'Tis The Season - Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

 

 

Streaming Service: Netflix

Movie Name/Year: Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

Genre: Holiday, Romance, Comedy

Length:  1h 22min

Rating: TV-PG

Director: Mary Lambert

Writers: Todd Calgi Gallicano, Charles Shyer

Actors: Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeño, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil, Madison Skye Validum, Nadia Sine, Janet Lo, Camille Cadarette, Chase Ramsey

 

IMDb Blurb: Friendships are put to the ultimate test over a boastful holiday newsletter.

 

 

Selina’s Point of View:

Tis the season for cheesy movies. I need to get into the headspace for it, which is proving difficult this year. A Christmas magic rom-com should have been what I needed, but Best. Christmas. Ever! went a little too far past the campy line to make much of a positive difference to me.

 

I’m going to start with the good, though.

 

Brandy Norwood (Cinderella, Star, The Game) simply hasn’t aged. Not only that, but she was built for parts like these. Although cheesy, she puts enough heart into characters to make them feel worth watching. I’m also fond of Jason Biggs (Orange is the New Black, Loser, American Pie), I always have been. He has an ‘effortless’ quality to his acting that makes him perfect for family roles. I almost always instantly buy him as the dad, or husband, in any story. He feels normal. In a good way.

 

The beginning of the flick made sense and felt cute to me, as well, but it devolved from there.

 

 

All the rest of Best. Christmas. Ever! felt cringy – at best. The main character was absolutely obnoxious, and Heather Graham (Suitable Flesh, The Rest of Us, Boogie Nights) did nothing to help that first impression. There were scenes where she did things that felt so forced that I found myself actively making faces at the screen.

 

Then there was the ending.

 

For a moment, I thought they were taking an impressive route. Unfortunately, they left every thread of plot from that moment dangling. Even the short scene just before the credits didn’t close the holes they created. It wound up feeling ridiculous instead of magical.

 

There are better cheesy Christmas movies than Best. Christmas. Ever!

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

The title of Best. Christmas. Ever! set a very high bar for expectations regarding this new Christmas movie offering. This is the time of year, after all, that we tend to get inundated with cheesy and saccharine movies full of the Spirit of the Season and magical romance experiences. We all know about the networks that shift to pretty much round-the-clock Christmas and holiday romance movies. There are so many within this genre out there that there’s no shortage to fill up their programming spots for the entire month and then some. Best. Christmas. Ever! felt like it could have been in the mix with that rotation – this one just came from Netflix instead of Hallmark.

 

I’m on the fence with how I feel about this movie.

 

On one hand, Best. Christmas. Ever! delivered what felt like a fresh concept with a holiday check-in letter becoming the catalyst for Christmas shenanigans. Rather than the typical meet-cute or crisis because something is in trouble and someone or the community needs to save whatever it is tropes. this film does offer something relatable that I can’t remember seeing before.

 

I love getting letters from friends and relatives around the holidays. I try to keep tabs on how everyone is doing via social media if not directly, but it’s that little personal touch of a letter in my hand that feels special that they took extra time to think about sending it to me that gives me warm fuzzies. Sometimes I can’t help but compare where my own life status is to the adventures and milestones shared. It’s human nature, I think. Best. Christmas. Ever! takes that sentiment and spins an elaborate ‘what if’ scenario for us.

 

 

It was a bit of a roller-coaster ride, though. Perhaps there was too much cringe involved, or maybe the fact that the families on screen lived in this super-rich fantasy land. It was a feast for the eyes from a set-dressing standpoint, but it was hard to connect with the characters. Too much was going on at once, perhaps. I was even afraid this was about to turn into a swingers situation with these couples, but the rating helped me hold on to hope that it wouldn’t – and it thankfully didn’t. There were just some weird vibes going on.

 

For a movie about embracing and pushing through life not working out perfectly, there was too much of a glossy perfect sheen on everything. The message was there, but it was like someone gave me candy rather than a cough drop for a sore throat.

 

I’m afraid that I have to agree with most of the critical reviews that I’ve seen for Best. Christmas. Ever! which pretty much state that this movie works better as a TV holiday special rather than a feature film. Of course, if we consider Netflix as a non-traditional TV network, then that’s exactly what this was.

