Hallmark's Christmas output is very variable and 2018 was a mixed year for them. Some though are above average level and there are some surprisingly very enjoyable ones amongst the average and less films that there is a good deal of in their output. Along with my love of Christmas and that it was one of the films in my Christmas Hallmark/Lifetime film completest quest, my main reasons for seeing 'Christmas Next Door' were because of liking the concept (despite it not being anything original) and having liked the cast in other things.
'Christmas Next Door' really isn't one of their best and in the lesser end of that year. While Hallmark have done far worse overall, of their 2017 output 'Christmas Next Year' was one of their most frustrating and biggest wastes of potential. Musicians, as is very much evident here, will despair watching the film. So will hairdressers. And those that love Christmas may likely not find very much to like about 'Christmas Next Door' either.
The best thing about 'Christmas Next Door' is the acting. Jesse Metcalfe has a lot of likeability and always engages here. Fiona Gubelmann is not as subtle, but she is also charming without being too sugary sweet. She and Metcalfe have a genuine chemistry that never looks ill at ease. The rest of the cast do well, despite having very cliched roles. Brittany Bristow manages to not be annoying, considering the type of role (with a character trait that is often overplayed) she has that is not easy.
Production values are also quite attractive, again like a vast majority of Hallmark Christmas films this is particularly true for the scenery. Some of the music is pleasing on the ears.
It is though better heard than seen, so that you try and not be too distracted by some of the worst instrumental playing on film. Count me in as another musician badly distracted by how fake the playing was, but there was a lot more bad things other than that. Other parts of the film sounded over-scored, a common problem for Hallmark. Do agree that hairdressers would have a field day criticising how bad and cheap looking the hairdos are. The direction is workmanlike at best.
Not much special to the script, story or pacing. The script is really quite painful, especially in the very stilted and cheesy first third and too much of it is over-sentimental. The story is not just excessively predictable from a done to death formula (the setting is different, the structure is not) being executed in over-familiar fashion, it is also paper thin and very dull from being over-stretched. Also found most of it quite bland from the general lack of charm and heart, there are moments but not enough, and with a lot of suspension of disbelief needed like trying and failing to accept an ending as pat as this one.
Concluding, quite lacklustre. 4/10
'Christmas Next Door' really isn't one of their best and in the lesser end of that year. While Hallmark have done far worse overall, of their 2017 output 'Christmas Next Year' was one of their most frustrating and biggest wastes of potential. Musicians, as is very much evident here, will despair watching the film. So will hairdressers. And those that love Christmas may likely not find very much to like about 'Christmas Next Door' either.
The best thing about 'Christmas Next Door' is the acting. Jesse Metcalfe has a lot of likeability and always engages here. Fiona Gubelmann is not as subtle, but she is also charming without being too sugary sweet. She and Metcalfe have a genuine chemistry that never looks ill at ease. The rest of the cast do well, despite having very cliched roles. Brittany Bristow manages to not be annoying, considering the type of role (with a character trait that is often overplayed) she has that is not easy.
Production values are also quite attractive, again like a vast majority of Hallmark Christmas films this is particularly true for the scenery. Some of the music is pleasing on the ears.
It is though better heard than seen, so that you try and not be too distracted by some of the worst instrumental playing on film. Count me in as another musician badly distracted by how fake the playing was, but there was a lot more bad things other than that. Other parts of the film sounded over-scored, a common problem for Hallmark. Do agree that hairdressers would have a field day criticising how bad and cheap looking the hairdos are. The direction is workmanlike at best.
Not much special to the script, story or pacing. The script is really quite painful, especially in the very stilted and cheesy first third and too much of it is over-sentimental. The story is not just excessively predictable from a done to death formula (the setting is different, the structure is not) being executed in over-familiar fashion, it is also paper thin and very dull from being over-stretched. Also found most of it quite bland from the general lack of charm and heart, there are moments but not enough, and with a lot of suspension of disbelief needed like trying and failing to accept an ending as pat as this one.
Concluding, quite lacklustre. 4/10