Bria Lou Reviews

I wanted to do another round-up of this year's Blogmas posts as I did last year. So here are the films I watched in December! Falling for Christmas | Blogmas Day 1  - This was my first film of Blogmas, which wasn't the best to start off with. Christmas Is Canceled | Blogmas Day 2 - The next film of Blogmas wasn't very enjoyable. Mistletoe Mixup | Blogmas Day 3  - This was a cute, somewhat enjoyable movie, with a cast I loved. Christmas In Tune | Blogmas Day 4  - I loved this movie! It was really festive and the music was great! Godmothered | Blogmas Day 5  - This film had an interesting premise but ended up being disappointing. Christmas With You | Blogmas Day 6  - This had an interesting premise (which was a lot like another film), but also ended up being disappointing. The Flight Before Christmas | Blogmas Day 7  - This is a lifetime movie that I'd been meaning to watch for a while. It was enjoyable while being exactly what you'd expect. The Christmas Si...

  It's Christmas Eve! I left this film until last because it was the one I was most looking forward to seeing. I saw the trailer and was really intrigued by how the events would play out, and I was already a fan of the two main actors. Thankfully it was a great choice for Christmas Eve because it surpassed my expectations! When two gift bags from Tiffany's get accidentally swapped, Rachel (Zoey Deutch) is given an engagement ring meant for someone else, and Ethan's (Kendrick Sampson) proposal is ruined. Can they swap back and each have the perfect Christmas, or was the swap a blessing in disguise? I loved this film. The concept in itself is fun and cute. It didn't have to be about Christmas and could cause a variety of different outcomes, making it more unique than the average Christmas movie. I really liked all of the characters, whether they were main or supporting. The film also stars Shay Mitchell, Ray Nicholson and Jojo T. Gibbs, but the standout performer, without...

  This is another one that I was particularly looking forward to. Not only was the concept original, but I've seen and liked Alfred Enoch and Kaya Scodelario in other projects, so it was nice to see them in something together. When Adam (Alfred Enoch) realizes that he takes the train with the same commuters every day, he enlists the help of Emma (Kaya Scodelario) to throw a party for the passengers. I really liked this movie.  I'll start by saying the only thing I didn't love about the film was the main character, Adam. He was fine as a character, but if I knew him in real life I think I'd find him really annoying. Maybe I'm just cynical? I liked the love interests as a couple, but one thing I don't like about romance movies is when they make the love interest's partners into villains to justify the break-up (or sometimes cheating) that occurs. This film was guilty of doing this, and it wasn't really necessary in my opinion. I really liked the idea of th...

This is a Freevee original movie, and what attracted me to it more than anything was that I have enjoyed seeing the two main actors in other projects, so I wanted to see them in something different. I don't think I looked at the description before putting it on. As hotel manager Georgia (Madelaine Petsch) is caught between the hotel chef (Mena Massoud) and an ex-prince (Max Lloyd-Jones), the other hotel workers and guests have their own holiday dramas to worry about. I didn't like this film that much. It was okay, but a few elements didn't really work for me. It never spent time making me care about any of the characters - neither the main characters, or the background characters who had their own side stories. In terms of the main character Georgia, I kind of felt like she didn't really have chemistry with either love interest, which made things feel a bit inauthentic. As mentioned, there were a lot of characters with side stories, but none of these felt particularly i...

  I had been looking forward to this movie for such a long time! Not only am I a fan of Asa Butterfield, but the premise looked really original and fun, so I was excited to see how it would play out. Students Hayley (Cora Kirk) and James (Asa Butterfield) surprise each other for Christmas by travelling to each other's homes for the holidays, leaving them trapped with each other's families for Christmas. I loved this movie! At this point in Blogmas I was starting to get Christmas Movie fatigue (which happens every year), and this film cured that in the first 5 minutes. The actors and characters had a chemistry that was so believable, they didn't even need to spend the movie together to feel authentic. In fact, they had more chemistry apart than a lot of Christmas Couples have together! Not only is the story unique, but it's also really interesting, and would be interesting without the Christmas backdrop. The humour works really well - the funny moments are actually funny...

