When we meet Charlotte (Maggie Lawson) she is auditioning
for a commercial. It turns out that
she’s a struggling actress who has never landed much beyond a few commercials
and a couple of television guest appearances.
Through interaction with her roommate we also learn she harbors some
animosity against the actor of a Television show her roommate Morgan (Erin
Agostino) is trying to watch. We then
learn that the two had previously been part of an acting workshop together (and
he’s famous and she’s a nobody so yeah . . . . Hate Him!!!). Charlotte goes to meet her old friend, Rachel
(Sabryn Rock), who wants her to apply for a job at her company. That way Charlotte would have a steady
paycheck, benefits, stability and be closer to her mother and Rachel. I guess then they would be close enough to go
to pilates class together, hang out at the mall, braid each other’s hair, have
pillow fights, gossip about coworkers, etc . . . . basically whatever women do
with each other these days. We then
learn that Charlotte works at the restaurant they were meeting at and starts her waitressing shift
(just another reminder that her acting career ain’t doin so hot).
That evening she meets an older gentleman who tells her
there’s a new theater production opening up based on “A Christmas Carol”. It turns out that “A Christmas Carol” is
simply Charlottes FAVORITE story. And we
know that because not a minute earlier there was a 30 second discussion between
her and her coworker about her reading it at work and that it’s her favorite
book and she reads it every year (Seriously?
How many times can you read the same book repeatedly before it loses its
luster? Because for most people the
answer is probably – once.). The next
day while working she runs into Julian (Brennan Elliott) the very same TV actor
from her past that she holds in such disdain.
Charlotte is clearly flustered and embarrassed so their interaction is
short. Julian obviously does not share
the same animosity and proceeds to contact Charlotte’s agent and recommend she
come to the show’s casting call.
While at home we meet one of Morgan’s friends who is
celebrating landing the very same commercial gig that Charlotte was hoping to
get from the beginning of the movie (Oh, that’s super! I’m so happy for you! Normally I’d love to come celebrate with you
but unfortunately, I’m planning to hang myself from the ceiling fan
tonight. Have fun!!!). Charlotte decides to audition for the
Christmas Carol production. When she get
there she then learns that Julian is the director she immediately reverses
course and refuses to audition because . . . . ummmm . . . its
Juuuuulian!!! It has gradually been
revealed that Charlotte’s anger at Julian is from when they both auditioned for
a TV show. Julian went off script and
won the lead while Charlotte got passed over.
As she storms off (What, your acting career seems to be
floundering? I don’t understand because
you seem soooooo professional.) Julian chases her and asks her “What are you
afraid of?” because it would be impolite to shout “Damn betch, don’t be such a
pussy!!!” in public (but we all know that’s what he really meant).
Somehow those thought-provoking words help Charlotte reconsider
and she returns to do the Audition. Of
course, while we all expect the production staff to be like “Get the hell out
of here woman, you had your chance!” instead they are all like “Sure, that’d be
great! Let’s see what you’ve got.” Thus
establishing early on that theater people are indeed a bunch of giant
wussies. And, of course, the
interpretation that Charlotte brings to the table is exactly the kind of unique
re-imagining they wanted the production to take (Yeayyyy!) so Charlotte gets
the gig. Thus begins the main portion of
the movie where Charlotte has to spend time with Julian as they work together
on the new script and her role.
Julian never comes across as anything but a great guy. He’s kind, enthusiastic, thoughtful, charming
and funny. It was literally only a
matter of time before the two of them are gazing into each other’s eyes,
complimenting each other and mixing personal time with business. They literally could not look any more like a
couple if they were holding hands and running barefoot together through the
park. Charlotte is also charismatic and
gives her character welcome depth. When Julian
tricks her into going back to the building that housed the acting workshop they
both attended, she even admits that she panicked when he started improvising at
the audition and she regretted not being able to act with him on the show. Damn!!!
A woman admitting that she was wrong?
She’s has obviously fallen for him.
To add some tension to the show the stereotypical greedy
building owner arrives and announces that he is tearing down the theater after
completion of the show. Waving a gold
cane in the air, his black cape flowing in the breeze he twirls his mustache
and gives a maniacal laugh before leaving to go pave paradise and put up a
parking lot. So now our heros have both
get ready for the show AND save the theater!!!
(DUN DUN DUUUUUN!!!!) As the
performance nears Julian gets offered a new TV series in LA and Charlotte
learns she got the HR or Event Coordinator (or whatever) job she interviewed
for at Rachel’s company because, despite having absolutely NO experience or
training, she has a great personality. So
while hearing someone “has a great personality” might be an ominous warning
when it comes to blind dating, it’s apparently wonderful news when trying to
land a job in corporate America.
Heading into the home stretch, Julian has invited Charlotte
to his place to discuss his true feelings about her (Julian, you sly dog!!!) so
we flip to page 6 of the Christmas Movie trope handbook and insert the arrival
of Julian’s ex-costar and tabloid girlfriend.
As expected, Charlotte quickly excuses herself convinced Julian is
already involved with someone. I mean,
despite being with him just about 24/7 for the past few weeks, without any
calls or texts that would suggest a girlfriend, him saying several times that
he wasn’t in a relationship and his being reticent to contact her to help
promote the theater on social media . . . if it’s in the Enquirer . . . you
KNOW it’s true!!! Opening night arrives
and before the show Julian gives Charlotte and incredibly thoughtful and
sentimental gift for luck. The show is a
big success (SURPRISE!!!). Julian even flies
Charlotte’s mother in to watch her perform (awwww).
At the after party, they talk and find out that each has
turned down their opportunities in order to stay in the city. Before we interpret these gestures and grand sacrifices
for love let’s remember that they each THOUGHT the other was leaving town (so
lucky break at best). Also, the evil
landowner arrives and announces that he’s changed his mind (Christmas Magic???)
and the theater is saved. IT’S A
FESTIVUS MIRACLE!!!! The party eventually
gets too loud to talk so Julian and Charlotte go outside because there’s no
better location for an intimate conversation than a busy city sidewalk in
downtown New York. And while I realize
that fake snow is a long treasured tradition for movies like these, the
incredible amount of soap suds on the street and sidewalk in this final frame
can only lead us to believe the city had just recently been attacked by a
malevolent race of washing machines. Here
is where they share a pretty anticlimactic kiss and finally embrace their true
feelings for each other.
I give this 4 out of 5 stars. The story gets a bit weak as time goes on but
the chemistry between the leads is high level.
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