The young actresses, Sierra McCormick and Brighton Sharbino, are adorable and do their best with what they're given in this production. The film's premise is not original, and there are far too many holes and continuity issues, but was never meant to be nominated for any prestigious awards. It's just one of dozens of schmaltzy Christmas movies for 2017, for entertainment purposes only.
Two young girls meet for the first time, and hatch an idea during a flight to Oklahoma to switch places to visit families they have never met. Jesse (Sharbino) and Cara (Mccormick) couldn't be more different in appearance, upbringing, style, everything. The film was released in 2017 so everyone has smart phones, including Jesse and Cara; yet the families had no idea what these kids looked like beforehand?
Jesse lives the highlife with Cara"s family, while Cara slums it with Jesse's "kin'. Jesse is nearly a full head taller than Cara, yet Caras clothes fit Jesse perfectly. No one ever calls to check on either of these kids. The deception is never questioned by either family.
Bo Derek, an executive producer of the film, stars as Elsa, Caras stiff, snobbish grandmother. Thanks to the miracle of plastic surgery, she looks incredibly young, but her acting leaves a lot to be desired after decades of experience. Shelley Long, as Jesse's grandmother, hasn't fared so well in appearance after all these years. The long, stringy hair is just awful. She was a hit on "Cheers" in the 70s, but this film was anything but for her career. The remainder of the cast fit well, with nothing exceptional or critically awful.
The entire film falls apart, literally, at the end. Worst finale of any of the Christmas offerings for 2017. Whomever approved script must have been on too many meds because it was beyond ridiculous. Uncomfortable, badly acted, unrealistic from any point of view. The deception is revealed with no one really concerned that the families have been duped all along. The conclusion was a silly country-style song lip synced by the cast.
Enjoy it as just a partially cute Christmas tale.
Two young girls meet for the first time, and hatch an idea during a flight to Oklahoma to switch places to visit families they have never met. Jesse (Sharbino) and Cara (Mccormick) couldn't be more different in appearance, upbringing, style, everything. The film was released in 2017 so everyone has smart phones, including Jesse and Cara; yet the families had no idea what these kids looked like beforehand?
Jesse lives the highlife with Cara"s family, while Cara slums it with Jesse's "kin'. Jesse is nearly a full head taller than Cara, yet Caras clothes fit Jesse perfectly. No one ever calls to check on either of these kids. The deception is never questioned by either family.
Bo Derek, an executive producer of the film, stars as Elsa, Caras stiff, snobbish grandmother. Thanks to the miracle of plastic surgery, she looks incredibly young, but her acting leaves a lot to be desired after decades of experience. Shelley Long, as Jesse's grandmother, hasn't fared so well in appearance after all these years. The long, stringy hair is just awful. She was a hit on "Cheers" in the 70s, but this film was anything but for her career. The remainder of the cast fit well, with nothing exceptional or critically awful.
The entire film falls apart, literally, at the end. Worst finale of any of the Christmas offerings for 2017. Whomever approved script must have been on too many meds because it was beyond ridiculous. Uncomfortable, badly acted, unrealistic from any point of view. The deception is revealed with no one really concerned that the families have been duped all along. The conclusion was a silly country-style song lip synced by the cast.
Enjoy it as just a partially cute Christmas tale.