Have been on a roll watching Hallmark/Lifetime etc Christmas films for a few years now. It has been an interesting and worthwhile endeavour, though a very inconsistent one. There was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with pretty much all the films seen. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. The former being obvious in most luckily.
'Christmas Takes Flight' is one of the Christmas films in the former category. 2021 was very hit and miss for Christmas films and for Lifetime, but 'Christmas Takes Flight' is somewhere around high middle in ranking. Can see why some will not like it and it does have issues that stop it from being a classic (never expect a classic with this company), but there was the expectation of it being a pleasant enough watch at least and to me it succeeded at that absolutely.
There were a lot of 2021 Lifetime Christmas films that started off slow and had characters that took time to warm to, and that was the case with 'Christmas Takes Flight'. It does take time to get going, is awkwardly written and the hostile banter is too much and overdone.
Also never really connected with Evan Williams' character and did find Williams bland in the role, so it did make his chemistry with Katie Lowes rather lukewarm (in a romance that was already on the underwritten side) and the too pat ending not easy to buy.
Luckily, Lowes won me over hugely and never stopped being engaging from start to finish. Actually did connect with her character and didn't find her too perfect or exaggerated. She is very well supported by Andrew Airlie, who does father figures beautifully, and cute Gabriel Jacob-Cross.
Production values are pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. The dialogue on the whole, when the film got going, has flow and doesn't get too cheesy or too schmaltzy. The story on the whole is light hearted and heart warming, while the direction is assured and unfussy and the music not too much.
Summing up, pleasant film and not too bumpy. 6/10.
'Christmas Takes Flight' is one of the Christmas films in the former category. 2021 was very hit and miss for Christmas films and for Lifetime, but 'Christmas Takes Flight' is somewhere around high middle in ranking. Can see why some will not like it and it does have issues that stop it from being a classic (never expect a classic with this company), but there was the expectation of it being a pleasant enough watch at least and to me it succeeded at that absolutely.
There were a lot of 2021 Lifetime Christmas films that started off slow and had characters that took time to warm to, and that was the case with 'Christmas Takes Flight'. It does take time to get going, is awkwardly written and the hostile banter is too much and overdone.
Also never really connected with Evan Williams' character and did find Williams bland in the role, so it did make his chemistry with Katie Lowes rather lukewarm (in a romance that was already on the underwritten side) and the too pat ending not easy to buy.
Luckily, Lowes won me over hugely and never stopped being engaging from start to finish. Actually did connect with her character and didn't find her too perfect or exaggerated. She is very well supported by Andrew Airlie, who does father figures beautifully, and cute Gabriel Jacob-Cross.
Production values are pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. The dialogue on the whole, when the film got going, has flow and doesn't get too cheesy or too schmaltzy. The story on the whole is light hearted and heart warming, while the direction is assured and unfussy and the music not too much.
Summing up, pleasant film and not too bumpy. 6/10.