BARE BONES: ONE DECEMBER NIGHT (2021)

ONE DECEMBER NIGHT (2021)

Steve Bedford and Mike Sullivan (Bruce Campbell and Peter Gallagher) were a major musical group until personal conflicts broke them apart. Ten years later, at Christmas time, the duo is set to reunite for a televised Christmas special and this sets Bedford’s manager/son Jason (Brett Dalton) and Sullivan’s music company rep daughter Quinn (Eloise Mumford) on a collision course, as both are tasked with making sure this show happens. As it is the holidays, you know what that means!

Hallmark holiday flick is directed by Clare Niederpruem from a cliché script from Eric Brooks and Sib Ventress. If there is any type of flick that can get away with being cliché, it’s the Christmas film…and this one embraces them. Cast perform their parts sincerely, but also seem to be enjoying their roles. Campbell is especially cheery as the upbeat and egotistical Bedford, while Gallagher is solid as the more serious and troubled Sullivan. The two work well together and play off each other nicely. Dalton and Mumford also have some nice on-screen chemistry, as romance is obviously in the air. We know from the first frame how things will eventually work out for both pairs of Bedfords and Sullivans, but it is a cheesy, sweet and heartfelt journey getting there. Cute and harmless Christmas fluff. Holiday drama/romantic comedy is available for streaming on Fubo TV and Philo.

-MonsterZero NJ

BARE BONES: LAST CHRISTMAS (2019)

LAST CHRISTMAS (2019)

Christmas season set romantic comedy finds pretty Kate (Emilia Clarke) down on her luck and unable to keep a roof over her head, because of constantly pissing-off those she roommates with. She’s had a traumatic, life-threatening illness, has not been herself since and is alienating her family and friends. Even her stern, Christmas loving boss (Michelle Yeoh) is losing patience with the wannabe singer turned Christmas store elf. One night things start to change, however, as Kate meets the mysterious and charismatic Tom (Henry Golding), who inspires Kate to overcome her emotional troubles and be herself again.

Holiday flick is directed by Paul Feig (Ghostbusters 2016) from a script and story by co-star Emma Thompson, Greg Wise and Bryony Kimmings. As such, it is a mixed bag. Even though we are supposed to be on Kate’s side, she is somewhat annoying at first and it’s hard to sympathize with her when she is being a bit of a selfish a-hole. The romantic aspects are very cliché, though thanks to a charming cast they still work very well. That cast elevates this above the mediocre holiday rom com it is, with Clarke and Golding having really nice chemistry together. Clarke especially wins us over once Kate starts to change her ways and goes from annoying to adorable in the last act and Golding proves to be a charismatic leading man. A fantastic Michelle Yeoh steals every scene she is in, and Dame Emma Thompson is amusing as Kate’s Yugoslavian mother. The London setting is equally charming, and the film does have a surprising reveal, about two thirds through, that you may not see coming. Overall, it’s entertaining enough, wins you over by its last act and made far better than it’s routine script by a solid cast and some good old-fashioned charm…though, you might be a little tired of that Wham! song by its end.

-MonsterZero NJ