There is always happy anticipation when Eric Mabius is cast in a movie..But something was missing in this film..First of all, Mr. Mabius looks a bit puffy and different from his usual appealing demeanor. Perhaps this viewer is in denial about the aging process, even in handsome movie heroes? His chemistry with Tricia Helfer was sadly very minimal She is taller than her leading man..and while there is reality in that concept..women may indeed be taller than their love interest, in this film the height difference only seemed to diminish Mr. Mabius and his heroic role further.
The story was predictable as are most Hallmark holiday stories, and by this time in the month, it is often difficult to find one with an original plot. Tricia Helfer has a dazzling smile..She is lovely..Her voice is appealing..she exodus intelligence and strength..But in this film, the combination of the two leading actors was just not as exciting as it might have been.
Eric Mabius deserves better material, more strength in his characters, less passive roles. This viewer always looks forward to seeing him in the next movie to come along.
26 Reviews
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
JoBloTheMovieCritic24 December 2019
Zero chemistry
teebear81711 November 2020
No Chemistry at all
nmartin-7557523 December 2019
This was a tough one to watch as she was clearly much taller than him in heels and they did so many things to make him appear taller. Then there's the lack of chemistry between the two. Could have been much better with different leads.
Slow start but hang on
Jackbv1232 January 2020
There's Tricia Helfer as number six and other similar characters. Then there's the Hallmark Helfer. I have loved her in some of those roles. There wasn't enough of the latter in the first half of the movie.
The movie spent too much time and focus on the competition premise. It reminded me of Martha in Good Witch. In that show, Martha is intentionally made obnoxious. I got tired of that aspect of this movie.
It becomes pretty obvious what's going to happen, but it works and definitely reflects a positive Christmas spirit. Obnoxious is gone and the Hallmark Helfer has made an appearance.
Some have complained that there is no chemistry between these leads. I think it's there, but it's a little different. For one thing, like I said earlier, the first half of the movie doesn't give chemistry much chance. Also, maybe it's more subtle than we're used to.
The movie spent too much time and focus on the competition premise. It reminded me of Martha in Good Witch. In that show, Martha is intentionally made obnoxious. I got tired of that aspect of this movie.
It becomes pretty obvious what's going to happen, but it works and definitely reflects a positive Christmas spirit. Obnoxious is gone and the Hallmark Helfer has made an appearance.
Some have complained that there is no chemistry between these leads. I think it's there, but it's a little different. For one thing, like I said earlier, the first half of the movie doesn't give chemistry much chance. Also, maybe it's more subtle than we're used to.
Not this time Eric.
adamjohns-4257513 November 2020
I don't know what it is, but I have always had a soft spot for Eric Mabius since I first saw him in Ugly Betty, but after the first 20 minutes of this film, I had to turn it off. He seems to have lost the spark and not just because he's looking a bit baggy around the eyes.
The situation itself is silly and I can't believe the lead characters could ever resolve their differences.
It's full of actors that have been in hundreds of these seasonal films and I didn't think that they were going to add enough to warrant me watching any further.
Honestly, I'm getting tired of the daft festive films. Just give me a proper love story in a genuine setting or even some family fun. Stop setting up farcical storylines.
I won't rate it, as I didn't finish it.
Honestly, I'm getting tired of the daft festive films. Just give me a proper love story in a genuine setting or even some family fun. Stop setting up farcical storylines.
I won't rate it, as I didn't finish it.
A Warm and Entertaining Movie
mfreburg-946-1375416 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (2019) Hallmark/Prime Video
I've seen this movie perhaps three times and I have enjoyed it every time. It stars Tricia Helfer, whom I love, and Eric Mabius, who I like a lot, although I was not quite as fond of him in this film as some other roles. The two stars play mayors of adjacent towns who compete in every way. At present, they are competing in a Christmas contest. As two people who grew up together and have always competed, competition has become a way of life for the two, and it will take this Hallmark movie to help them realize that there is more to life. ;)
Co-stars here, playing the mayor's assistants, are the lovely Aliza Vellani for Mabius and Raf Rogers for Helfer. I haven't seen it noted in other reviews, but Vellani and Rogers' characters are clearly good friends...and perhaps more? Wondering and watching adds to enjoyment of this story. Nolan Hupp plays Helfer's son and does a fine job. Peter Benson, a Hallmark regular, plays Helfer's amicable ex-husband, Hupp's dad, and a good friend of Mabius. Despite the two mayor's competition in everything, everyone here gets along, which works out for the story.