  This movie became available on Netflix recently. The plot was quite generic in terms of Christmas movies, but it wasn't a plot I've reviewed for this year's Blogmas yet, so I added it in. A realtor (Rukiya Bernard) falls for the property developer trying to buy her father's inn. I didn't have particularly high hopes for this one, but it still didn't meet them. All of the characters are likeable, particularly our two main characters, but I never really warmed to or liked them that much. I noticed that there wasn't a lot of background music in the film, Christmassy or otherwise. This made some scenes feel a bit stilted and bland. You know exactly where it's going from the first few moments. This isn't unusual with a Christmas movie like this, but the problem was that I didn't care enough about it to be interested in how it would end. The characters (and actors) have good chemistry but the story is weak. It would be interesting to see how these tw...

  I picked this movie for day 19 without realising that the premise is similar to the movie for day 18, but thankfully, this one is a bit better than yesterday's! On a photography holiday retreat, fashion photographer Gaby (Tatyana Ali) and wildlife photographer Sean (Henderson Wade) find out that their room has been double-booked, so they have to spend the holiday together. I really enjoyed this movie. It was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. The events at the beginning of the film, before getting to the retreat, happen a bit too quickly. We don't really get the chance to know our main character. I liked the banter and chemistry between the main characters as soon as they were on screen together, which contributed to why I liked the film as much as I did. The film combines three or four common romance movie tropes, but does it in a way that makes them feel fun and unique. The characters' backstories could have been a bit more interesting, but watching them ...

  It feels like Christmas movies where one of the characters is a writer are a staple of Hallmark, so of course I had to have one this year. A romance novelist (Krystal Joy Brown) falls for an author (Curtis Hamilton) while reviving her late mother's holiday writing retreat. This wasn't anything special. For some reason, I liked every character apart from the love interest. There was just something about him that I never warmed to. While the film is about this writing retreat, it takes too long to actually get to the retreat, and I didn't care about the unnecessary build-up. The aesthetic of the movie was great - things felt very cosy and festive, and there was a definite family feel to it. I never liked the main couple. There wasn't a lot of chemistry between them and they weren't believable. It felt ironic that a film about writing wasn't written very well. Overall, if you're looking for Christmas movies to watch, I'd give this one a miss. Originality ...

  This is the plot that most felt like a Hallmark Christmas movie. I feel like I've seen this exact story at least twice before, although this did have the bonus of being sapphic, so I had to add it to the list. When Haley (Laur Allen) returns to her family's ranch to save it from going under, she falls for ranch-hand Kate (Amanda Righetti). This was adorable. Of course it is very similar to a lot of other Christmas movies, but it plays into this well. There's really good chemistry between the two main characters. They are believable together, and they have a cute, fun relationship that's really enjoyable to watch.  While Christmas is a major theme, the film itself wasn't particularly festive or Christmassy.  There were quite a few music montages that could have been cut out. The film felt a bit longer than it needed to be and this was probably why. The story itself was fine, but the characters are really what we're watching for. Overall, this film was cute, fun...

  It's Blogmas day 16! This is a really new film. I hadn't been planning to add it to Blogmas this year, but when I saw that it was available to watch, I just had to. Sparks fly when former Broadway star Billy Holiday (Mario Lopez) helps dance teacher Rae (Jana Kramer) with a Christmas Eve dance recital. This was an okay film - it's what you expect it to be. The plot was interesting. Even though it felt like a usual Christmas movie, there is something unique about it, not only in the modernity of the characters, but also in the way it's written. I didn't find the two main characters particularly likeable, and I didn't feel that much chemistry between them. It seemed like a friendship/relationship of convenience rather than out of attraction. In fact, the romance felt secondary to the dance recital, which was actually the most interesting thing about the film. Whether the characters got together or not, you wanted to see the recital at the end. The dances were cu...

