(Minor spoiler only, below.)
This movie is a pretty typical Hallmark Christmas romance, but particularly light on Christmas themes. Christmas really is just when it happens to take place, Christmas is set dressing. But given what we do find out about the theater production, I guess that's a good thing. The movie centers around an actress and an off-Broadway NY theater production of A Christmas Carol. The movie is NOT a retelling of the Dickens classic, though, and thank goodness. The minute or so they spend on an audition scene reveals that Scrooge laments the time she spent in the office, now alone with her laptop on Christmas eve, with her name merely on a cubicle where no one will see it. She concludes that she will remember the lessons of the spirits and work to achieve her goal of having her name in lights! Yes, really. Scrooge actually learned to focus her narcissistic selfishness. So it's a great thing that we only see one more brief scene from their "modern take" on the Dickens classic. Now, "work to achieve your dreams" is an OK message, and it mirrors the main message of this movie well enough, but Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, it ain't. Since they picked A Christmas Carol as their production, it would have been nice to have a message concerning Christmas. Christmas movies often miss the true message of Christmas, but this one doesn't even find the generic non-spiritual ones, like the joy of giving or getting cool presents. But nonetheless, there are reasons to watch.
Maggie Lawson was great. She's always enjoyable to watch, and did the best job here of anyone, although all of the performances were very solid. I did feel like they could have focused more on relationships with her character's mother or friends, though. Or maybe the theater folks, who were under-utilized and seemed interesting.
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gambles-210 December 2017OK, I admit I enjoy sappy holiday movies. I don't expect award winning fare. I have no problem "suspending disbelief" for movies that incorporate magic, Santa, or even time travel. Christmas Encore pushed the boundaries a little too far. It starts AFTER Thanksgiving with nothing but a title and plans to put on a play for Christmas. That concept in an elementary school would be a massive stretch. This is a NY City theater. I can only imagine people who work both behind the scenes and on stage being mortified by the ridiculous time frame.
Christmas Encore has the usual romantic conflict and misunderstanding (Which is minor so that is a positive) with a decent supporting cast. I wish some of the theater group had actually been shown doing their jobs. ie: sets, costumes. I love the set director, Sid.
It is made more watchable by Brennan Elliott who seems to have become a Hallmark "go to" guy and Maggie Lawson who also has a Psych movie released at the same time. If you have time kill or are a fan of a cast member then by all means enjoy the movie. If you only have time to choose a few movies to watch, I would recommend moving on to another one... -
Luvhallmark9 January 2019I missed seeing this movie when it was released in 2017 but I did catch it after Christmas 2018. I wish I could say I enjoyed this movie but unfortunately, it was just "ok". It didn't have that feel good effect on me. I also did not think there was any chemistry at all between the lead actors. Just another Christmas movie about some building or lodge in need of saving. I'm so bored any more with Hallmark Christmas movies. A Christmas Carol was not meant to ever be rewritten as a modern day tale (in my opinion) so for me, it was very far fetched!
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There's nothing wrong with this movie, but there is also nothing really great about it. The story revolves around putting on a production of A Christmas Carol, which is pretty well used. (But the story itself is not patterned after Christmas Carol.) There is the additional plot device of they're-going-to-close-our-theater-we-have-to-save-it. That's also well used. It picks up some sentimental points with an underdog-makes-it-big story. And of course the romance. There aren't any really exciting plot twists.
The acting was good. Maggie Lawson is charming and optimistic and energetic. Brennan Elliott is his usual being a regular in the Hallmark romance stable. He's maybe a tad old for Agostino. The rest of the cast was also decent.
It's pretty typical Hallmark, so if that's what you like, you should like it well enough. If that's not your cup of tea, this one is probably not for you. -
gehewe22 January 2018I am a big Maggie Lawson fan from Psych and was excited about her being in a Christmas movie. I also love Brennan Elliot. They were both a delight throughout the movie. The first 30 minutes of the movie was pretty good. The movie lacked something in the execution of the story. The story was actually pretty good in which an actress gets her big break by starring in a Christmas play as a female scrooge. Wish they had included more of this play dynamic. The movie was not dull (stayed awake and engaged the whole time). A bit of a disappointment here but I hope Maggie keeps up the Christmas movies.
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chiltonsjillfreeport8 December 2020I'll start with the pluses: lead Maggie Lawson, anywhere. She's charming, energetic-even a bit inspiring-here. All around, the acting is a high point and a cut above for this genre.
Unfortunately, that's about where the positive runs out.
Male lead Brennan Elliot is also good, but he comes off as old for Lawson's perky Charlotte, which is emphasized by their more-work-than-spark vibe through most of the movie.
So, it's thin on the vital romance angle.
The worse sin, maybe, for the holiday romance crowd: there's very little hint of Christmas except as a calendar date.
The movie was shot almost entirely in dark interiors, so for all of Charlotte's infectious optimism, there's also a visual heaviness that, combined with the lack of Christmas zing and tepid romance, kind of sank the whole enterprise. -
PennyReviews11 January 2020The movie was a bit boring, even for a christmas cheesy one. The couple didn't have chemistry and there were some cringy moments.
