missing. After getting lost, and giving away what cash she had (Princesses don't understand money), she bumps into Jack again, and is invited into his Holiday Bash at the old magician's shop. Thus we begin.
Jack is supposed to be too busy reno-ing that place to properly pay attention to the season but still seems to find the time to wander around the city with Katie (take a shot). Only at night, when he returns to said loft, which he has offered up as a place for Katie to stay while she figures out what is going on, does he actually seem to work on the project. Said work is endlessly planing and sanding a single plank of reclaimed wood. No more is ever said about her stolen articles, nor her lack of desire to recover it.
Meanwhile The Dick Reporter is trying to break out of puff pieces (of which he is terrible at, because he is The Dick), by pursuing the story of the Runaway Princess. As he gets closer to the truth, Jack and Katie are getting closer. I genuinely liked the way the two leads built this attraction; they actually had the sweetest looks passed between them. He actually maneuvers his way into trapping Katie in the magic shop, so he can ambush interview her. It doesn't go well and he ends up being Disappeared. I am not sure if he ever comes back from where he was sent. After a momentary upset where Jack is not as concerned she wouldn't tell him who she really was, but that she will eventually Go Back Home, he does one last sweet thing, in distracting her security team so she can finally go to that exhibit.
Katie returns home, heartbroken that she lost Jack, to her traditional Xmas Event (not a dance event, no red dress *pout*) only to find out Jack has been secretly transported to Montserai. And no, not by magic cupboard, just probably by jetplane. Dick Reporter has been dumped, if he ever got out of said magic cupboard and everyone else Lives Happily Ever After.
But why the @%!$^ does she never ever seek out the stolen camera? The movie made a point in telling us it was a special gift from her Dead Mom, and once it is gone, she never talks about it again. Sure, Jack replaces it with a cheap point-n-shoot digital camera, but SENTIMENTAL KEEPSAKE !!
The Draw: Runaway Princess theme. Even if I am unaware of this having come from Roman Holiday (i probably was but it got lost in my overfull junk drawer) I love the idea of royalty deeming to come down to our level.
The Formulae: So, kicks off (pun intended) with Dead Parents. Involves an Xmas Fair, to which our couple returns later. Collecting an Xmas tree, which BTW, they tried to jam into the house IN THE WRONG DIRECTION !! Dumped at Xmas time = Grinch Mode. Does being a Princess count as being rich?
Unformulae: Not set in a PST, but I am beginning to think NYC might be the secondary location for such movies. There was no proper Xmas Event, unless you count the magic shop potluck, but there was no charity event planned, nor any dance event and definitely no red dress. You figger that Jack's sister could have provided her a perfectly fitted red dress from that consignment shop she owns.
True Calling? Well, but for the fact that Once Upon a Time is often connected to Princesses, no the movie is not fairytale related.
The Rewind: Not a lot re-watchable, nor cringe-worthy, but there was one scene where they go on about the light in the room, being just about perfect, and I was not sure if that was feeble irony, cuz said light was obvious created by the stained glass piece leaning up against the window? Also, of minor note, why were all the people from Imaginary European Country all talking with different American regional accents?
The Regulars: Briana usually does roles as skimpy dressed young thangs, so no, not a regular in these flicks. Also, Dad Evigan has does almost none of these, and I thought as an aging recognizable face, he would be all over them. So that leaves us the guy from Vancouver, Paul Campbell, as the Usual Suspect having done a few over the years.
How does it Hallmark? Let's give it a B+ for me actually being charmed by the understated manner in which the two come to enjoy each other's company. Sure, it's not very believable that a total stranger would just allow the girl with no money and a likely shady history into his personal life, but the two leads come off as very genuine. And I never once found any character annoying, that I wasn't supposed to find annoying.
How does it movie? Yeah, no. It's not very believable that a total stranger would just allow the girl with no money and a likely shady history into his personal life, no matter how nice and pretty she is. And pretty, no money girl -- he's a total stranger!! And you get into his van?!?! There are other movies that have this dynamic, until they introduce the grizzled detective.
(Bonus) How does it snow? I am beginning to notice the snow in these fake Xmas movies. This one wins out for being the first I recall with real real snow, as in the streets of Vancouver have real left over snow on them and it has a realistic winter, melted sidewalks look to it. (A)
No comments:
Post a Comment