The other important characters here are, first, another Hallmark regular, Viv Leacock, playing the owner of a local company that sponsors the aforementioned Christmas contest. By the way, unlike some other's comments, it isn't a Christmas decorating contest, it is more a "Christmas spirit" contest, and this will prove important toward story's end. Finally, April Telek, yet another Hallmark regular, plays a cafe/coffee shop owner. Her business sits right on the dividing line between Mabius and Helfer's towns, so she is visited by both regularly, and finds herself counseling both on occasion.
I won't go into any more detail about the story, I don't like overly spoiling things. I just want to say that this is something of a unique story, well told and, as reported at the outset, I found it quite enjoyable. It's a Hallmark Christmas movie, so as always, park your disbelief at the door, sit back, and enjoy a warm and entertaining movie.
I've seen this movie perhaps three times and I have enjoyed it every time. It stars Tricia Helfer, whom I love, and Eric Mabius, who I like a lot, although I was not quite as fond of him in this film as some other roles. The two stars play mayors of adjacent towns who compete in every way. At present, they are competing in a Christmas contest. As two people who grew up together and have always competed, competition has become a way of life for the two, and it will take this Hallmark movie to help them realize that there is more to life. ;)
Co-stars here, playing the mayor's assistants, are the lovely Aliza Vellani for Mabius and Raf Rogers for Helfer. I haven't seen it noted in other reviews, but Vellani and Rogers' characters are clearly good friends...and perhaps more? Wondering and watching adds to enjoyment of this story. Nolan Hupp plays Helfer's son and does a fine job. Peter Benson, a Hallmark regular, plays Helfer's amicable ex-husband, Hupp's dad, and a good friend of Mabius. Despite the two mayor's competition in everything, everyone here gets along, which works out for the story.
The other important characters here are, first, another Hallmark regular, Viv Leacock, playing the owner of a local company that sponsors the aforementioned Christmas contest. By the way, unlike some other's comments, it isn't a Christmas decorating contest, it is more a "Christmas spirit" contest, and this will prove important toward story's end. Finally, April Telek, yet another Hallmark regular, plays a cafe/coffee shop owner. Her business sits right on the dividing line between Mabius and Helfer's towns, so she is visited by both regularly, and finds herself counseling both on occasion.
I won't go into any more detail about the story, I don't like overly spoiling things. I just want to say that this is something of a unique story, well told and, as reported at the outset, I found it quite enjoyable. It's a Hallmark Christmas movie, so as always, park your disbelief at the door, sit back, and enjoy a warm and entertaining movie.
Like a nice looking decoration that lacks charm
TheLittleSongbird1 June 2021
The title of the film is one of those that is both corny and oddly sweet. The premise wasn't all that exciting, which was no surprise to me, and sounded very predictable and reviews were not so great. Have nothing against Tricia Helfer and Eric Mabius and Hallmark has been responsible for a good deal of stuff worth watching. That is including films that conceptually don't promise a lot but delivers more than expected. Maybe 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' could have been one of those films.
Sadly that was not the case. 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' is one of those semi-watchable for completest sake Hallmark Christmas films, but also one that generally was to me below average and a little worse than what was expected. There are things not done too badly, but 'It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas' is on the whole lacking in quite a lot of areas including the central chemistry. 2019 was not a great year for Hallmark Christmas films, with only a few being above decent, and while not one of the worst from that year this is a good representation of why.
'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' is certainly not all bad. It is shot nicely and the locations are picturesque and appropriately festive. Some of the soundtrack captures the Christmas spirit in an affectionately nostalgic way.
Helfer is charming as the female lead and gives her role one hundred percent commitment without going over the top.