 

Best. Christmas. Ever! has its fun and heartwarming moments and wasn’t a total travesty, mind you. It just didn’t live up to the sales pitch its own title offered. Brandy Norwood’s voice remains spectacular, though, so having this playing in the background wouldn’t be a bad thing.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 42%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 19%

Metascore – 34%

Metacritic User Score – 1.8/10

IMDB Score – 4.3/10

 

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 2/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 2.5/5

 

Movie Trailer:

 

True Spirit (2023)

 
Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: True Spirit (2023)
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Length: 1h 49min
Rating: TV-PG
Production/Distribution: Resonate Entertainment, Martin Chase Productions, Sunstar Entertainment, The Rebel Fleet, Netflix
Director: Sarah Spillane
Writers: Rebecca Banner, Cathy Randall, Sarah Spillane
Actors: Anna Paquin, Cliff Curtis, Teagan Croft, Josh Lawson, Todd Lasance, Alyla Browne, Alice Tate, Bridget Webb, Freya Callaghan, Stacy Clausen, Vivien Turner
 
IMDb Blurb: The story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson, the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
There are a lot of good messages in True Spirit.
 
Obviously, True Spirit was inspirational. That was the point of the whole thing. It was why people were drawn to Jessica Watson’s story to begin with. That idea of finding a dream and working tirelessly toward it until it’s successful is something a lot of people aspire to. It seems easy from afar, but no dream comes without risks and failures. It becomes easier to give up than to stick to it.
 
Stories like the one in True Spirit show what it’s like to have everyone telling you that what you are trying to do is impossible – even laughable. Then it shows what can happen when you go through with it anyway.
 
True Spirit also touches on how quickly adults are willing to discredit a teenager. At 16-years-old, a person is still a child, but it’s also entirely possible for them to have 10-years of experience in something. A lot of people start being interested in things as kids and learn as they grow. Although many do opt to go down different paths, there are those that stick with it for their entire lives. It does all of humanity a disservice to overlook that.

 
Just like adults, teens deserve to be judged based on their own personal accomplishments and hard work.
 
Then there’s the fact that Watson was dyslexic. I love how they showed her struggle with the numbers and positions of her boat.
 
My personal brand of learning disability is ADHD. When people aren’t outright trying to downplay it and tell me that it’s fake, they’re overplaying it and deciding it has something to do with my intelligence and capabilities. When I was in school, I actively avoided all help offered to me based on my ADHD because the school made damn sure I knew it came with strings. To this day, at least in my state, the schools will only agree to screen for things like ADHD and dyslexia if you agree to a lesser education.

 
Media, like True Spirit, helps to remove some of the stigma from learning disabilities. A true story where someone overcomes their difficulties to succeed is relatable. Relatable content makes a difference.
 
It would have been less effective if it wasn’t a decent flick on its own.
 
True Spirit was heartwarming and honest. It never felt overly Lifetime-esk, and it left me with goosebumps at the end.
 
I was really impressed by the climax. The creators of True Spirit did something most don’t. It took the true story and actually downplayed it a bit. Most films hype things up and make things more pulse-pounding. In the case of True Spirit, they played up the drama and toned down the action – which made more sense for the way the story was told. It hit harder. I think if they would have gone the action route, the movie would have suffered.
 
I also appreciated the clips from Watson’s real-life homecoming and blog that played at the end. Seeing the real Jessica Watson do the things she was portrayed as doing made everything stick a little more. It reminds me of the end of Selena (1997). It’s not something that always works, but when it’s done right, it’s memorable.
 
True Spirit was an inspiring watch, and I would absolutely recommend it. 
 
Cat’s Point of View:
I was entranced by the trailer for True Spirit when we watched leading up to February’s Top 20 list. It struck me as a heartfelt adventure story that could shine some hope into today’s bleak atmosphere - especially since it was based on a true story. Of course, I love the ocean and have always had a romantic notion about life at sea. In reality, however, I know nothing of sailing, and even being out on a cruise ship is slightly terrifying. I digress…
 
True Spirit was cast well and I adored the peek into Jessica Watson’s family as well as her journey. Teagan Croft (The Osiris Child, Titans, Woman of a Certain Sage) deftly captured the determination of the intrepid teen to pursue her dream of solo global circumnavigation. Really, the whole gauntlet of emotions Watson experienced was well depicted. 

