This post contains spoilers for Christmas Wedding Planner (Netflix).
I love the holidays. Everything is decorated, the hot cocoa is pouring, and most importantly, Christmas movies are on an endless stream. I literally watched three Christmas movies last night and I have zero regrets. Who needs sleep when you can feel holiday cheer and romance?
Christmas Wedding Planner made its international debut this holiday season on Netflix. A cursory look on the internet gave the movie some pretty bad reviews. And, I’m not going to lie, some complaints weren’t totally wrong. However, all the issues are on things that make a holiday movie, well, a holiday movie.
The acting was interesting and some of the plots were a little unrealistic. I mean, who gets married 2.5 seconds after meeting a guy? Even still, Christmas Wedding Planner is one of the cuter holiday movies with a pretty hilarious script and effects.
A quick plot run-through
Kelsey Wilson (Jocelyn Hudon) is an up-and-coming wedding planner. She’s down to earth, intelligent, and refreshing to meet. Kelsey’s “I am a fierce warrior” mantra is basically my new go-to for anxious moments. Everything seemed perfect until a very well-dressed broad-shouldered smooth talker took the last blueberry scone and threatened to shut down her cousin, Emily (Rebecca Dalton)’s wedding. Connor McClane (Stephen Huszar), the scone thief, is a PI intent on discovering the groom’s flaws. Todd (Eric Hicks), the groom, just seems too good to be true, ya know?
In true Christmas movie fashion, the two team up and fall in love. Kelsey tagged along to keep an eye on Connor who said he needed help, but really was just awestruck from that very first fateful moment. They worked together to uncover a secret baby and viewers got to share quite a few laughs along the way. I’m skipping a few parts, but you get the gist.
Christmas Wedding Planner thoughts
Kelsey, the feminist, and Connor, the confident butthead had undeniable chemistry. The only true cringe moment was when Connor described abating his lady’s needs to avoid suspicion. Sure, it worked, but it also made us gag. Thank goodness Kelsey punched him.
The acting was a little exaggerated, but the characters definitely warranted it. Kelsey is not as polished as Aunt Olivia (Kelly Rutherford), but very capable. The jealous bridesmaid could definitely get you drunk in 20 minutes flat if you took a shot every time she mentioned her “dream wedding.” Plus, Sharl the baker obviously had some form of a complex. However, what the characters lacked in normal behavior, they made up with fantastic lines.
Kelsey and Connor’s quips, George (Joey Fatone)’s entire dialogue and Aunt Olivia’s, were the real winners of Christmas Wedding Planner. The moment where we learned, “A Wilson is a Wilson inside and outside the house” alongside Kelsey’s various lifetime achievements for equality, was amazing. Aunt Olivia’s classy nature and WASP outfits mixed with young Kelsey’s exasperation made the scene a true delight. Right, Aunt Olivia? “Exactly. Good girl.”
As for the effects, the non-diegetic sounds were a bit much. Until they grow on you. At some point, my face was reacting perfectly with the deflated horn sounds and piano mashes. I’m considering recording the sounds to use in my normal everyday life. It’ll be great. I might not have friends for much longer, but I’ll be happy.
The texts were also a nice touch. They added humor and greater sentiment when it was revealed who the messages were for. Most Christmas movies have a missing parent, and it never fails to bring on the feels. Love you muchly, Mama Wilson.
Final Grade: B+
Christmas and Holiday movies love burrowing into cutesy romance scenes and showcasing very unrealistic scenarios. Again, most people don’t opt to get married just because there’s an opening. However, it’s the little things that make these movies worth the watch.
Kelsey and Connor were fun and if there’s ever a reason to watch a holiday film, their van montage is it. Jocelyn Hudon and Stephen Huszar were perfect. They’re definitely on my list of actors to look out for. Plus, *NSYNC’s very own Joey Fatone was incredibly adorable as George.
If you watched Christmas Wedding Planner, let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Twitter, @Pure_Fandom. If you love the holidays as much as I do, follow me, @SuryaCherian as I dive into as many holiday movies as I can this season.
Christmas Wedding Planner can be streamed on Netflix.