Mabius' character however is dull and too uptight and he injects very little enthusiasm let alone personality to him. He and Helfer have no chemistry together, they don't look comfortable together and they were not believable as friends let alone lovers. The relationship is not developed that well either, taking too much while to reach any turning point and then it feels rushed later. If it was focused on more too, that would have helped. There was too much focus on the whole competition aspect, which did get juvenile and lost its charm too early. The supporting cast don't really stand out all that much and their characters are basically samey variants of many characters in Hallmark films.
While most of the film looks quite nice, there are times where it is on the over-decorated side and in a way that's pretty gaudy. The script is pretty stilted, with the two leads speaking in a way that often sounded awkward, and there is a lot of the cringe factor. The story is basically a cobbling together of most Hallmark cliches in plot developments and characterisation, everything here has been seen before and everything here has felt pretty worn out for a while now. It also moves slowly, especially in the rather uneventful first half, and doesn't have much warmth or charm (pretty dreary and bland mostly). The ending is another one of those rushed, too tidy and forced ones.
Overall, not everything is done badly but a lot is wrong here sadly. 4/10.
Sadly that was not the case. 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' is one of those semi-watchable for completest sake Hallmark Christmas films, but also one that generally was to me below average and a little worse than what was expected. There are things not done too badly, but 'It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas' is on the whole lacking in quite a lot of areas including the central chemistry. 2019 was not a great year for Hallmark Christmas films, with only a few being above decent, and while not one of the worst from that year this is a good representation of why.
'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' is certainly not all bad. It is shot nicely and the locations are picturesque and appropriately festive. Some of the soundtrack captures the Christmas spirit in an affectionately nostalgic way.
Helfer is charming as the female lead and gives her role one hundred percent commitment without going over the top.
Mabius' character however is dull and too uptight and he injects very little enthusiasm let alone personality to him. He and Helfer have no chemistry together, they don't look comfortable together and they were not believable as friends let alone lovers. The relationship is not developed that well either, taking too much while to reach any turning point and then it feels rushed later. If it was focused on more too, that would have helped. There was too much focus on the whole competition aspect, which did get juvenile and lost its charm too early. The supporting cast don't really stand out all that much and their characters are basically samey variants of many characters in Hallmark films.
While most of the film looks quite nice, there are times where it is on the over-decorated side and in a way that's pretty gaudy. The script is pretty stilted, with the two leads speaking in a way that often sounded awkward, and there is a lot of the cringe factor. The story is basically a cobbling together of most Hallmark cliches in plot developments and characterisation, everything here has been seen before and everything here has felt pretty worn out for a while now. It also moves slowly, especially in the rather uneventful first half, and doesn't have much warmth or charm (pretty dreary and bland mostly). The ending is another one of those rushed, too tidy and forced ones.
Overall, not everything is done badly but a lot is wrong here sadly. 4/10.
It's October so it's definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
GavWaskett27 October 2020
Tricia Helfer and Eric Mabius are Hallmark regulars and are both excellent actors in their own right but also perfect for Hallmark movies and a great combi8nation.
East and West Riverton are competitors in the annual Christmas decorating competition, Sarah and Liam are the two towns Mayors and both single, both being too busy to find love.
We all know where this is going and we're all happy to go along for the ride as they find each other and the two towns find a common goal.
Perfect Christmas loveliness.
We all know where this is going and we're all happy to go along for the ride as they find each other and the two towns find a common goal.
Perfect Christmas loveliness.
Surprisingly Interesting!
ppetretich-125 December 2019
A town divided into East And West compete in a contest with other cities for the best Christmas Decorating!
Sounded like a odd idea but as things continue, the story starts to become interesting, both cities make it into
the final three? Two mayors compete, interesting ending!
Try to Guess the ending while you watch!
Try to Guess the ending while you watch!
No chemistry
LtlHippo26 December 2019
A few funny bloopers
nichollepeterson29 December 2019
Great cast, interesting plot
scrapbarks31 December 2019
Christmas with a Heart
parksidedrive23 December 2019
Hallmark sends a message of Peace in this movie feature. It could not have been accomplished without it staring Eric Mabius. Mabius bring strength and goodness to his Hallmark roles.
The story hints upon division and competition. It is very apropos for today. I shall leave it at that. Hallmark handles the theme without preaching and the actors deliver the message of community and caring.