 
The cinematography was stunning and gave us a great perspective on both the up-close and macro scales for Watson’s life at sea. The storm waves felt real and some shots of the ocean and sky were breathtaking. I’m not sure whether they used real footage or CGI in some places, to be honest. (Specifically speaking of a particular sunrise in the movie.)
 
Further, I really appreciated how True Spirit subtly handled the portrayal of Watson’s dyslexia. Not only did True Spirit show us that learning disabilities shouldn’t be a hindrance to our dreams if we work hard enough, but it also showed that there are ways to work through such challenges. I adored that this true adventure story underscored that it’s OK not to be OK. That resonates to a monumental degree. We’re all going through something right now – we just need to get to the other side because things can and will get better.
 
True Spirit is one of those movies that even people who are not really fans of biographies might enjoy. I was invested to the point that I forgot the passage of time while watching. This is one film that I would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for something relatively family-friendly with a positive message that’s not a cookie-cutter repeat of everything else out there. 
 

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 79%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score –72%
Metascore – 50%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 6.8/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

P.S. - There are some scenes during the credits that show footage from the real journey of Jessica Watson that the movie is based on.
 
Movie Trailer:

'Tis the Season - Christmas in Mississippi (2017)

 

Streaming Service: Amazon Prime
Movie Name/Year: Christmas in Mississippi (2017)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Length: 1h 30min
Rating: TV-PG
Production/Distribution: Active Entertainment, Factory Underground, Lifetime Television, Videoland
Director: Emily Moss Wilson
Writer: Marcy Holland
Actors: Jana Kramer, Wes Brown, Faith Ford, Trace Masters, April Asbury, Barry Bostwick, Gary Grubbs, Richard Karn, Avery Lynn Lewis, Davina Reid, Jordan Salloum, Roger J. Timber, Karina Willis
 
IMDb Blurb: Photographer Holly Logan (Jana Kramer) returns to her hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi for Christmas. The town is resurrecting their traditional holiday light show for the first time since a terrible hurricane struck five years earlier. Holly volunteers to pitch in, but has second thoughts when she discovers that the festival is run by her high-school sweetheart Mike (Wes Brown). Now Holly must spend the next few days with the man who broke her heart. With the help of her matchmaking mom Caroline (Faith Ford) and Mr. Kriss, the kind man who will play Santa in the town's celebration, Holly begins to fall in love with her hometown, and Mike, all over again.

 
Cat’s Point of View:
Okay, I know I’ve been a bit hard on the made-for-TV movies that show on the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime. They just tend to be basic melodramas. There’s nothing wrong with that. I grew up watching soaps with my great-grandmother and my paternal grandmother. I get it. It’s just not always my thing.
 
These TV movies tend to be sappy and predictable, so it’s really easy to say ‘been there, done that’ when one of these come up for review. In fact, the way the spoiler-ridden trailers tend to go, I recently called them speed-runs of the movies. It tends to take some of the magic out of the movie experience for me when everything becomes paint-by-numbers like that.

 
I wish I could say that Christmas in Mississippi was a film that bucked the trend of the Lifetime movies that have come before it. Alas, this was all of the things – except over-the-top. That was one element that was blessedly absent.
 
Don’t get me wrong, though. Christmas in Mississippi was enjoyable and gave me all of the appropriate warm fuzzies for the season. There just really weren’t any surprises. I called the twist very early on.
 
Even so, there was an extra element to this production that felt like a warm hug. The nostalgia of familiar faces was on a high level. Of course, these familiar faces belonged to highly competent actors, as well. The cast certainly elevated this little tale of Mississippi Christmas magic.

 
I’ve adored Jana Kramer (One Tree Hill, Approaching Midnight, Support the Girls) since she was a resident of Tree Hill, Faith Ford (Prom, Escapee, Killing It) played my second-favorite character on Murphy Brown (1988-2018), Barry Bostwick (Christmas in Louisiana, Rocky Horror Show: Livestream Theater, Love by Drowning) is the man, and Richard Karn (F*&% the Prom, Assembly Required, Carrie amd Jess Save the Universe!) played the only character I really liked on Home Improvement (1991-1999) back in the day. I could go on… there are a few more.
 
