Crystal (Amy Acker) is an ambition-challenged woman who is unexpectedly united with a girl’s letter to Santa. In the letter, the girl asks for a new wife for her dad, one that would also be a suitable follow-on to her revered late-mother. When greeted by fate in this way, what’s a poor rich woman to do?
Actually, Crystal might not be rich for much longer. Her head-on-a-laptop mother is going to cut her off from the money unless Crystal finds a direction in life. Any direction. With that little push, and a personal sense that maybe fate did send the letter her way, Crystal sets out to fulfill the girl’s wish.
From this setup follows a fairly predictable script. Crystal first lightly surveils Derek and Olivia Gowen (David Hadyn-Jones and Emma Duke) before following Derek to a soup kitchen that he runs. From there, Crystal grows as a person as she befriends the homeless, and ingratiates herself with Derek and Olivia.
The main obstacle is Jilian (Gina Holden), the woman Derek dumped so as to pursue and marry the love of his life and mother of his child. Jilian is basically a shallow, older “mean girl”. While not played over-the-top, it’s still amazing that Derek can’t see through her facade like everyone else can. Still, the character lacks enough depth for the audience to care. She’s just a 2-d plot device.
The movie is a measured-build to an inevitable conclusion. You can see a lot of the resolutions from a kilometer away. Yes, the movie takes its time to develop, but it’s neither slow nor rushed. I think it could have been helped by the addition of a few scenes to force the pace a bit. It certainly could have used one or two scenes for a proper denouement to augment the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it ending the story finished with.
Because I enjoy watching Amy Acker’s work, I’ll revisit this movie from time-to-time. If you aren’t an Amy Acker fan, this is pretty average, but pleasant fare. The plot isn’t anything spectacular and there isn’t anything that elevates it from the crowd. Still, you should give it a chance. It’s not a bad movie, it just isn’t a great one.
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| 3.75 of 5 |
Photo: Image Entertainment
For more movies, go to the list at: Watching the Holiday Movies
Hi
Do you know any of the songs used in this movie? I’m looking for the song playing during the christmas party, I hope you can help!
I don’t right now. Sorry. When I get a chance later I’ll try to do a lyric/song search, but that’s always a bit iffy. If you find out, could you post it here? Others are curious as well.
The song played after Derek and Jilian’s last date is Tonight (featuring Jocelyn Alice) vocals and lyrics by: Jocelyn Alice; written and produced by: Mitch Lee
It’s available for listening at soundcloud.com
I am also trying to find out the song that played at Derek’s party on Crystal’s pink iPhone. Know about “Tonight” featuring Jocelyn Alice by Mitch Lee that played at the end. Thanks, anyone.
I found it!! The song your looking for is Fate (feat.Jocelyn Alice) single on itunes.
Does anyone have any idea where to buy the precious pink boots Crystal wore in the scene laying on the sofa in her pjs when her mom calls and tells her she has a gift/check in the mail and Crystal gets up off the sofa and goes to post office box?
I loved this movie. The stereotypes and the unlikeliness of this even happening at all don’t matter to me. What’s important here is the idea of someone taking the initiative to change her and possibly another family’s life for the better. In her final effort it took great courage and sacrifice when Crystal staked what was possibly her last $10,000 to save the soup kitchen, even after her ‘cover’ was blown (when the letter was shown to Derrick).
In the real world I believe everything happens for a reason and is by design (you can call it ‘fate’). In my own life ‘fate’ steered me to a woman I otherwise would never have met in a million years, as she lived 15,000 miles from me. Similarly, Crystal and Derrick never would have met if it wasn’t for ‘fate’ and her taking the initiative.
I cried at the end. Because I was happy that a woman’s fantasy became a reality. Whatever power ‘Santa’ has is supplied by those who believe in him. Amy Acker was perfect in the role of Crystal.
I think when you are able to suspend your disbelief, the storyteller has done eir job.
I can only hope that Crystal doesn’t get cut off permanently being that she met her mother’s condition for holding on to the stream of cash. Imagine what an enlightened Crystal could do armed with love, ideals, and funding.
And I agree. Amy fit this role very well. That said, I watch her in pretty much anything. Joss sure knows how to pick his former-ballet-dancing actors.