The only reason for the minis 2 stars was the odd "threesome friends" and divorce friend handing off his ex to his friend. Too creepy and not needed in story. A concerned brother or friend would have worked.
The movie is a keeper to be watched again to remember- PEACE ON EARTH! Thanks, Hallmark for an enjoyable Holiday Movie Season.
The story hints upon division and competition. It is very apropos for today. I shall leave it at that. Hallmark handles the theme without preaching and the actors deliver the message of community and caring.
The only reason for the minis 2 stars was the odd "threesome friends" and divorce friend handing off his ex to his friend. Too creepy and not needed in story. A concerned brother or friend would have worked.
The movie is a keeper to be watched again to remember- PEACE ON EARTH! Thanks, Hallmark for an enjoyable Holiday Movie Season.
So boring
mmcarroll941 December 2020
Definitely a miss
KehDBug21 July 2020
This movie stars Tricia Helfer (Number 6 of BSG) and Eric Mabius (of Signed, Sealed, Delivered). I love these actors, but not in this movie! Their characters were so unlikeable, and they had zero chemistry. And why, Hallmark, do you put actors together with such height discrepancies?? It was so distracting to see Eric constantly looking UP at Tricia. It was déjà vu for "Love Unleashed," where Hallmark paired an extremely tall man with an extremely short woman. Yes, this happens in real life, but Hallmark is all about the fairy tale not real life. They take the time to make sure that all of the cars are clean, even though there's "snow" everywhere, so they could take a little time to do better pairings that don't distract from the storyline. Although with this clunker, I guess it really wouldn't have mattered.
STARRING TRICIA HELFER !!! TRICIA HELFER !!!
bob_sison23 December 2019
Not good
Becky14514 January 2020
I hate being negative but this might be the worst HM movie ever. This is the only HM movie I've seen that I would say don't bother watching.
I was completeLy confused by the 3 leads. Two male, one female. I couldn't figure out if there was a married couple or a divorced couple or what was going on for a lot of the movie. They took way too long to show us who was with whom or not. The 2 male leads looked way too similar. That added to confusion.
The storyline was way too hokey and terribly unbelievable. All that combined made this the least enjoyable Hallmark movie I've ever seen. I'm sorry to say that because I know a lot of work goes into making a movie.
I was completeLy confused by the 3 leads. Two male, one female. I couldn't figure out if there was a married couple or a divorced couple or what was going on for a lot of the movie. They took way too long to show us who was with whom or not. The 2 male leads looked way too similar. That added to confusion.
The storyline was way too hokey and terribly unbelievable. All that combined made this the least enjoyable Hallmark movie I've ever seen. I'm sorry to say that because I know a lot of work goes into making a movie.
try to be polite about it
Kirpianuscus11 December 2021
The leadinding actors are just OK. But not together.
The supporting cast is not the safe pilow of the other Christmas Hallmark productions.
The chemistry can very difficult to be imaginated .
But, sure, it is a reasonable film, from so, so many, not seductive for one of its ingredients, giving a fair sketch of Christmas atmosphere, maybe not deserving be better. The only real regret - Tricia Helfer , in same measure like Eric Mabius are good options for this sort of films . But, in this case, each of them is completely alone, so far by partner than is awful to try be polite about the final result of a fake romance, in honest sense.
The supporting cast is not the safe pilow of the other Christmas Hallmark productions.
The chemistry can very difficult to be imaginated .
But, sure, it is a reasonable film, from so, so many, not seductive for one of its ingredients, giving a fair sketch of Christmas atmosphere, maybe not deserving be better. The only real regret - Tricia Helfer , in same measure like Eric Mabius are good options for this sort of films . But, in this case, each of them is completely alone, so far by partner than is awful to try be polite about the final result of a fake romance, in honest sense.
She is too tall, he is too short
navarrodayana11 July 2020
The fact that she was taller, it causes a lot of distraction while watching the movie because I spent the whole time trying to figure our who was taller😂. I bet both are great actors but on the movie not a good match.
