"Merry Liddle Christmas" is a cutely named 2019 Lifetime Christmas marathon movie. See, the gimmick of this one is that the family's last name is "Liddle." It's very cute and totally disposable just like the movie. After nearly 40 Christmas films this year, it's surprising that no one has just made a standard family comedy movie until now.
Kelly Rowland stars as Jacquie, an executive who has to film her new home at Christmas in order to get a promotion at her company. I can't recall why, but it is only mentioned as a plot buildup. Jacquie designs her home in a modern style with brilliant whites and grays in the paint and decorations, even the christmas trees. When her family arrives, they are mortified by how untraditional the Christmas decorations are. The family are played by actors you may recognize from recent tv shows. We have the obsessive mom and dad, annoying younger sister who can't keep a job, and the struggling middle brother. The brother has two children who ask Jacquie where her real family is as they chase Louie the dog.
Her real family may be across the street. It's first member is a hunky Hot Guy Tyler played by Thomas Cadrot. He doesn't offer much to the film. He's mostly just tall and in need of a shave. Tyler and Jacquie have a few good scenes together discussing how terrible she is at flirting and how stressed out she is. This film didn't really need a romance subplot at all. At least Cadrot smiles well to give you the impression he isn't just showing up for a paycheck.
Everything plays out exactly as you would think if you've ever seen a family comedy before. I got a lot of Christmas Vacation vibes from this one. Rowland is a great straight actor for everyone else's funny parts. Her face contorts all sorts of ways as various things happen.
The only negative I must address is the inclusion of a scene where Jacquie's younger siblings drink Bailey's Irish Cream. Immediately after this scene, there was a real commercial for that product. It left me with the impression that the entire movie was made just for that product placement scene to enhance the commercial. I must reduce a star for that. Otherwise, this is passable.
Kelly Rowland stars as Jacquie, an executive who has to film her new home at Christmas in order to get a promotion at her company. I can't recall why, but it is only mentioned as a plot buildup. Jacquie designs her home in a modern style with brilliant whites and grays in the paint and decorations, even the christmas trees. When her family arrives, they are mortified by how untraditional the Christmas decorations are. The family are played by actors you may recognize from recent tv shows. We have the obsessive mom and dad, annoying younger sister who can't keep a job, and the struggling middle brother. The brother has two children who ask Jacquie where her real family is as they chase Louie the dog.
Her real family may be across the street. It's first member is a hunky Hot Guy Tyler played by Thomas Cadrot. He doesn't offer much to the film. He's mostly just tall and in need of a shave. Tyler and Jacquie have a few good scenes together discussing how terrible she is at flirting and how stressed out she is. This film didn't really need a romance subplot at all. At least Cadrot smiles well to give you the impression he isn't just showing up for a paycheck.
Everything plays out exactly as you would think if you've ever seen a family comedy before. I got a lot of Christmas Vacation vibes from this one. Rowland is a great straight actor for everyone else's funny parts. Her face contorts all sorts of ways as various things happen.
The only negative I must address is the inclusion of a scene where Jacquie's younger siblings drink Bailey's Irish Cream. Immediately after this scene, there was a real commercial for that product. It left me with the impression that the entire movie was made just for that product placement scene to enhance the commercial. I must reduce a star for that. Otherwise, this is passable.