The title for this film, "Trading Christmas," begs a question. For what, or with what? Well, it's based on a novel of the same title by Debbie Macomber. The film starts out interestingly enough, introducing characters who eventually will be traveling somewhere else for Christmas. So, there are scenes in South Woodbourne, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle and Phoenix. Two unmarried brothers, Charles and Ray Johnson, live in Boston and see each other once in a while. Emily Spengler is a widow of three years who lives in the smaller Washington State community. Her daughter, Heather, is attending school in Boston. Emily expects her home for Christmas, but Heather wants to do something different, so she instead flies to Phoenix with her boyfriend, Jason, to spend Christmas alone at his grandparents' home, swimming pool and all.
Faith Krrigan is a younger friend of Emily who grew up in their hometown but now lives and works in San Francisco, and she has been divorced for a few years. When Emily tells her that Heather won't be coming home, she suggests that Emily do a house swap and be a little daring to do something else for a change. Back in Boston, Charles is having trouble getting his last novel finished - he needs to do a major rewrite. Ray suggests he go away someplace and not tell anyone, where he can work without interruptions.
Unbeknownst to all the others, Charles and Emily go online and connect for a house and apartment swap. Emily was going to Boston to surprise Heather; and Charles was going to South Woodbourne, Washington, for seclusion to work on his book. Then, Faith decides to go back home to be with Emily - and surprise her for Christmas.
So, with that all set in the first few minutes of this film, the audience knows what to expect and how it will turn out. This isn't a new plot, but some of the nuances are a little different. The fun and enjoyment then will be in seeing how this plays out, with the characters. And, much depends on the screenplay and cast.
One oddity of the film is that Charles and Ray didn't grow up with much Christmas observance, and as adults they don't observe it. There's a little more background to that. Their lifestyles and backgrounds - and tastes, are mostly ultra-modern, where Emily still lives in a more traditional and historical style. Faith works in the modern world, but keeps in touch with her traditional background. The scenes in the film switch between locations with the women talking to one another and checking in. They finally find out who went where for what purpose. Faith Ford gives a good performance as the middle-aged mother and widow finally getting over her grieving and finding a good man in Ray played by Gil Bellow.
But the best part of this film, and the slightly greater part of it, is with Faith showing up in South Woodbourne at Emily's home to the surprise and chagrin of Charles. Gabrielle Miller gives a very good performance and provides the best humor and life for this film. Tom Cavanagh is good as Charles, but I think he overacts and overplays his role as something of a Grinch. But who could withstand the charm, common sense, down-to-earth, cheerfulness and helpfulness of Faith for very long?
Well, it's not hard to figure how this one will come out, and the ending is quite nice for everyone. Yet, for all the cross-country back and forth, and checking and updating between the women, this film seems to drag on a bit. There's very little scenery or sets that show or give a feel of the Christmas holidays. But for the constant Christmas cookie deliveries to Charles at Emily's home, and the stockings she hangs in the sterile modern apartment that Charles has for a home, there isn't much of a sense that this is a holiday film. None of the three romances (Heather and Jason are the adult college student couple) seem very authentic.
The interplay and humor with Faith and Charles saves this film from otherwise being boring. I like to check out locales where movies are set, and the big cities in this film are familiar to most people - in name, at least. But there is no South Woodbourne, or Woodbourne, in Washington State. Since this place is 150 miles from the Seattle Airport, according to the story, it would have to be somewhere east of the Cascade Mountains - a little beyond Yakima to the southeast or beyond Wenatchee to the east. That distance north or south of Seattle would put one in Vancouver, British Columbia, or nearly to Vancouver, Washington, which is just across the Columbia River from Portland's international airport.
Here are the best couple of lines in this film.
Faith, "Okay, Charles. So what do you like to go by - Chuck, Charley?" Charles, "Charles." Faith, "Mmmm - one of those."
Jason and Heather sit down to watch "It's a Wonderful Life," which he has never seen before. As the movie starts, he says, "Wait! It's black and white." Heather says, "You'll get over it."
Faith Krrigan is a younger friend of Emily who grew up in their hometown but now lives and works in San Francisco, and she has been divorced for a few years. When Emily tells her that Heather won't be coming home, she suggests that Emily do a house swap and be a little daring to do something else for a change. Back in Boston, Charles is having trouble getting his last novel finished - he needs to do a major rewrite. Ray suggests he go away someplace and not tell anyone, where he can work without interruptions.
Unbeknownst to all the others, Charles and Emily go online and connect for a house and apartment swap. Emily was going to Boston to surprise Heather; and Charles was going to South Woodbourne, Washington, for seclusion to work on his book. Then, Faith decides to go back home to be with Emily - and surprise her for Christmas.
So, with that all set in the first few minutes of this film, the audience knows what to expect and how it will turn out. This isn't a new plot, but some of the nuances are a little different. The fun and enjoyment then will be in seeing how this plays out, with the characters. And, much depends on the screenplay and cast.
One oddity of the film is that Charles and Ray didn't grow up with much Christmas observance, and as adults they don't observe it. There's a little more background to that. Their lifestyles and backgrounds - and tastes, are mostly ultra-modern, where Emily still lives in a more traditional and historical style. Faith works in the modern world, but keeps in touch with her traditional background. The scenes in the film switch between locations with the women talking to one another and checking in. They finally find out who went where for what purpose. Faith Ford gives a good performance as the middle-aged mother and widow finally getting over her grieving and finding a good man in Ray played by Gil Bellow.
But the best part of this film, and the slightly greater part of it, is with Faith showing up in South Woodbourne at Emily's home to the surprise and chagrin of Charles. Gabrielle Miller gives a very good performance and provides the best humor and life for this film. Tom Cavanagh is good as Charles, but I think he overacts and overplays his role as something of a Grinch. But who could withstand the charm, common sense, down-to-earth, cheerfulness and helpfulness of Faith for very long?
Well, it's not hard to figure how this one will come out, and the ending is quite nice for everyone. Yet, for all the cross-country back and forth, and checking and updating between the women, this film seems to drag on a bit. There's very little scenery or sets that show or give a feel of the Christmas holidays. But for the constant Christmas cookie deliveries to Charles at Emily's home, and the stockings she hangs in the sterile modern apartment that Charles has for a home, there isn't much of a sense that this is a holiday film. None of the three romances (Heather and Jason are the adult college student couple) seem very authentic.
The interplay and humor with Faith and Charles saves this film from otherwise being boring. I like to check out locales where movies are set, and the big cities in this film are familiar to most people - in name, at least. But there is no South Woodbourne, or Woodbourne, in Washington State. Since this place is 150 miles from the Seattle Airport, according to the story, it would have to be somewhere east of the Cascade Mountains - a little beyond Yakima to the southeast or beyond Wenatchee to the east. That distance north or south of Seattle would put one in Vancouver, British Columbia, or nearly to Vancouver, Washington, which is just across the Columbia River from Portland's international airport.
Here are the best couple of lines in this film.
Faith, "Okay, Charles. So what do you like to go by - Chuck, Charley?" Charles, "Charles." Faith, "Mmmm - one of those."
Jason and Heather sit down to watch "It's a Wonderful Life," which he has never seen before. As the movie starts, he says, "Wait! It's black and white." Heather says, "You'll get over it."