Be that as it may, I couldn’t find fault in any of the performances within Christmas in Mississippi. It makes things so much better when the cast in these dramatic romances isn’t asleep at the wheel.

 
Christmas in Mississippi encapsulates community resilience, family, finding yourself, the challenges faced during the holidays when having military service members in the family, reconnecting with roots, romance, some humor, and even a smidge of Christmas magic.
 
All told, it’s not a bad way to start off the sparkling season of lights. If this sort of movie is your cup of tea, then Christmas in Mississippi shouldn’t disappoint – and you don’t have to check your TV listings to find it, as it’s available now on Amazon Prime Video.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 47%
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 6.4/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Tall Girl 2 (2022)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Tall Girl 2 (2022)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Length: 97 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
Production/Distribution: Wonderland Sound and Vision, Netflix
Director: Emily Ting
Writer: Sam Wolfson
Actors: Ava Michelle, Griffin Gluck, Sabrina Carpenter, Anjelika Washington, Luke Eisner, Steve Zahn, Angela kinsey, Clara Wilsey, Rico Paris, Jan Luis Castellanos, Johanna Liauw, Chris Wylde, Rachael Thompson
 
Blurb from IMDb: After Jodi Kreyman gains popularity, her miscommunications start causing rifts with those around her and now she really needs to 'stand tall'.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
The first Tall Girl (2019) left both me and Cat disappointed. It was cringy and hollow. The trailer for Tall Girl 2, however, did leave some room for hope.
 
Unfortunately, I remain disappointed.
 
It took a while, but I’ve figured out my biggest problem with the Tall Girl films: they’re too familiar.
 
I’m not talking about tropes now. Just about every teen film made since before I was born follows a recipe. They make teens feel less alone. They help kids place – even understand – the insecurities that come with growing up. That means that teen-genre films mostly touch on all the same issues. It’s old hat to adults, but those movies aren’t meant for us. Kids are seeing it all for the first time. That’s a familiarity I don’t mind feeling.
 
The familiarity that bothers me with the Tall Girl films is more of a generational sort.
 
One of my favorite things about newer teen films is that they seem to have evolved with the times. They present a childhood that doesn’t represent mine, but more of what generation Z and generation Alpha do, and will, experience. It’s a sneak peek into how times have changed.
 

Tall Girl and Tall Girl 2 doesn’t feel like that. They feel like they could have been made in 90s, with no changes to script or setting or anything else, and they’d be the same films. I understand that nostalgia makes money, but here is where that definitely goes wrong.
 
It winds up feeling like a teen movie made for the wrong generations.
 
On top of that, just about every pitfall that tripped up Tall Girl hits Tall Girl 2 as well. It’s difficult to watch.
 
That said, there is one thing Tall Girl 2 does very right.
 
Throughout the film, the main character is afflicted with an inner voice that criticizes everything she does. It makes her feel like a fraud. Like she’s the worst person to ever walk the planet. When it starts to affect the story, things come close to dipping into thriller territory. It’s super relatable and well done.
 
I wish that much thought had gone into the rest of it.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 57%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 24%
Metascore – 35%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 4.7/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 2/5
 
Movie Trailer:

The Royal Treatment (2022)

 

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: The Royal Treatment (2022)
Genre: Comedy, Family, Romance
Length:  96 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
Production/Distribution: Focus Features International, Netflix
Director: Rick Jacobson
Writer: Holly Hester
Actors: Abby Howells, Aislinn Furlong, Amanda Billing, An Xin Chang, Cameron Rhodes, Chelsie Preston-Crayford, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Grace Bentley-Tsibuah, Ivan Stojanov, Ivie Kupeng, Jacque Drew, James Gaylyn, Jay Simon, Jen Van Epps, Julie Edwards, Kube Jones-Neill, Laura Marano, Matthew E. Morgan, Mena Massoud, Paul Norell, Peter Chin, Phoenix Connolly, Siale Tunoka, Sonia Gray, Talia Lesser, Taylor Barrett, Teuila Blakely, Theanne Bulatao
 
IMDb Blurb: New York hairdresser Izzy seizes the chance to work at the wedding of a charming prince, but when sparks between them fly, will love or duty prevail?

