T&K's Xmas (2020) Advent Calendar: Day 12 - 12 Gifts of Christmas

2015, Peter Sullivan (Jingle Belle) -- Netflix 

Anna Parisi (Katrina Law, Arrow) is an unemployed artist living with her sister & kids, hoping to get her art into the local Big Wig Gallery. There is no mention of what she might have been doing recently, but she doesn't seem to think getting a job is on the horizon. But no worries, she has a knack for shopping and her sister convinces her to print up cards to be a Personal Shopper despite not really knowing what the actual job is, nor how much it pays, nor ... much of anything. But Anna is very pretty, so, you know.

She bumps into Marc (Aaron O'Connell, ex-model) at a local artisanal boulangerie, almost literally, and makes a quick good impression, as does he, as he is very pretty, so, you know. So, when she drops off her cards, and he suddenly needs someone to do his Xmas shopping for him (because work, work, work, you know), kismet is had and he hires her. BUT, he gives her a list to follow, which she immediately ignores, and he gets pissy, and she is hurt. BUT the gift is hit, so he re-hires her.

Marc is all work work work, and Anna is all paint paint paint, but her Serious Art is not what the galleries are looking for. No kidding, if the stuff on her walls is what she calls her Serious Art, she might get a gig selling it in the 60% Off Framing "art store" in the mall. This is unbelievably basic landscapes. Meanwhile her "stuff for fun" are Rockwellian Xmas scenes, that to be honest, would do decent in Xmas advertising, if anyone actually ever hired painted realism art for advertising anymore. Seriously though Anna, your Serious Art is terrible. I can say that, as you are fictional.

Marc is getting her to buy gifts for his 12 friends & family members, and he also needs her to help him decide on the company gift. She suggests a week off, paid. He is not sure, but everyone jumps at it. The gift is a hit. But I was a bit confused, as many of the employees probably would have booked the days between Xmas and New Years off anyway, if work didn't need them. So, suddenly work work work is .... not needed?

As she is doing the gift running around, for him because he cannot take the time, suddenly he is taking the time, and spending much of it with her. Oh, the googley eyes are in full force, and its obvious the two are falling for each other. She even gets to meet his sister and family, and is a hit. And she brings her own nieces with her to his family Xmas dinner, and she is a hit. They are not dating, but the sparks are there, and everyone else sees what is going on.

And then he blows it. You see, the reason he didn't have time to shop, but seemed to find time to flirt, was because his Big Client was unhappy. The Computer Company wants a new Xmas Season Ad, which has to be timely and homey and sincere, and they have, so far, hated all the stock photography mockups that Marc and team have presented. So, he gets the big idea to use her art. We all knew it would happen, but DUDE, what the fuck with the photoshopping of a laptop into the place where Santa's List was? But it is not that mockery of her art that she hates, its that she doesn't want to become recognized for doing her personal art, she wants her Serious Art to make it. She is hurt and embarrassed and upset, and not why he really shouldn't have done it -- you know, without her permission to use her IP ?

But not long after, she realizes she was silly (she was not) and he only wanted what was best for her (he didn't) and they make up, and ... kiss for the first time. Happy Every After.

The Draw: That one, no. That one, no. That one? No. This one, oh sure, why not. Despite Hallmarky movies not being of very high calibre, its amazing how many even-more-so low bar movies there are that attempt to fit the genre.

The Formulae: Work work work Man. They aren't initially trying to get together, but eventually end up together. Very chaste until the very end, for first kiss. Oh! There is an Xmas shopping music laden montage, where they abuse the free samples lady!

Unformulae: To be honest, its not really all that formula. Sure all these movies have to take place in Chicago, NYC or a PST, but there is no Xmas event (that short scene of a company Xmas Party doesn't really count), there isn't a red dress (though she does where a red coat throughout the movie). There are no dead parents. There is no Xmas Angel analogue. There is no competition for his affection. He is barely mean to her at the beginning.

True Calling? Well, technically yes? She is tasked with buying 12 Xmas presents? But no, to be true to the title, would assume the Xmas Carol would play into it, and they would go through each day of buying. But no, they could have just called it the "Xmas Shopper" and it would have been more accurate.

The Rewind: That painting of Marc's family above his mom's mantle. OMG. Sure, they always photoshop actors in a movie so they seemed de-aged. BUT this is horrific, as its not only trying to look de-aged, but also painted. Terrifying.

The Regulars: Marc Work Work Work has done more than his fair share of these. Donna Mills, who was 75 but had skin as smooth as Katrina, has only recently started doing these. Did she get killed off on General Hospital ? Anna's sister Marie, played by Melanie Nelson has done a TON of these.

How does it Hallmark? It doesn't do the Xmas Hallmarky all that well, but I really fell for the chemistry between the two. Marc may be dumb as a post, but Anna spends much of the movie just looking at him with such puppy dog eyes. And despite being rather clueless, you can tell he really likes her.

How does it movie? No. Its pretty dumb, not Asylum dumb (which has started releasing its only Hallmarky first run movies on Ion TV) but not very smart at all.