Kate is wealthy, New York penthouse wealthy. Husband is likely a lawyer, but I didn't pay attention enough to confirm this. She lunches with the ladies (an obvious nod at the actress's previous life) but doesn't do much else. But she likes her life. That is, until Dad ends it. He is not happy, but he doesn't really explain WHY he is not happy, nor give her the chance to actually understand. He just dumps and runs. Remember, he's a dick.
Kate had been planning their "second honeymoon", a trip to a resort in Zambia. So rather than wallow, she actually heads off. The wealthy really know how to indulge a breakup, replacing Netflix binges and pints of ice cream with weeks long trips to Africa. Upon arrival, in the hotel in the capital city, she accepts the packaged meal (for two) and gets uninvited snark from Derek (Rob Lowe, The Grinder), some guy who just wandered in and started commenting on her. Immediately he dubs her "New York". She storms off in a huff, leaving the seafood meal for two, for him.
The next day she's off to the bush plane that will take her to the proper resort. Guess who the pilot is? Derek! More snark. But then they make a pitstop, landing in the scrub. Derek has spotted an orphaned baby elephant. He radios in assistance and is rather surprised that Kate is actually concerned, not the typical self-absorbed New Yorker he expected. Rather than move onto her resort, she actually wants to carry on with the truck, to the Elephant Orphanage. And that's where the real movie begins.
This wasn't really a Christmas movie. The "holiday" is just her heading off to Africa in August, and well, just never leaving. And technically, she never actually goes on holiday. She never actually makes it to the resort. The entire movie takes place in the Elephant Orphanage. And it is there that we learn all about CGI elephant babies and maybe a wee bit about the impact of poaching in Africa. And, of course, she catches the eye of Derek the pilot, who actually grew up at the Orphanage, and returned after he lost his wife. They banter, they snark and they share but, they never really hit if off.
The Christmas element, that which Netflix used to preview the movie, comes midway where "Christmas in Africa is all week and the presents are homemade". Dad has flown in Son, who has left college to pursue his music career, to spend the holiday with his mom. Oh, I forgot to mention that Kate extended her stay. Yes, she has been there since September -- remember, rich soon-divorcee.
Around then we add in the worry that the orphanage will close due to lack of funding. So, after Kate eventually DOES return to New York, she raises boatloads of money so the place can run without worry of foundations or funding. And we mean BOATLOADS -- each check is about $75k to a couple of hundred thousand. And there are stacks. Eventually Kate realizes that money is not enough, and the place needs her, so she quits her (relatively new) job at the vet and returns to hook up with Derek and live happily ever after.
The Draw: Well, basically, because almost all of these movies are where attractive 20/30somethings meetup and within a week, fall in love. Usually in picturesque small towns. But this one was where 50somethings (Kristin is two years older than me!) meet in Africa, and actually take time to get to know each other! And baby elephants.
The Formulae: As I mentioned, this is not really an Xmas movie, so the expected formula wasn't present; pun intended. But, for the middle-aged demographic, the formula of the unexpected single woman running into the perfect man in the least expected place is played through to its fullest. Also, toss in some will-they-won't-they, as all romance stories have, and its pretty by the books.
Unformulae: Kent pointed out that most of these movies are pretty chaste, in that there is often no acknowledgement of the crush (cuz, really what else can it be?) until the very end, with a long awaited single kiss. Well, as this one is about more seasoned people, we get three kisses -- one to signify Derek's desire, after which Kate pulls away, one where they acknowledge their mutual attraction, interrupted by Derek's Hot Blonde Thang, and finally, after Kate returns to Africa to be with her baby elephant, and, I guess, also Derek.
True Calling? Of course it does. With only a slight misinterpretation of what a holiday is, as in "she goes on holiday", the movie is primarily about the wilds of Africa and her escape from home. Still kinda peeved it wasn't really about the holiday season, if but for a couple of brief scenes.
The Rewind: Nothing worth watching again, but I could have found myself pausing or rewinding to confirm: 1) entirely CGI baby elephant for closeup or 2) green-screened baby elephant in wide shot. I am pretty sure there are some real elephants in this, but not baby elephants.
The Regulars: Nope, not a one. But I can see Rob Lowe finding a niche for himself here. If the idea of the older budding romance takes off for this market, he was completely believable and charming in his place in this movie.
How does it Hallmark? Not cheesy enough? Not clean enough? As in, they are actually in the out doors and not entirely shot on sound stages. In many ways its more a bid for middle-aged women who watch The W Network to contribute to real life elephant orphanages.
How does it movie? No, there is no way this could be considered a Good Movie. It is entirely milquetoast and even though the two leads are very ship-able, there just isn't enough of a movie really there. Most of the time I kept on wondering if anything was going to happen. It just seemed anecdotal of two people who find each other in the African wilds, just not telling enough real story. The conflict that has to happen is bare minimum, the strain between the two is almost immediately dispensed with and nobody really does anything. I am sure they found some scenes to fill in the spaces between the two charming leads being charming to each other, but heck if I can remember.
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