 
Cat’s Point of View:
The Royal Treatment didn’t appear on my Top 20 Movies to Look Out For in January 2022 list, but it was by the narrowest of margins. In hindsight, I’m somewhat wishing I’d dropped one of the animated sequels to list it, instead. One of the two at the end of my list rose to the occasion, while the other did not. I’m not going down that particular rabbit hole today, however.
 
What I am going to do is express my frustration that critics seem to be hellbent on tearing down perfectly good movies just because they weren’t designed to be earth-shaking or world-changing bits of enlightened cinema. Seriously, people. There is a place for sugary romance in the world. The Royal Treatment wasn’t even the most saccharine out there. It wasn’t even half as sappy as it could have been.

 
The Royal Treatment might not have the most substance or have the most groundbreaking plot – we’ve heard this story before, after all. What it does have, however, is spirit. It doesn’t matter that we’ve seen the story before because this version spins it again effortlessly so that you don’t mind hearing this new iteration.  This is a modern tale that gives emphasis to self-reliance and basic human dignity. It reinforces the important and powerful message that if you want to see a change in the world, you have to be the one that makes change happen.
 
I also have a lot of respect for some of the choices made with the story that elevated it above your typical royal romance tale – alas, to avoid spoilers I cannot share those specifics. I hate teasing like that – but it is, what it is.

 
What I can share is my giddy reaction at the little thread of information that gets dropped in The Royal Treatment. There is a clear binding factor to the world that Netflix romance movies have in common – and an unexpected addition. There is a mention of Aldovia and Genovia as other countries during dialogue. Aldovia is the kingdom from the A Christmas Prince (2017) movies, and Genovia is the realm from The Princess Diaries (2001) franchise. By the same token, the kingdom of Belgravia of The Princess Switch (2018) films is already known to be connected; so, while not mentioned in The Royal Treatment, we know that it is still ‘in the neighborhood’ of the others. The Diaries movies aren’t Netflix originals, so they had to have pulled some strings to make that happen – but I’m here for it.
 
I really enjoyed the cast. Mena Massoud (Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, Run This Town, Reprisal) and Laura Marano (Austin & Ally, Lady Bird, Saving Zoë) had good chemistry both with each other and with their supporting cast. I think the butler character, Walter, played by Cameron Rhodes (Housebound, Deathgasm, In Dark Places) really stole the show.

 
There was even a small part for the former mayor of the town in New Zealand where they filmed. Speaking of which, the production team took good advantage of the scenery to give that fairytale and far-away vibe without completely taking us to Middle Earth.
 
With February as the month of Valentine’s Day and the distinction of being the 2^nd month of 2022, this is even a more notable month for couples. The Royal Treatment is a cute movie for a date, or even family viewing. It’s familiar enough that you won’t get upset if there are distractions, but fresh enough not to be boring.
 
While it’s possible I might not remember The Royal Treatment years from now, I have no qualms in giving it a solid recommendation. 

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 27%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 38%
Metascore – 36%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 5.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5
 
P.S. – There are some additional scenes as animations during the end credits. Following credits, there is a link provided by Netflix for more bonus content.

Also, if you'd like to see how some of these romance movie kingdoms are connected, PopSugar has an infographic in their article here.
 
Movie Trailer:

'Tis the Season - The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star (2021)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star (2021)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Length: 106 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
Production/Distribution: Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA), Netflix
Director: Mike Rohl
Writer: Robin Bernheim, Megan Metzger
Actors: Vanessa Hudgens, Remy Hii, Sam Palladio, Nick Sagar, Amanda Donohoe, Florence Hall, Ricky Norwood, Suanne Braun, Mark Fleischmann, Will Kemp, Hazel Beattie, Maia Karelyn Swandi, Eden Gough, Jayda Eyles
 
Blurb from IMDb: When a priceless relic is stolen, Queen Margaret and Princess Stacy enlist the help of Margaret's cousin Fiona teams with a man from her past to retrieve it, with romance and resulting in a very unexpected switch.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
I was not looking forward to The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star. Although I found the first of the series to be a cute, if basic, Christmas watch – the second flick did not impress me. After that, I didn’t even have mediocre hopes for this one, and I was right.
 
The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star was awful.
 
