source: A Golden Christmas

For the month leading up to Christmas 2022, I decided to watch (at least) one Christmas movie every day. Mostly the cheesy, hallmarky kind, so I can make fun of them. I also sob like a baby during at least half of them, so clearly they hit their mark. Anyway. Chose this movie this morning because of the dog. I love a good dog movie. And goldens are just full of love and laughter, which is what the season should be about. Then I saw Nicholas Brendon and was over the moon! I love me some Xander! But 28 minutes in I couldn't do it anymore. The main character, who undoubtedly will go on to learn lessons about selflessness and whatnot, is horrible. She is childish and selfish and rude and mean. It's not funny. It's not cute. There are no reasons for her to act that way, except for her getting whatever she wants. Can you say Karen? My life is too short to suffer through this movie. Instead of watching this, if you can't find a movie you want to watch, I recommend going to clean the drain in your shower. It's less painful and will do some good.

The main virtues - the flavors of childhood, the Rottweiler and the two kids. The big problem - Jessica. She seems just psychotic, selfish at whole, absurd in too many senses. And the romance, unfortunately, forced. But it is a beautiful film in essence, first for the fair use of the game with pieces of past. And for a fair definition of parenthood and lovely wisdom of children. And, sure, for the tree, lunch box and the man actor. And, I admitt - for Jason London and.................Their presence just works. Yes, it is a Hallmark, with all sins and few drops of virtues. So, saved by nostalgic air. And by children.

Gee, my daughter and I were expecting a cute little movie with puppies running around having Christmas fun. Instead, we sat through 2 hours of D-List actors arguing and acting jaded! The movie was full of dull dialogue and poorly constructed circumstances. By the time they rolled out the big moment, it fell flat and lifeless. If I'm going to be tricked to see a movie through this type of bait and switch, can't it have a shred of entertainment value? The only entertaining aspect was seeing how that dog ran away at the end, realizing how bad of a movie it was in! Seriously, huge misrep on the cover!!

As a Buffy fan, the only reason this caught my eye was bc of Nicholas Brendon in the commercial. Then as a Clueless fan, I saw Elise Donovan. I've seen the lead actress on LIfetime/Hallmark, but it was truly the 90s nostalgia that drew me to the movie. Not to mention the mom from The Wonder Years and that guy from Harry and the Hendersons. Plus, I give almost any Christmas flick a chance. Anyway, I have no problem with the starting premise: young "love" over a summer possibly reconnecting 20+ years later...I was fine w/that. I was even fine w/Jessica initially wanting to buy the house. But I'm an hour in and I just find her to be horrible, spoiled, and entitled. He can't have the house bc she wants it. She never told her parents she was interested, so they sold it, but now that she wants it, that's all that matters. Never mind that the deal was fair. She's doing what she can to sabotage the sale (there is a loophole that is so stupid and convenient), and I find it to be incredibly immature. Apparently she's been intentionally distant from her family for many years, so expecting them to read her mind and bend to her is incredibly selfish and just ugh. She thinks she's doing them a favor by gracing them w/her presence while she enacts her selfishnessness. IDK if this is a Lifetime original, but it absolutely fits their woman good, man bad mentality over the last 10+ years (I'm a woman and I recognize this). The two main characters want the house for the same sentimental reason (unbeknownst to them) and yet he's going about it the right way and we're supposed to "get" her motives for being so self-involved? I think what bugs me and what prompted this review is the actress is pretty rigid, so instead of what's certainly meant to be comedic, comes off as mean and petty. And of course a dead husband is being used as her excuse. It's just ugh. Every other character has had comedic moments except her. I think Elise D could have pulled off this character instead. I also hate when movies give characters certain jobs where their behavior makes them look even worse. She's a prosecutor acting like this while making fun of her sister's therapist career? I give Christmas/holiday movies a lot of leeway bc they all follow the same formula, but she is horrible. Which is funny bc it's supposed to be fate that reunites them but they were 9 and 10. This is who she is now. I realize that she and Michael will end up together in the next 50 minutes, but he could really do better. She is not exhibiting any pleasant qualities that should attract him to her. She should really leave him alone. I'm only finishing it bc it's almost over and I'm doing my hair. Otherwise, skip it. Edit: you know what, changed my mind....seeing her get her way in the end is a miss for me. Turning it off. Life's too short. It's still Christmas Day on the east coast and I could waste time on other cheesy flicks.

