If you like a film with a dance theme, particularly, Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker', you'll be charmed by this festive romantic Anglo/American drama.
Normally this genre is invariably made in the USA/Canada but this one is mainly set in England with some scenes set in a dance studio in Boston, Mass - the unfamiliar setting for this story adding further to its charm.
I found the story, characters and dialogue intriguing ie not clichéd or run-of-the-mill - and The Ball itself is a visual/audio delight.
A bigger budget (to give the story premise more credence ie Aunt Bridget's house is being assessed for National Trust status as the Ball is taking place) and perhaps better casting of the leads may have given this a superior finish, but it is what it is; and given the Christmas Romance genre attracts a lot of mediocrity this feature is certainly not in that category.
Which is why I score it a 7. The dance scenes really pull this one up above average fare.
The performances are perfectly fine, but Caroline Langrishe as Aunt Bridget is delightful, and of course being a former ballerina she is a dream on the dancefloor as are the other three leads.
If you love the 'Waltz of the Flowers' from the The Nutcracker it's a MUST SEE!
Normally this genre is invariably made in the USA/Canada but this one is mainly set in England with some scenes set in a dance studio in Boston, Mass - the unfamiliar setting for this story adding further to its charm.
I found the story, characters and dialogue intriguing ie not clichéd or run-of-the-mill - and The Ball itself is a visual/audio delight.
A bigger budget (to give the story premise more credence ie Aunt Bridget's house is being assessed for National Trust status as the Ball is taking place) and perhaps better casting of the leads may have given this a superior finish, but it is what it is; and given the Christmas Romance genre attracts a lot of mediocrity this feature is certainly not in that category.
Which is why I score it a 7. The dance scenes really pull this one up above average fare.
The performances are perfectly fine, but Caroline Langrishe as Aunt Bridget is delightful, and of course being a former ballerina she is a dream on the dancefloor as are the other three leads.
If you love the 'Waltz of the Flowers' from the The Nutcracker it's a MUST SEE!