Christmas 2019: The Christmas Card (2006) vs Write Before Christmas (2019)
Happy Christmas Eve!
As you may know, Hallmark is a key brand of greetings cards, and so this is the best time of year for them to make a profit. In case you need any encouragement to write someone a card this Christmas, the Hallmark Channel has produced a couple of films that have surely been made to hint where you could go to buy such cards.
Today, we're looking at The Christmas Card, the earliest film from Hallmark I could find that would promote this marketing idea. It's also one of the most beloved Hallmark Channel films I've come across.
I will also be looking at Write Before Christmas, which was released this year, and stars Chad Michael Murray (from A Cinderella Story and the 2003 version of Freaky Friday).
The Christmas Card
The Christmas Card follows Cody Cullen (no, he isn't one of those Cullens: he is played by John Haymes Newton) a military man given Christmas leave after experiencing a tragedy. Cody doesn't have any family or friends: only a kindly written Christmas card sent to him by a stranger, who has signed it with her name and address. This leads Cody to the town where Faith, the writer of the card, lives. As they get to know each other, Cody begins to understand what it's like to be close to someone for the first time. There's just one problem: Faith has a boyfriend...
This film is considered to be a classic amongst Hallmark films, and I'm sorry to say, I just can't see why. The chemistry between the two leads has been widely praised, and while I really liked Alice Evans as Faith, sadly, I felt that Newton as Cody was lacking. During the opening five minutes of the film, I thought he played this character very well. Lonesome Cody is a bit stiff and awkward, a product of his military lifestyle, yet he does try to get on with fellow men in arms kindly. When he leaves that environment though, Cody never really comes into his own as a character. Newton hints at a personality in the odd moment, but this character feels very off - like he's outstaying his welcome in this town, more than he's a romantic lead. While he and Evans do have good chemistry together, I don't see how their characters would work as a couple, beyond the romantic tension they share.
To further this point, I also didn't like the plot regarding Faith's boyfriend, Paul (played by Ben Weber). For a start, he isn't introduced until a little over half an hour into this hour and a half film: that's a third of the film we don't know that the female love interest has a boyfriend. Paul's introduction is very abrupt and odd, as if the writers suddenly remembered they needed one conflict for the two protagonists to endure, because that's how it works in romance films.
Paul's a bit weird in that he decides to propose to Faith because he's worried that Cody might steal her away, but aside from that, he isn't really a bad guy. He's made to look bad because he's a workaholic who is often away because he travels for work (and no, I don't believe it is ever disclosed what he actually does). However, he's clearly a very loyal, loving partner to Faith. I think this aspect of the film would have worked a lot better if they had just acknowledged that while Paul and Faith are both good people, they just aren't compatible. Sadly, this is mishandled, as a) I don't think Cody is shown to be particularly suited for Faith apart from their chemistry, so why is Paul any worse, as they also share chemistry? and b) while the film doesn't try to make Paul look like a bad guy, they try to make him annoying in little ways around everyone except for Faith, who is the one who needs to realise that she doesn't love him.
I did enjoy how Faith really did care for and respect Paul, and even Cody did to an extent. It's just a shame that the film didn't seem to do the same.
Additionally, I have mixed feelings about Faith's dad, Luke (played by Ed Asner). I don't mind the actor, but this character just felt very odd to me. The character has a good relationship with his wife, and is kooky in that older-man way that you would usually want in a granddad type character. However, he likes Cody instantly because he's a military man, which Luke himself was when he was younger. However, Luke dislikes Paul throughout the film because he travels a lot for his work, and keeps trying to push Cody to be with Faith. We don't know what Paul does for work, but this logic is pretty confused: I don't think military men like Cody are known for staying in one location for their work.
The film oddly had some very strong religious tones, and everyone keeps talking about going to church. It's fine if you want to be religious in your film, but it just felt a bit heavy handed here. The music accompanying this film felt a little strange as well, as there were a few choral songs, that fit fine with the religious theme, but not so much with the characters or story of the film.
Surprisingly, this film didn't use any Hallmark Christmas cards, which is something the next film in this article of using throughout. That's a positive at least.
Overall, this is a harmless film, but I just found it a bit dull and wooden. Alice Evans as Faith is the main highlight, but that's about it.
