2014, Graeme Campbell (Degrassi: The Next Generation) -- Amazon
The Draw: We actually started the evening watching one called A Frosty Affair which started with an interesting premise -- a woman who has been working a remote community teaching post needs to make it to The Big City a nearby town for her wedding. Then she gets snowed in -- like REAL snow, like there are actual snowbanks and actual drifts and everyone is getting around on real snow mobiles. But about 20 minutes into the movie I caught onto the fact, it wasn't an Xmas movie, and on top of the astoundingly terrible performances by everyone, including the lovely Jewel Staite, I had turn it off and find something else.
So the draw for this one? Alicia Witt.
HERstory: This proper Hallmark Channel movie opens with Nicky (Witt, Longlegs), a single mom who has lost her job just before the holidays, and is going from retail outlet to retail outlet looking for even just seasonal work. I just didn't buy it that nobody was hiring unless she started her hunt rather late in the season, but even then, every store in creation has to fire / loses a flake-out so she should have been able to find something.
But no matter, her neighbour finds out about a position opening down at Cartwright's, the high end department store downtown, the one that is totally not The Hudson Bay on Queen St, nope not that one, no siree, not its signature windows, nor its people dressed in The Bay colours. Anywayz, she doesn't think she has a chance, even with the fancy borrowed dress she is wearing, but she goes. In the waiting room she has dropped her resume, which is returned to her by Nice Guy Bill (Gabriel Hogan, Tacoma FD), a department head who is actually impressed by her resume. Alas, the hiring manager is Fiona (Gabrielle Miller, Corner Gas), who likes Bill, and doesn't want Nicky within 500 yards of Bill.
Of note, there was an earlier daughter-mommy bonding scene where two things happens: 1) daughter decides mommy needs to start dating again, and that date needs to be named Bill; and 2) while walking down an obviously-summer but winter-dressed street (there are bright green oak leaves on the trees over bright green grass), they find an "angel coin". Not sure that is a real thing, but daughter says it is, and the pudgy, bald angel on the coin proves it; said coin is supposed to provide a token upon which to wish.
So, Nicky doesn't get the job, because of Fiona of course, but while trying to get out of the store, she gets stuck on the "employee's only" second floor, where she gets locked in the Santa Dressing Room. As she is trying to get out, a random stranger yells at her about being late, even though the Santa position is highly paid with benefits. Ding! Nicky dresses up as a rather svelte Santa and follows the random strange, whose name is Harry (Wallace Shawn, The Princess Bride) and who looks an awwwwful lot like the head on the coin. He also bears a pin that says "Cartwright Christmas Consultant" and claims he is "from Corporate". Nobody argues. He sets up Nicky on the Santa seat and gives her a magical wink that gives her the ability to read what every kid really wants/needs, and thus she becomes The Perfect Santa even with her barely disguised voice (which the Peanut Gallery claimed made her sound like Invader Zim) and is an instant hit with kids and staff alike.
She also keeps bumping into Bill -- in the elevator, in a coffee shop, at the Xmas tree lot, where he is always friendly, flirty and Nicky obviously feels the same. Daughter (OK, give her a name) Becky also likes the guy. They even try to have a date, but when Bill proclaims a need for honesty in everything (his previous fiance was cheating on him) which gives Nicky cold feet, cuz she cannot afford to come clean about the Santa Subterfuge before the holidays end, as she needs the money.
And then the complication happens. I am pretty sure Fiona tasked a security guard with poking around cuz she didn't trust The Santa, and he catches Nicky at the end of her day -- sans Santa suit. He drags her in front of Fiona and Mr. Cartwright (Ron Lea, Orphan Black) as a shoplifter, and she is forced to come clean as to the Subterfuge. Bill appears to and gets hurt over the deception. Fiona fires her ass.
Note: Mr. Cartwright was not actually named Mr. Cartwright as he was not the store founder or whatever, but he might as well been. He was just one of the big bosses.
Oh, I should mention, Clarence Harry the Angel slash Christmas Consultant has been called away by "the big boss" on another task and isn't present to help her out. He also previously confided his angel nature with Becky because she caught her mother in flagrante (sounds dirtier than the phrase's definition) and was hurt -- but he set it straight so she would know exactly how dedicated a mom Nicky is.
Buuuut the local news has learned of Nicky's story and is blasting it everywhere, talking about the dedicated mom who played the beloved Santa to all the city's kids. Oh, I should say the Big City is Chicago not Toronto. Definitely not Toronto. Anywayz, said story is learned of by Mr. Cartwright, and he invites Nicky to meet with her. I don't recall exactly why but she goes, and all the staff she worked with is there to apologize. Now that they know the true story, they want to make amends, including Mr. Cartwright firing Fiona and giving Nicky her job. She also learns that Harry the Christmas Consultant was not employed by the store. So, two frauds? Mr. Cartwright doesn't seem to care, he has the woman who made the best Santa ever.
Later on at home Bill shows up. He confesses why he was so hurt, not that she was deceiving people, but because she didn't feel she could confide in him. They make up and kiss. Happy Ever After. Oh, Harry already has his wings, so no bell ringing, but he gets some kudos from The Big Guy.
The Formulae: Is shooting an Xmas movie in what is obviously NOT the winter season one of the formula elements? I think so. But for the most part, this movie did not follow the standard format as its one trying to do something different. In doing the Santa Subterfuge, you could say she is in fear of losing her "important job" (Santa) if she connects with the Main Dude? Oh, they do do the tree lot !!
Unformulae: So, its not about coming to a PST from the Big City -- its all Big City, all the time. THere is actually a rather lack of Xmas-y setup and situational trappings because..... well, the movie is dominated by Store Santa Mode, and all the kids on his/her lap. So, no Xmas Market, no hot cocoa, no skating on a pond, etc.
True Calling? Yes. Yes, the movie almost entirely takes place inside the store.
The Rewind: Not so much as rewind but the green grass and green trees almost had me pause to confirm it, as did the "angel coin" and its pudgy bald guy depiction.
The Regulars: Alicia Witt and Gabriel Hogan have done a respectable number of Hallmarkies. That's about it.
How does it Hallmark? Somewhat? I mean, its obviously doing the "little bit of Xmas Magic" thing instead of the formula, but it does make a nice, if somewhat tempered connection between the leads.
How does it movie? No, not even as a low-grade It's a Wonderful Life rip-off where an angel intervenes to make someone's life better.
How Does It Snow? LMAO, they didn't even try.
No comments:
Post a Comment