2018
Director: Bradley Walsh
Writers: Carrie Freedle (Writer), Amyn Kaderali
Stars: Kat Graham, Quincy Brown, Ethan Peck
See this movie if...you like movies with a flatline emotional range or
movies about magical Christmas decorations.
Don't see this movie if...you want to stay awake or you like movies where you care about the characters.
The Holiday Calendar is the story about Abby (Kat Graham), a young, talented photographer working at a small town photography shop. She dreams of owning her own photography studio to sell her own work. During the Christmas season she splits time between holiday family/pets photos and pictures with Santa.
While we’re on the topic of holiday photos, holiday photos are the worst. Mostly because they fall into one of three categories. The first is the kids with Santa. Enid Strict was right, why do parents take kids to sit on some random man’s lap to whisper into his ear what they really want.
The second are people who take holiday photos with pets. I mean, what the...really...your pet? I know you love them and they might love you, they at least love the food you give them. But when you send me your holiday photo with Fluffy I’m not thinking, “at least your not alone”. What I'm thinking is, “Fluffy, who does your hair because it is FABULOUS!”
The last group is the worst. Yeah we know you went to Hawaii again this year. Thanks for shoving it in my face again! Yeah we know you are tanned and fit. Yeah we see that you are the happiest family in the world. Yeah, I’m bitter, but it’s only because my family spent our summer holidays in our tent trailer in our own front yard. How does that sound on a Christmas card?
Anyway, the movie gets its name from a gift that Abby’s grandfather gives her. It is a large wooden advent calendar that belonged to her grandmother, God rest her soul. Each day a door of the calendar magically opens revealing a holiday toy. As the story winds its way through the month of December Abby starts to wonder if the toys revealed by the calendar are predicting her future or is it just the magic of the season?
Joining Abby in this story is Abby’s best friend, Josh (Quincy Brown), who surprises her by returning from his time travelling abroad. Enter man number one. He’s young, handsome and he shares Abby’s love of photography. They’ve been friends forever, but so far there’s been no spark. Will the magic of the calendar change this?
Enter Ty (Ethan Peck), man number two. He’s mature, handsome and he knows how to show a lady a good time. Wait, are you thinking I meant...oh, get your mind out of the gutter. This is a family show, you perv. It seems like the calendar is bringing them together or is it coincidence?
It’s your classic old friend vs new love, will they, won’t they story. While the premise isn’t new, this isn’t the problem with this movie. The real problem is that this story feels like a toboggan ride in the prairies...in the summer. It doesn’t move very fast and it doesn’t get too high or too low. There just isn’t enough emotion to make you feel for any of the characters except for Grandpa. By the end of the movie I was rooting for the magic calendar to bring Grandma back and take Grandpa away with her.
This movie isn’t exciting or interesting or funny or much of anything, it just is. I can say that it is slightly magical so if you are looking for a holiday movie that has romance and magic...you should still probably look somewhere else.
If you want a movie that is somewhat romantic and somewhat magical and slightly less than interesting...then you should watch The Holiday Calendar.
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