After sitting through a completely unnecessary recap of the first two films, there was a bit of narration and then a nearly 2-hour display of some of the worst, campiest, acting any of the people involved has ever put forth.
 
Now, granted, the typical Christmas movies aren’t exactly known for the acting. People just don’t watch for that. They’re watching for the magic and the happy ending. They want to see something that boosts the hope that there’s good in the world. That, even if everything is the worst, something about Christmas will help make things better. I understand that. It’s kind of what I want from a holiday film, as well. Even without taking the acting into account, though, I don’t think The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star delivers on that.
 
There are some parts trying to force the audience into forgiving, and rooting for, the villain of the last flick. The movie created a ‘poor me’ background for her and rests on the belief that we’ll instantly sympathize. It’s not that successful.
 

However, I will say that there is no part of me that understands why every film I watch takes the side of a neglectful parent. Almost any media that has a parent return to their child’s life as an adult, looking for forgiveness, will side with the idea that the parent deserves that forgiveness.
 
Let me tell you how I see it.
 
The creators of these movies insist that a child, one that has been abused or neglected during their formative years, is responsible for forgiving a grown-ass adult for hurting them in a way that changes their life’s trajectory. No. You do not owe forgiveness to someone that’s hurt you. Regardless of who they are. Do what makes you healthiest. Even, or maybe especially, during the holidays. If you feel like no one supports your choice – I do.
 
That’s all beside the point.
 
Even without that part of the story, I was not impressed with The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star. I officially hate this series.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
Ok, so we all knew what to expect with A Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star. We’ve done this twice already, so 3rd time’s the charm, right? This third installment of holiday-themed royal doppelganger shell games rounds out a solid trilogy. Just when you think that everyone has switched places in as many ways as they possibly could by #2, A Princess Switch 3 asks us to hold its bubbly to take us on another improbably crazy romp through picture-perfect Christmas landscapes. The 3rd installment also takes the ‘cape’ and turns it into a caper.
 
I know, I know… I couldn’t resist. I digress…
 
I’ll be honest. A Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star did offer something new, as it delved into the backstory of the look-alike cousin introduced in the 2nd movie. I was, admittedly, curious as to what made her tick. Was there more to her than her seemingly vapid exterior? This flick provides a nice and tidy answer to such questions, and then some.
 
It’s clear that the cast has a lot of fun making these movies. The same creative team has returned for both sequels, after all. In fact, Vanessa Hudgens (Polar, The Knight Before Christmas, Bad Boys for Life) has been a producer for this new film, as well as the first sequel. That’s a solid indication of either a labor of love or faith in the franchise.
 

Tuning in for this 3rd installment felt warm and familiar. Nick Sagar (Queen of the South, Shadowhunters, Run the World) and Sam Palladino (Strange Magic, Nashville, Rebel) mesh well alongside their versions of Hudgens’ trifecta of characters.
 
I really had no illusions that this would step out of the box, and I was pretty sure I had the plot pegged from early in the production. Remy Hii (Marco Polo, 2:22, Spider-Man: Far from Home) was a welcome addition to the ensemble. I appreciated that he was given more layers than your typical character that gets thrown into a series a few sequels in.
 
While predictable, this film was entertaining. I’ve been sick for the past couple of weeks, so it was refreshing to watch A Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star. I could just turn off my brain and settle in with my hot honeyed tea.
 
While this fantasy confection remains loaded with the typical recipe of Christmas clichés, if you enjoyed the first 2 movies, you’ll likely fall in love with this third installment. Of course, if the first two weren’t your own cup of proverbial tea, that should inform your viewing decision as well.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 42%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 46%
Metascore – None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 5.5/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 1/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
P.S. Short in-character dance scenes during the credits.
 
Movie Trailer:

'Tis the Season - Single All the Way (2021)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Single All the Way (2021)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Length: 99 minutes
Rating: TV-PG
Production/Distribution: Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Netflix
Director: Michael Mayer
Writer: Chad Hodge
Actors: Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Kathy Najimy, Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Coolidge, Jennifer Robertson, Luke Macfarlane, Melanie Leishman, Alexandra Beaton, Madison Brydges, Steve Lund, Gryffin Hanvelt, Viggo Hanvelt, Dan Finnerty, Stefano DiMatteo, Victor Andres Turgeon-Trelles, Adam Capriolo, Christopher Hayes, Matt Keyes, Marvin Ishmael
 
IMDb Blurb: Desperate to avoid his family's judgment about his perpetual single status, Peter convinces his best friend Nick to join him for the holidays and pretend that they're now in a relationship.

