Sometimes when watching a made-for-tv Christmas film, I think of how much better it could be if it weren't limited by its network and limited capacity. These are not films that have the ability to inspire your imagination. They instead exist within a cultural vacuum; a past that never actually happened. They attempt to use culture to tell a story that lacks any real humanism. They are as fake as the Christmas elements they usurp for their purpose as cinema junk food.
Such is "Holiday Hearts." The film begins within a narrative interlude in the lives of Ashley Williams and Paul Campbell as Peyton and Ben. They have some past with each other in which she fell in love with him. He rejected her to move away from their community. Now, he has returned again for a few days at Christmas to babysit a friend's daughter.
The plot hits all the familiar motifs of the Hallmark Channel. The characters decorate a Christmas tree, bake cookies, and walk down snowy streets. What is lacking is any real sense of responsibility on the film to make Ben atone for his emotional manipulation of Ashley. She still harbors feelings for him as evidenced by Ashley William's good facial cues. Yet he continues to invite her to spend time with him and the child he is babysitting. Worse yet the child joins in with the film's mistreatment of Peyton.
It's all the more surprising that Peyton manages to plan a Christmas Eve party with all the drama in her personal life. The film's focus on this is to its benefit. It is the only part of the film in which she has agency. This is completely undone when Ben decides he wants to be with her and she accepts his advances. I was rooting for her to just move on from him.
The film is better shot than many of the Hallmark Channel's output. The scenes in the dining hall where the party is being planned serve a symbolic purpose until Peyton can think of a topic for the party. Once she does, the camera enters the room from the perspective of a guest to see the beautiful display put together in just a few days.
"Holiday Hearts" is a competent genre film for those interested in holiday junk. It's as hollow and meaningless as they usually are. I think I need to keep away from these films for a while to stimulate my imagination again.
Such is "Holiday Hearts." The film begins within a narrative interlude in the lives of Ashley Williams and Paul Campbell as Peyton and Ben. They have some past with each other in which she fell in love with him. He rejected her to move away from their community. Now, he has returned again for a few days at Christmas to babysit a friend's daughter.
The plot hits all the familiar motifs of the Hallmark Channel. The characters decorate a Christmas tree, bake cookies, and walk down snowy streets. What is lacking is any real sense of responsibility on the film to make Ben atone for his emotional manipulation of Ashley. She still harbors feelings for him as evidenced by Ashley William's good facial cues. Yet he continues to invite her to spend time with him and the child he is babysitting. Worse yet the child joins in with the film's mistreatment of Peyton.
It's all the more surprising that Peyton manages to plan a Christmas Eve party with all the drama in her personal life. The film's focus on this is to its benefit. It is the only part of the film in which she has agency. This is completely undone when Ben decides he wants to be with her and she accepts his advances. I was rooting for her to just move on from him.
The film is better shot than many of the Hallmark Channel's output. The scenes in the dining hall where the party is being planned serve a symbolic purpose until Peyton can think of a topic for the party. Once she does, the camera enters the room from the perspective of a guest to see the beautiful display put together in just a few days.
"Holiday Hearts" is a competent genre film for those interested in holiday junk. It's as hollow and meaningless as they usually are. I think I need to keep away from these films for a while to stimulate my imagination again.