  It's Blogmas day 15! I picked this film because I watched a Christmas movie starring the same actors last year, and I wanted to see if this one was better than the last (which I didn't love).  When a Christmas-hating doctor (Jessica Lowndes) breaks up with her boyfriend, fate intervenes to show her the true meaning of Christmas. This one was... weird. I didn't understand one of the main plot points for almost an hour, and when I got it, it didn't make the film that much more enjoyable to watch. The dialogue felt cheesy and inauthentic. I wrote in my notes that Gabe (Chad Michael Murray) didn't feel like a real person, and after finishing the movie I understand why. But having said that, I feel that there were better ways to play this character. It didn't work for me at all. The plot is generic and not that interesting. And when the 'twist' comes, while the plot gets less generic, it doesn't get more interesting. I kept writing about the characters...

  It's Blogmas day 14! This was my most random pick of Blogmas, and one of the only movies that wasn't planned in advance. After my original pick ended up being too long, I went onto Paramount Plus, searched 'Christmas', and this came up. The story looked original enough, so I started watching. Thanks to a Christmas wish, workaholic June (Erika Prevost) is forced to say 'yes' to every Christmas activity invitation she receives. The plot was interesting, but I didn't like this as much as I wanted to. The main couple have natural chemistry, but that seems to be the result of luck, as their interactions didn't really provide anything for the audience to root for. After watching the movie I feel like the couple's chemistry was very friend-based, and it probably should have stayed that way. And the film would have been a lot more original if they had stayed friends. I liked the character of June, and thought she was played very well, but after a while it ...

  It's Blogmas day 13! The plot of this one looked quite generic, but the characters are cute and the story looked like it would be festive and fun, which I was really in the mood for. When Rebecca (Keisha Knight Pulliam) returns to her hometown to look after her niece and nephew, she reunites with her childhood best friend Drew (Jarod Joseph). This was as generic as it sounded. It was an okay watch, but there are many other Christmas movies with almost identical plots. This movie made me want to start rating the movie titles during Blogmas, because it feels like absolutely no effort was put into this one! Every piece of dialogue felt inauthentic, both in the way it was written, and the delivery of the lines. The film tried very hard to give these characters a history, but it didn't really work because the characters lacked the chemistry and familiarity they were supposed to have. The truth about the character's backstories should have come earlier in the film - it would ha...

 It's Blogmas day 12! As Blogmas day 12 is my birthday, I always try to find a film that's a bit special. As soon as I saw the trailer for this one, I knew that I had to use it for this day - and hoped I wouldn't be disappointed! This is a new Netflix movie so beware there will be a spoiler in this review. When bestselling author Jacob Turner (Justin Hartley) crosses paths with Rachel (Barrett Doss), they work together to discover secrets of the past. I loved this film. It has instantly become my favourite of Blogmas, and I don't know if anything could take that spot from it. For a start, I really liked the premise. Even without the Christmas backdrop, it's something that I'd watch. I really like the characters individually regardless of the story - but they do fit really well into this world, and the actors played their parts amazingly well. The chemistry between the characters is great. You watch them fall in love and really believe that they are. It's wel...

  It's Blogmas day 11! I found this movie on Disney+ and was surprised that I hadn't heard of it before, especially because it stars Lea Michele. But it looked interesting, and I'm a big fan of Charles Michael Davis, so I added it to the list! After being separated from her childhood best friend, Olivia (Lea Michele) reunites with Jeff (Charles Michael Davis) in Hawaii at Christmas. But will there always be something keeping them apart? This was cute. Not the best Christmas movie, but definitely not the worst. One of my favourite things about it was that all of the necessary backstory between the characters was explained in the first 6 minutes. It was quick, concise, and let the audience get right into the main story. I found the pacing to be a bit weird - especially because of all the flashbacks and time jumps. It took a while to get used to, and when you think it's over, another one surprises you. Speaking of these time jumps, the first doesn't feel necessary. We ...