Is this a chick flick or romance film for all? Chick flick
Would I recommend this film? No
Rating: 4/10
Write Before Christmas
This 2019 film follows cellist Jessica (Torrey DeVitto), a woman who loves Christmas. She buys five Hallmark Christmas cards with the intention of sending them to her boyfriend, but when he dumps her, she uses them to write love notes to the people who most positively affected her life: her former music teacher, her brother, her aunt, her best friend and the lead singer in her favourite band. We then follow each of these people after they've received Jessica's card, and the impact that the cards have on them, in a style of storytelling similar to Love Actually. Meanwhile, we also continue to follow Jessica as she tries to avoid Christmas for the first time, just as Luke (Chad Michael Murray) keeps bringing it back to her.
This film is flawed. I didn't think the Love Actually style plot worked well here. There were characters that I wanted to spend more time with, but didn't get enough of, most notably Jessica's brother Carter, played by Madison Smith. Conversely, I couldn't stand the the subplot with Jax - the boyband star Jessica loved. That character and his plot was essentially a U rated version of Bill Nighy's character in Love Actually, with his top buttoned up collar and remarkably clean lifestyle. I do not believe Jessica's card impacted him as much as this film wants you to believe. Unfortunately, my intense dislike for this particular segment was enough to slightly ruin the film for me. The only subplot that struck the right balance for me was that of Jessica's aunt Lila, played by Lolita Davidovich.
Additionally, the multi-story plotline distracted from the main couple, which is a shame, as I really liked the chemistry between Murray and DeVitto, and their characters. A lot of their scenes -together or individually- were charming, but the second half of the film steered it in the direction of "the big misunderstanding" trope, which is a cliche I hate, and it didn't work here. It's a bit more forgivable in Luke's situation, but for Jessica I wanted to shake her and say: Just. Talk. To. Him.
It's frustrating watching adults behave like teenagers when it comes to something as commitment heavy as a loving relationship.
I don't like that once again, we see a character who does volunteer work to highlight that they are a good person, but teaches the audience nothing about the cause they are volunteering for. It was also very clearly an hour and a half advert for their own cards - the Hallmark logo is shown prominently on the back of each card Jessica sends as it is being read. It's okay though, as I did end up buying one of those cards.
And yet... this was enjoyable to me, and actually very sweet in places. Like I said, the main two characters are really enjoyable, particularly Luke. We don't have enough time with them because of the subplots, but I liked most of what I saw of them. Before they meet properly, they almost cutely bump into each other a couple of times, but the film knows when to stop this before it could be irritating. Additionally, there's a nice reveal in how deep their relationship has developed, but I won't spoil that here.
While there needs to be some suspension of disbelief for the subplot with Jessica's brother (an army officer who falls for a female military woman he works with), the dynamic between the pair is very sweet, and their story had to potential to have worked as their own film. It's a shame it didn't get that chance.
The only subplot that is perfectly handled is that of Aunt Lila. It feels like a full story in itself that works within this time frame. The development of her character, as well as the relationship with her love interest, is all nicely done.
Overall, this is a cute Christmas film that I will definitely revisit in the future, but unfortunately, a muddled selection of subplots holds this film back from being truly special in any way.
Is this a chick flick or romance film for all? Chick flick
Would I recommend this film? Yes
Rating: 6/10
Before you go, I want to share this weeks charity with you.
Both films this week concern sending Christmas cards to people who need to hear a good message. Last weeks charity was the Give to Give campaign, which allows you to write a message to a lonely elderly person that will be put into a Christmas card. That charity would also be applicable here, but I've actually found a different card writing cause, where you can write to someone who could do with kind words towards them. This weeks charity is The Rainbow Cards Project.
The downside of running a blog about chick flicks is howt it reminds you that, although we live in a far more progressive world than we did fifty years ago, we still have a long way to go. The fact is, almost every film I review is about heterosexual couples, and they are generally attractive, white heterosexuals without any disabilities or social class issues. By default, the films I view aren't as diverse as I would like them to be.
The Rainbow Cards Project is a campaign that encourages you to write a card to someone in the LGBTQ+ community, and let them know that they aren't as alone as they may feel. The website offers guidelines of what you can and should not say, and each year alternates between sending birthday or Christmas cards. If you are a lonely person within this spectrum, you can also sign yourself up to receive cards.
The campaign was started by a gender queer person named Ellis, a 21 year old whose own experiences as someone in the LGBTQ+ community have influenced their desire for others like them to feel less alone. They're a very interesting person, and I recommend you read 'About the Founder' on the website.
Unfortunately, the deadline for cards in 2019 has closed, but I'm sure the website will open for 2020 submissions soon, so please keep checking the website so you can take part and make someones day a bit better with a kind, sincere message. Thank you.