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majoq14 February 2021I had my doubts when I started watching it, but it turned out to be a sweet romantic movie. Easy to watch. Good acting. With all the clichés, but you know what you are getting.
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zyxnix11 January 2018There is really nothing redeeming about this movie. It just doesn't get it. It really has nothing to do with Christmas. Just doesn't work. Maggie Lawson has got nothing going on. Ugh, Noting works in this movie.
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MihaiSorinToma4 March 2019It's a family movie which is supposed to be romantic and dramatic but unfortunately misses in both aspects. Its plot seems interesting but it also fails to deliver something good, as it is very linear, predictable and thus very unsatisfying. It has such a slow pace that it's easier to fall asleep than pay attention to it, especially as it also doesn't bring anything that might surprise you in any way. Its characters are also not very well developed, not managing to be likeable or to direct any sympathy towards them. To make matters worse, the finale is as predictable as It gets, not to mention the overall sensation that the movie leaves, that everything will be sorted very easily without breaking a sweat.
There aren't many things to mention on the plus side unfortunately, besides the core idea of the plot which was interesting (before actually seeing its implementation) and a couple of actors which are quite ok in their interpretation. It's a shame that they weren't able to do more with this movie, the final result being mediocre at best. -
TheLittleSongbird25 December 2021'Christmas Encore' was one of those films that was part of my Christmas film completest quest that has been happening on and off over-time after it appeared as a recommendation here earlier this year. Absolutely love Christmas, have said this quite a number of times in my reviews in the past but am trying actually to not make it as obvious now unless when challenged if a review for any Christmas film is negative. Did sort of like the idea.
Saw 'Christmas Encore' actually with relatively mixed expectations, excepting at least some degree of heart and charm while not expecting a particularly great story or dialogue. Watching it, 'Christmas Encore' had its moments. But it was a film that pretty much delivered on not having a great story or dialogue (neither were even good) and didn't have enough heart or charm. Not unwatchable but quite bland with a number of things working against it.
There are good things here. The always watchable Brennan Elliot was an amiable male lead and has the one character to have any form of likeability or development (while being generally thin on both). The music is pleasant and nostalgic.
Furthermore, the scenery is suitably picturesque and beautifully photographed. Some parts are cute.
Unfortunately, the bad things outweigh. Have seen much better performances from Maggie Lawson. She is dull later on and comes over as too neurotic early on from trying too hard with the negative character traits. Really did not find her character appealing at all for most of the time, too self-absorbed and narcissistic. The rest of the cast try but are undistinguished in typical Hallmark cliche roles.
Chemistry between Lawson and Elliot is none. Quite cold, takes too long to get anywhere and then rushes through when it finally shows some sign of developing and too much of a mismatch. 'Christmas Encore' is very cheesy in writing to the extent that the pong that exudes from it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The sentimental sugar is also too much. The story is a major failing, it's paper thin and beyond bland that is excessively predictable from being too faithful to the typical Hallmark Christmas film formula and moves very slowly early on. This could easily have been 45 minutes at the maximum.
Concluding, watchable for one time only but mostly a failure. 4/10. -
Christmas-Reviewer1 July 2018Review Date 7/1/2018
I Have Reviewed OVER 500 Christmas MOVIES. On all Christmas movies BEWARE OF FAKE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. Many reviewers have only have ONE REVIEW. When it's a POSITIVE REVIEW chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. If its a negative review then they may have a huge grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.
In this film A struggling actress cast in an off-Broadway show contemplates quitting the business and moving home. However, she has second thoughts after discovering a renewed passion for her craft. But when the historic theater where they perform loses its lease and the show is set to fold, she and her castmates need a Christmas miracle.
This film is almost a chore to finish. It has some attractive leads but no great story to make this film worth remembering. -
uakingofswing18 November 2019Very well acted with a nice story line. Not like most of the Christmas movies.
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adamjohns-4257519 November 2022Christmas Encore (2017) -
This film was very typical of many, many others, but without that usually obvious romantic interest.
I was actually quite bored by the first half and I didn't even feel anything for Brennan Elliott in the lead male role of Julian, as I have in his other films before, although he was still the best bit about the whole film.
I couldn't really connect with the leading lady Maggie Lawson, playing Charlotte, either. She was a bit like a blend of Amy Adams, Alicia Silverstone and Nicole Kidman, but somewhat lacking in the certain something that makes them great.
And the stage show that they build throughout the film ultimately looked like the worst interpretation of 'A Christmas Carol' since Kelsey Grammar took on the role (2004). The fact that I believe that Dickens' work to be the greatest story ever told made this bastardised version incredibly unacceptable. Not to mention the fact that the "Actor" in the role of 'Scrooge' was awful in their production.
The story in general wasn't one of those modern updates of the story, but what they did with it, for the purposes of this film, was heinous in my mind.
I will not be returning to this one until I'm old and grey and I've forgotten all the lists and scores I've given over the years and maybe not even then. We will see how my memory lasts.
3.75/1000.