What Is the Story About?
A newly engaged, hotel heiress Seirra Belmont suffers from total amnesia post a skiing accident. She eventually finds herself in the care of a blue-collar lodge owner, his effervescent daughter, and mother-in-law in the Christmas week. She spends time with the trio and a fresh romance blooms. The story is mostly about Seirra rediscovering herself and finding love when the world is joyfully celebrating Christmas.
Performances?
Lindsay Lohan is a charmer. She commands the screen and the genre like no one’s business and makes even the cheesiest of lines and scenes convincing. She once again reminds us what screen superstars truly are and how today we are falling short of the natural charisma yesteryear stars effortlessly carried. This cliched romance works, thanks to her stardom.
Analysis
Janeen Damien directs this Netflix template Christmas romance from a screenplay written by Jeff Bonnett and Ron Oliver starring the big screen sweetheart Lindsay Lohan in the lead. Pretty much like every Christmas movie that releases this time, Falling For Christmas has all the tappings a Netflix romance could possibly have.
Falling For Christmas starts like a typical romantic comedy where you have an extremely privileged rich protagonist who probably hasn’t figured out what to do with her life, an annoying nosy guy she dates before she *checks notes* finds that ideal one, and a rich father who would go to any length to spoil her more. So yeah, Seirra is that protagonist of ours except that she is quite likeable and wants to create an identity for herself without hurting her father. She has been seeing Tad (played by George Young), a celebrity influencer who she evidently is not going to end up with.
We are then introduced to Jake, a widower who runs a skiing resort alongside his daughter Avy and mother-in-law Alejandra. He is in a financial crumble as the footfalls in his resort have rampantly come down due to influx of porsche resorts in the area. Seirra ends up at Jake’s lodge post a skiing accident as she loses track of her memory. This is followed by an obvious, cliched, and predictable romance between Jake and Seirra.
What works in favour of Falling For Christmas is its charming cast led by the very Lindsay Lohan whose towering screen presence uplifts every single underwhelming scene there ever is. She is given paper thin material to work with and her character doesn’t have enough depth to it even by Netflix standards. However, she makes it work with her acting talent. The supporting actors are also very pleasant and carries the ‘happy vibe’ expected from a Christmas movie.
Lindsay Lohan and Chord Overstreet do have chemistry together but as a romance the writing is painfully meddling. Their moments are warm but do not give instant butterflies like a good romance should. The effort is clearly missing. Everything happens very quickly between the two. A story of second chances and self-discovery sounds great on paper, but the execution is what matters ultimately and the makers have failed in this case.
However, Lohan’s tender banter with Olivia Perez who plays Avy is something that deserves a mention. Only if the writers gave the duo well written scenes together. As simple as a story it is, the film would’ve been so much better if the screenplay was good enough. Each pivotal character has an under-lying form of grief that was left un-explored. But then, it’s a happy Christmas movie that strictly abides by the Netflix cliche-ridden book, thereby pulling Lindsay Lohan into a pit-fall too.
Other Artists?
The film largely has a very watchable and charming cast. Although nobody gets a chance to shine via acting moments, they’re all so easy on the eye. Be it Chord Overstreet as Jake Rusell, or Jack Wagner as Beauregard Belmont, or Alejandra Flores as Alejandra Carlisle. Olivia Perez as Jake’s daughter Avy is another scene stealer. She is effortlessly charming and oozes so much shine every scene she is in.
Music and Other Departments?
Nathan Lanier’s soundtrack in Falling For Christmas is worth all appreciation. The cover version of ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ recorded by Lohan for the film as an ode to her iconic performance of the song in Mean Girls (2004) is sure to take you down the memory lane. Although nothing groundbreaking, the camera work does a fine job in setting the mood for Christmas.
Highlights?
Lindsay Lohan
Charming Supporting Characters
Music
Drawbacks?
Never ending cliches
Repetitive Netflix template
Too Predictable
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But with reservations
Falling for Christmas Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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