cammietime
This is a good Hallmark Christmas movie. Period. Watch it.Yes, the "I can't lie" plot device may not be original, but it is unique to Hallmark Christmas movies and Alicia Witt really pulls it off here. She comes across as extremely believable and relatable, as if you could know someone like this in your real life (confirmation of a good character, dialog, and acting). I think the way that they had her not lie was why the movie was so interesting - it had good dialog and she blurted out what she was thinking, not just being truly honest. This being a Hallmark Christmas movie there is a can of cheese here and there, but this one refreshingly has a more realistic romance and believable characters, especially the reluctant romantic interest. The "too cozy with the client" subplot was a little much, and the ending climax was done all wrong, but the strong characters, focus on plot, and dialog saved the movie. This is the second Hallmark Christmas movie I've seen this year. These movies are 2 for 2 with having a convenient massive snowstorm shut down the main airport at the most critical time in the plot (how convenient) and having the real Santa appear in the movie for no good reason and pretend to be a fake Santa while granting Christmas wishes with magic. Just a note - I live in Minnesota and it takes one big whopper of a blizzard to shut down MSP. Flights usually get delayed and only cancel when the storm lasts more than a day, and this is rare. The writers need to think up a more realistic way to keep key characters in the action. I'd also like to see the Santa's more integrated into the plot, and not just standing around ringing a bell or walking around aimlessly.
Jack Vasen
Alicia Witt does really good faces. That makes her perfect for the strange predicaments she gets into as a result of having to tell the truth, and sometimes the truth is embarrassing.It was kind of ironic to see Alicia Witt singing absolutely horribly when doing Christmas carols, since she is a professional recording artist and concert singer. And I'm pretty sure she sings the title track also - it sounds like her and she has a recording of this song.The overall plot is cute and leads to some fun situations, even if the idea is not at all original.Kids in a Christmas movie are always good and this is no exception. Anna is a cutie. The sit down between Holly and her sister was very sweet. And it's Hallmark, so there has to be a romance and hugely unrealistic developments before the ending.
xeta prime
Okay many lies. First I have to say what's with the title? 'I'm not ready for Christmas'? At no time during the film was not being ready for Christmas a thing. Second, I love Alicia Witt and have seen all of her Hallmark movies as well as some TV roles. She seems a bit off here but maybe it's not her fault. I'm not opposed to another low and behold I can only tell the truth movie if it's done well, written well and directed, well. But I think this is one of Witt's worst Christmas fares. Mia Bagley who plays Anna does a great job with her performance. So does most of the cast but I think it falls/fails to the directing and more importantly writing. That said I did watch it all and for a split second there might have been a single obligatory Christmas-tear-a-welling. But when it was over I did verbally say out loud "That was an awful movie".
bethanytntsa
This movie follows your typical Hallmark plot line, but has a nice twist. The main character, Holly, is a single, workaholic whose sister and niece often beg to spend time with her. Holly's main problem is that she has a knack for telling little white lies. This is accentuated when she promises her niece, who is in elementary school, that she will attend her Christmas program but doesn't. Later, when Holly arrives at the school after the program, she comes across the music teacher who she met earlier, who confronts Holly about a lie she told. Holly's niece asks Santa to prohibit Holly from telling lies, and as Holly walks out the school to the car, that wish comes true. Holly cannot lie. This throws a wrench in her otherwise normal life and she finds the true spirit of Christmas.