The Christmas cheese runs thick in this one...
paul_haakonsen21 December 2021
Based on this 2019 Hallmark Christmas movie's cover, then I figured that I would be in for the archetypical and traditional Christmas cheese and sappy romance that Hallmark spews out by the gallon every Christmas. Yet, I still opted to sit down and watch "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" on the chance that it would be one of those surprisingly good Hallmark movies.
Sadly so, then "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" wasn't one such movie. The storyline told in the movie, as written by Rick Garman, was so bland and generic that you could essentially just watch the beginning and ending of the movie. In fact, it was so predictable that you knew everything that happened in the movie way before it did.
I sat through the entire ordeal, though I wasn't enjoying it much. Why? Well, because "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" is a generic Christmas movie of the type that comes out every year like a tsunami of copy/paste formula Christmas movies. So it didn't bring anything new or interesting to the genre, much less anything overly entertaining either.
The acting in the movie was adequate, though there weren't much of any chemistry between Eric Mabius and Tricia Helfter - playing the lead roles.
I wasn't particularly impressed, much less entertained with director David Weaver's 2019 movie. And if you enjoy Christmas movies, then there are far better choices readily available out there. And Hallmark has an abundance of far better movies themselves, if you enjoy the Hallmark Christmas cheese.
My rating of "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" lands on a generous three out of ten stars.
Sadly so, then "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" wasn't one such movie. The storyline told in the movie, as written by Rick Garman, was so bland and generic that you could essentially just watch the beginning and ending of the movie. In fact, it was so predictable that you knew everything that happened in the movie way before it did.
I sat through the entire ordeal, though I wasn't enjoying it much. Why? Well, because "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" is a generic Christmas movie of the type that comes out every year like a tsunami of copy/paste formula Christmas movies. So it didn't bring anything new or interesting to the genre, much less anything overly entertaining either.
The acting in the movie was adequate, though there weren't much of any chemistry between Eric Mabius and Tricia Helfter - playing the lead roles.
I wasn't particularly impressed, much less entertained with director David Weaver's 2019 movie. And if you enjoy Christmas movies, then there are far better choices readily available out there. And Hallmark has an abundance of far better movies themselves, if you enjoy the Hallmark Christmas cheese.
My rating of "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" lands on a generous three out of ten stars.
Festive but dull
hallmarkchristmasguy21 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas had the makings of a decent made for TV Christmas movie. Good scenery and snow, decent soundtrack, slightly different concept for Hallmark (no big city girl saving small town business from evil corporate types etc) but sadly it was a missed opportunity as the script falls completely flat.
The acting is mediocre with neither lead generating any charm or chemistry. The plot moves along fairly slowly. There are multiple points throughout the movie where it could have had some quirky charm or humor injected but instead it's dull, cliche and wooden dialogue. A movie about a Christmas decorating contest would have lent itself well to a few musical montage scenes of each mayor putting up their decorations, trying to outdo each other, maybe some lighthearted and silly sabotage efforts. It would have been cliche but in the enjoyable typical lighthearted Hallmark kind of way and it would have infused some fun or laughs along the way. Instead it was more flat dialogue, just plodding from plot point to plot point with no spark between the two leads at all.
The ending was predictable and typically silly/unrealistic which should be expected in these types of movies so it didn't bother me even though it could have been predicted 10 minutes or less into the movie.
Certainly not the worst movie out there but incredibly forgettable and not worth a watch unless you're a true Hallmark Christmas junkie.
The acting is mediocre with neither lead generating any charm or chemistry. The plot moves along fairly slowly. There are multiple points throughout the movie where it could have had some quirky charm or humor injected but instead it's dull, cliche and wooden dialogue. A movie about a Christmas decorating contest would have lent itself well to a few musical montage scenes of each mayor putting up their decorations, trying to outdo each other, maybe some lighthearted and silly sabotage efforts. It would have been cliche but in the enjoyable typical lighthearted Hallmark kind of way and it would have infused some fun or laughs along the way. Instead it was more flat dialogue, just plodding from plot point to plot point with no spark between the two leads at all.
The ending was predictable and typically silly/unrealistic which should be expected in these types of movies so it didn't bother me even though it could have been predicted 10 minutes or less into the movie.
Certainly not the worst movie out there but incredibly forgettable and not worth a watch unless you're a true Hallmark Christmas junkie.
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