With a 7/10 rating on here (and higher from many) I had high expectations for this one...but found it overly contrived, mawkish and about as shallow as a children's paddling pool.
The bugbear that ticked me off straight away is that the characters pretend they don't know each other, but it soon transpires they know ALL about each other's lives as Grandma's house is right nextdoor to the lawyer (a widower & very young daughter, who was an 'elf' in Grandma's house, the previous Christmas!) who was hired to take care of Grandma's will & estate after she died at the top of the year.
Pretending they don't know each other was too fake for me as I presume the lawyer/friend/neighbour of Grandma would have attended the smalltown funeral and would have met her beloved granddaughters (cousin x 2) at that point in time...the heavily pregnant cousin also pretended not to know the lawyer given powers of attorney by her late Grandmother either - incredulity stretched by a long mile.
Then the sentimentality over the ornaments inspired by the carol, 'The 12 Days Of Christmas' was also overworked and incredulous - a busy academic working for an imminent fellowship; back in town to tidy up Grandma's estate BUT finds herself getting worked up over the two missing Turtle Doves ornament just made me switch off, I couldn't suspend disbelief any longer after that.
"Get your priorities right darling!", was the thought that crossed my mind with this nonsensical sentimental distraction.
Three quarters way through I lost complete interest and stopped watching.
I've seen much better quality TV films in this genre in recent weeks than this under-roasted festive bird served up with cold stuffing & corked wine.
Only 3/10 from me.
The bugbear that ticked me off straight away is that the characters pretend they don't know each other, but it soon transpires they know ALL about each other's lives as Grandma's house is right nextdoor to the lawyer (a widower & very young daughter, who was an 'elf' in Grandma's house, the previous Christmas!) who was hired to take care of Grandma's will & estate after she died at the top of the year.
Pretending they don't know each other was too fake for me as I presume the lawyer/friend/neighbour of Grandma would have attended the smalltown funeral and would have met her beloved granddaughters (cousin x 2) at that point in time...the heavily pregnant cousin also pretended not to know the lawyer given powers of attorney by her late Grandmother either - incredulity stretched by a long mile.
Then the sentimentality over the ornaments inspired by the carol, 'The 12 Days Of Christmas' was also overworked and incredulous - a busy academic working for an imminent fellowship; back in town to tidy up Grandma's estate BUT finds herself getting worked up over the two missing Turtle Doves ornament just made me switch off, I couldn't suspend disbelief any longer after that.
"Get your priorities right darling!", was the thought that crossed my mind with this nonsensical sentimental distraction.
Three quarters way through I lost complete interest and stopped watching.
I've seen much better quality TV films in this genre in recent weeks than this under-roasted festive bird served up with cold stuffing & corked wine.
Only 3/10 from me.