Why do all of these seemingly normal men fall for these crazy, horrible women? You have to wonder what happened to Jessica to make her so bitter and jaded? Her parents were really nice and Henry, her son, must have taken after his dad, because he was lovely. So why has she made her life so hard and her personality so appalling? We already know that Nicholas Brendon can do better. After all, he got together with Cordelia, Anya and Willow in Buffy, I'm really not sure why he's pursuing this damaged individual. It's all acted well and the story itself isn't bad, I like the time capsule bit, but Jessica's attitude is just really gross and upsets what could have been a cute romance instead of an unbelievable love story. The dog is adorable.

While loving Christmas (a lifelong love too) and having liked/loved many Christmas films, there are plenty of Christmas films that are too sappy and cheese ridden as well as predictable. Have seen quite a few films in the past few years with this type of story, which has been familiar territory for most holidays (all holidays not just Christmas) for a while now, and they have varied in success, some are very charming, sweet and engaging while others are too simplistic, dull and silly. 'A Golden Christmas' has elements of both extremes, leaning sadly more towards the more negative category though for other reasons. It is definitely a watchable film on its own and it was great seeing 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer's' Nicholas Brendan in the male lead role. But it is not much much of a Christmas film and is hugely unbalanced by one character. Lets not get started on the truly misleading advertising, that as others have said indicates a sweet inoffensive film with dogs as main characters when it is really nothing of the sort. There are things that 'A Golden Christmas' does more than serviceably in. It is pleasant looking, especially the scenery inside and particularly out. The music doesn't sound cheap or over-bearing, and was clearly done by someone that knew what they were writing music for. Brendan is very engaging in his role. Liked the supporting cast a good deal too, with the best thing about the film being a truly delightful Elisa Donovan. It was very interesting and nice to see a sympathetic side to Bruce Davison. There are some cute moments here and there. It is a real shame that 'A Golden Christmas' is severely let down and unbalanced by the grossly overdone unlikeability of the character of Jessica. A character that Andrea Roth (who has given competent performances elsewhere) overdoes, with that much negativity, very little character growth and not many redeeming merits the character is intolerable. It is very difficult to be charmed, amused or moved by the story when one hates the lead character this much. More often than not, 'A Golden Christmas' is very cheesy and contrived. Especially at the end where it all feels too conveniently neat. The story is thin and unoriginal, with very little of the charm and heart factors, a dull pace and sometimes a mean-spirited edge. The chemistry between Roth and Brendan isn't there, the relationship is too underdeveloped and the chemistry itself is too much of a mismatch. As a result of one character being excessively nasty and the other being likeable but at times too nice and naive. The dialogue doesn't always flow and the cheese and sugar gets too much at times. Overall, watchable but not great. 5/10.

18 May 2015. It's hard to explain exactly what's so wonderfully magical about this movie. Perhaps it's the eerily mysterious but sweet melody that wraps around the mind in places. Perhaps its the predictable and secure plot that allows the audience just to enjoy the movie instead of being bent out of shape during the holidays. Perhaps its the characters that offer up a dependable performance without getting too serious during the Christmas season. For me, this movie just reflects the holiday spirit, the magical wishes of Christmas, and the fulfillment of dreams passed by. Among the best of Christmas movies that set a new wave of contemporary holiday-themed movies afterwards.

I absolutely detested Jessica right off the bat so anything that came after that it was hard for me to forgive her. How can she be this stupid, and this is a federal prosecutor, apparently successful. Buying a house is not something you put off figuring you can grab it at the last minute. And then she was arrogant, stubborn and blind about it. So I really didn't want to see Michael end up with her. I kept watching it for a few reasons. 1) I like Nicholas Brendon. 2) There are two cute kids and cute dog. 3) You have to know the childhood friendship is going to come back into play somehow. The acting was decent though not exceptional. The story had definite possibilities if it could have toned down Jessica's psychotic behavior. The two kids have the wisdom of the ages which is a bit much at times. Of course nothing is a surprise, but that didn't mean it wasn't sweet.

Its Christmas and Jessica comes back home for Christmas. She comes back to the house she loved and that her dad built. Its been 3 years since she's been home. She is excited to tell her parents she decided she wants to give up her life as a lawyer and come back home. She was not ready for the devastating news her parents revealed. She reminisces about her childhood and the young boy she met one summer and the lunch box (time capsule) they buried. Its been rough since her husband passed away, 3 years ago. She meets Michael, a single father, who lives in town. After her parents tells her who he is, she automatically takes a disliking to him. A dog showed up at Michael's doorstep and he took her in. But, the dog always seems to find his way to Jessica's house. Could the dog be trying to get them together? Does the dog know something they don't know? All you have to do is give me a nice story with wonderful actors and I am a happy camper. And that is what this movie has.