It does pain me to say that. Not all Hallmark festive films are bad, actually saw some surprisingly good, very good even to my pleasant surprise, ones recently (while still not being masterpieces). Really wanted 'Christmas Wonderland' to be one of those films, regardless of making me unsure as to whether it would be good or not with its corny title. Plenty of Hallmark Christmas films are average or less, some are terrible. But not all. So there is no bias on either side here.
'Christmas Wonderland' sadly is one of those average or less films, even when taking it for what it was intended to be it was a weak film and didn't work for me. The premise is not a terrible one, though not an exceptional one at the same time, but it was like watching the same Hallmark Christmas film for the hundredth time. While there are a few elements that 'Christmas Wonderland' does decently, there are a lot of big drawbacks that bring things down significantly.
Am going to start with the good. The filming and scenery are very nice. Some of the music, though this is very uncharacteristically sparse, is pleasantly nostalgic.
There are definitely parts that are cute.
Sadly, so much frustrates. The acting is not good, especially from Emily Osment whose performance is completely lifeless and without any charm and a sense of her not wanting to be there. She has no spark or chemistry with a rather bland Ryan Rottman, and their relationship has so little to it and a case of it going nowhere for a while and then abruptly being rushed. Didn't connect to any of the characters, who all lack any interesting personality and what little there is isn't appealing at all. There are too many unrealistic and stupid character decisions.
Especially at the end, which is a senseless damp squib. Even for Hallmark, the dialogue is incredibly cheesy and awkward and makes one want to reach for the sick bucket. Hallmark festive films are very formulaic and one knows how things map out and end long before happening. That is the case here but even worse is that every single thing (plot points, motivations and types of character) has been used so many times elsewhere that it all feels forgettable on the most part.
Very weak on the whole. 3/10.
'Christmas Wonderland' sadly is one of those average or less films, even when taking it for what it was intended to be it was a weak film and didn't work for me. The premise is not a terrible one, though not an exceptional one at the same time, but it was like watching the same Hallmark Christmas film for the hundredth time. While there are a few elements that 'Christmas Wonderland' does decently, there are a lot of big drawbacks that bring things down significantly.
Am going to start with the good. The filming and scenery are very nice. Some of the music, though this is very uncharacteristically sparse, is pleasantly nostalgic.
There are definitely parts that are cute.
Sadly, so much frustrates. The acting is not good, especially from Emily Osment whose performance is completely lifeless and without any charm and a sense of her not wanting to be there. She has no spark or chemistry with a rather bland Ryan Rottman, and their relationship has so little to it and a case of it going nowhere for a while and then abruptly being rushed. Didn't connect to any of the characters, who all lack any interesting personality and what little there is isn't appealing at all. There are too many unrealistic and stupid character decisions.
Especially at the end, which is a senseless damp squib. Even for Hallmark, the dialogue is incredibly cheesy and awkward and makes one want to reach for the sick bucket. Hallmark festive films are very formulaic and one knows how things map out and end long before happening. That is the case here but even worse is that every single thing (plot points, motivations and types of character) has been used so many times elsewhere that it all feels forgettable on the most part.
Very weak on the whole. 3/10.