It's Blogmas day 10! Not only did this look really cute, but it's one of only a few Blogmas films I've picked that had quite good reviews, so my hopes were high! When Charlie (Tattiawna Jones) finds the perfect Christmas tree for a work event in Alma's (Elise Bauman) backyard, sparks fly between them. I really enjoyed this movie. There was instant chemistry between these characters, which made the film really enjoyable to watch. Even though I didn't really care about the story that much, the characters are what made it interesting and kept me watching. The plot could have been completely different and it wouldn't have made a difference to me. And while the plot did get more interesting as the story continued, it was never anything special. While they're not my favourite couple this Blogmas, they do go on my favourite date of Blogmas. It was adorable to watch.  Overall, this is a festive and fun Christmas rom-com that's definitely worth watching, if only ...

It's Blogmas day 9! What initially attracted me to this movie was that I recognised the love interest from The Vampire Diaries, and had never seen him in another role. But apart from that, I always love a cooking/baking-themed Christmas movie. On a holiday cooking getaway, a chef (Britt Irvin) encounters a rival chef from her past (Zach Roerig). I didn't like this movie. In fact, it's probably my least favourite of this year's Blogmas so far. On first impression, neither of the main characters were particularly likeable, and unfortunately I never really warmed to either of them. I never cared about the story or the characters. The stakes weren't high, we know what will happen at the end, so there were points of it that didn't even feel worth watching. Most chef/cooking/baking Lifetime movies use the rivals-to-lovers trope, and this is no different. Though it would have been interesting to see this played into a bit more. To see these characters actually having t...

 It's Blogmas day 8! I caught the tail-end of this movie last year and made a point of adding it to my list for this year - I felt the characters' chemistry immediately and was really excited to see the whole thing. When their flight home is delayed, two parents hire incompatible babysitters (Tristin Mays and Nathan Owens) to look after their children. I loved this movie! Even from the beginning, the meet-cute of the main characters has been my favourite meet-cute of Blogmas 2022 so far. It gave us so much about the characters, and instantly established a chemistry between them. The two main characters are really likeable individually, and as the movie goes on you are able to find likeable qualities in all of the characters - I didn't like the children or their parents at first, but they all grew on me by the end. Not only does the film get you in the mood for Christmas, but hearing about the characters' traditions makes you think about your own Christmas traditions. I ...

It's Blogmas day 7! This is a bit of an older film than the rest of Blogmas will probably be, but I've been meaning to watch it for a while, mainly because I was really interested in seeing Mayim Bialik outside of her Big Bang Theory role. When a snowstorm delays their flight, two strangers (Mayim Bialik and Ryan McPartlin) share a room in a bed-and-breakfast on Christmas Eve. This was cute. It's nothing special or particularly unique, but it was an enjoyable watch. From the beginning, I was genuinely interested in the story, particularly Stephanie (Bialik), who was the more interesting character of the two.  The characters are likeable both on their own and together. The only problem I had with them was that their relationship started off within the enemies-to-lovers trope, and I really wish the 'enemies' side had been played into more. It was nice seeing them warm to each other, but it happened a bit too quickly for my liking. Speaking of warming to each other, it...

 It's Blogmas day 6! This film came out a couple of weeks ago on Netflix and I instantly added it to my Blogmas list, not only because it was new, but because it had an interesting (if a bit familiar) plot. Pop star Angelina (Aimee Garcia) escapes her life by going to a small town to grant a young fan's wish, and ends up being taken in by the fan and her father (Freddie Prinze Jr.) I thought I would love this film because the plot is quite similar to 'Marry Me', a film that I loved. However, this one fell a bit flat for me. The main reason this movie fails for me is because there isn't really any chemistry between the two leads. There isn't a lot going on in the story so it rests on the relationships, and the lack of chemistry made the events of the film hard to believe. For a film that tries to focus quite a lot on music, there's not a lot of music in the film. And the music that is used doesn't feel particularly prominent or important - especially the ...