 
Selina’s Point of View:
When I got together the list of movies coming out in December, this was one of a handful that I just KNEW I had figured out by the title alone.

I pictured a girl returning home as single (or recently dumped) and either being set up with, or meeting, the man of her dreams. A guy who teaches her the meaning of Christmas. Aside from the main leads being gay, I was pretty close.  

I’m a little annoyed by it. The trailer made Single All the Way look like it was going to have a bit more of a unique angle. I got my hopes up.

Single All the Way wasn’t a complete waste of time. It was, however, just an LGBTQ+ version of your typical Hallmark Christmas flick. It had some decent moments, though.

The inevitable ‘admission-of-feelings’ scenes were very cute. They had that awkward, bumbling, quality to them that people have in real life when admitting to a friend that they have romantic feelings. I like that. When movies pretty those scenes up too much, I have trouble suspending disbelief. This felt a little more natural.

That said, the script was not my favorite. If I ever hear anyone utter the word ‘guncle’ again? I’m going to have a tantrum. That is officially the non-slur word I hate most in any language that exists. Didn’t know it was a thing until today, never want to hear it again.

I also had some issues with the way some characters were portrayed. There were a LOT of stereotypes in use. Most of it was stuff that was prevalent in LGBTQ+ films from the 90s. We’ve come a long way since then. Our films should reflect that.

Now, I’m not saying it was offensive. It wasn’t. There were a lot of positive ideas and perspectives in it – I just think there were a few characterizations that could have felt a smidge less dated.

This is not the kind of film I would seek out during the year. That said, if you’re looking specifically for a rom-com Christmas movie, it’s not the worst of the bunch. 

Cat’s Point of View:
Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. I love the joy the season brings. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s true! Christmas decorations, with their colorful grandeur or even simple twinkling beauty, lift my spirits with a glance; and the melodies of carols soar above the grinding minutia of regular daily life. I love the time with family and friends. It also helps that my favorite color is one of the staples of the season – green. I digress… The point is that I get excited around this time of year, and I’m a bit particular about my Christmas movies. They need to feel magical in some way or at least be very entertaining.
 
Single All the Way succeeded in the entertainment department.
 
When Selina and I watched the trailer in preparation for this month’s Top 20 Movies to Look Out for in December 2021 article, we could generally predict the potential outcomes for the film, but it gave me good vibes and hope that the journey would be worth it. That paid off.

 
Everyone felt real, rather than walking stereotypes. That was an amazing edge for Single All the Way. The characters felt like people instead of caricatures, dodging one of the pitfalls that plague the representation of LGBTQ+ in cinema. I believed the quirky/crazy family dynamic and bought what the movie was selling as the deep friendship between the main characters.
 
It also blows my mind that Single All the Way was apparently the feature film debut of Philemon Chambers. His chemistry with Michael Urie (Abducted, Younger, Swan Song) hit on all of the right notes for me. I also adored the fact that his character, Nick, is an author who wrote a children’s book about adopting a dog. There are so many little nuances to their deeper story that enrich the movie.

 
I’ll be honest. My initial excitement for Single All the Way came from the fact that Kathy Najimy (Dumplin', Veep, Duncanville) and Barry Bostwick (Incredibles 2, Slay Belles, The Potwins) were in this production together. I adore them and am willing to give their projects a chance – even if on the surface they look like a corn-fest. I’m rarely ever disappointed. I’m glad to say that I wasn’t here, either.
 
Sure, we always knew where this by-the-numbers rom-com was going. The route it took, however, made it work. Single All the Way captured the spirit of the season and a little bit of that sparkly Christmas magic. Grab some family or friends and a mug of something hot and yummy and snuggle in for this one on Netflix.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 62%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 71%
Metascore –49%
Metacritic User Score – 6.9/10
IMDB Score – 6.4/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5 /5
 
P.S. A scene plays during the credits.
 
Movie Trailer: