There’s a feeling of déjà vu with The Mistletoe Promise, director David Winning’s 2016 movie about two strangers pretending to be a couple to ease their respective family woes at Christmas. It’s a little too similar to A Boyfriend for Christmas, but is worth a watch for a sweet and salty turn from Jaime King as Elise, a highly strung divorcee who despises Christmas and is still getting over her jackass ex-husband (Lochlyn Munro) leaving her for a younger model. Oh, and he’s her boss. Ouch!
In a bid to make the git jealous, she strikes a deal with fellow yueltide-loather Nicholas (Luke MacFarlane) who she meet-cutes at the mall food court and bonds with over their shared abhorrence of the season. They agree to pretend to be together to help her out and to make him look better in front of his boss, and we all know how that goes…
It’s novel to have two humbug types as the romantic leads, though this one’s not always as funny it could be. It is fun watching King’s character slowly mentally unravel, as the pressure of working for her douchebag ex starts to get to her, while Munro, a guy who's made a career out of playing clueless blockheads, gives us another douchebag for the ages.
The big twist is that Elise and Nicholas are both secretly total posers who actually do have a soft spot for the holiday season. They keep letting things slip that give them away, like watching It's a Wonderful Life and totally loving it, as well as some obligatory sensual tree decorating. Turns out Elise is “100 per cent Tiny Tim” and “not a Scrooge.” She just wishes people showed the spirit of giving all year round. She’s got a point.
Shock horror, I’m realising these films can have depth, even if just a little. Some of the dialogue here is cracking and Elise and Nick’s conversations about their perceived two-facedness of the season are thought-provoking.
This is a relatively smart, if predictable film that sadly collapses under a heavy load of schmaltz by the end. Also, I couldn’t help but notice that it always seems to be snowing outside every window, but there’s little to no snow to be seen when they go outside. What is up with that?
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