The story in all honesty didn't sound that promising, too been there done that, and just reading about the female lead character made me already dislike her before even watching the film. Still watched it anyway, as a few of the previous 2021 Hallmark Christmas films were good (especially 'Christmas in My Heart') and all but two were above average. Have seen Jannel Parrish and Ryan Paevey in other things and they are both good with the right material.
'Coyote Creek Christmas' doesn't see them with the right material at all. He actually comes off well all things considered and works well individually, she doesn't and her character writing is a massive turn off. And the two just don't work together. As a film too, 'Coyote Creek Christnas' is lacking in too many areas to be anything above average. As far as the 2021 Hallmark Christmas films go, up to this point and overall, this is easily one of the weakest along with 'Boyfriends of Christmas Past'.
It isn't a complete shambles. Paevey makes it just about tolerable, despite most of everything else being so weak, he comes over as very likeable and charming and he is a natural on screen. His character is the only one that has any degree of likeability, though too eager to please when not deserved (though that for me is a relatable trait).
A vast majority of the year's Christmas films have been made surprisingly well visually considering the circumstances and the scenery is lovely here.
Shame that everything else doesn't work. Parrish really does try but it too often feel like she is trying too hard to make her material work, like she knew the material was not good and really trying to make it work but instead making the character more annoying. Really disliked her character, more so on film than reading about her (quite a feat). Absolutely agree that she is far too harsh and perpetually angry throughout with no development or any real softening. Worse is that a lot of the anger is misplaced and aimed at the wrong person, at the person who has done nothing wrong and the only one who tries to put things right. The supporting cast are forgettable in cipher roles.
Forgettable is something that the music can be described as too and did think that it could have been more subtle in placement. There is no chemistry between Parrish and Paevey, Paevey does try to make it work but Parrish's character is so unlikeable that part of me was so frustrated at Paevey's character still trying to please her and still find appeal in her when he deserves better. They are also too much of a mismatch in age, types of characters and acting styles (with Paevey's being a lot more subtle) and the relationship is underdeveloped and is erratically paced, aimless and wouldn't be believable as a friendship let alone a romance to begin and then turns into romance much later on like a sudden switch on of a ceiling light.
Dialogue is overripe with Parrish and trite and unnatural for most of the film everywhere else. The story is dull and predictable, as well as very thin. The ending is too easy and too pat, and feels unrealistic too from being unearned.
In conclusion, weak. 3/10.
'Coyote Creek Christmas' doesn't see them with the right material at all. He actually comes off well all things considered and works well individually, she doesn't and her character writing is a massive turn off. And the two just don't work together. As a film too, 'Coyote Creek Christnas' is lacking in too many areas to be anything above average. As far as the 2021 Hallmark Christmas films go, up to this point and overall, this is easily one of the weakest along with 'Boyfriends of Christmas Past'.
It isn't a complete shambles. Paevey makes it just about tolerable, despite most of everything else being so weak, he comes over as very likeable and charming and he is a natural on screen. His character is the only one that has any degree of likeability, though too eager to please when not deserved (though that for me is a relatable trait).
A vast majority of the year's Christmas films have been made surprisingly well visually considering the circumstances and the scenery is lovely here.
Shame that everything else doesn't work. Parrish really does try but it too often feel like she is trying too hard to make her material work, like she knew the material was not good and really trying to make it work but instead making the character more annoying. Really disliked her character, more so on film than reading about her (quite a feat). Absolutely agree that she is far too harsh and perpetually angry throughout with no development or any real softening. Worse is that a lot of the anger is misplaced and aimed at the wrong person, at the person who has done nothing wrong and the only one who tries to put things right. The supporting cast are forgettable in cipher roles.
Forgettable is something that the music can be described as too and did think that it could have been more subtle in placement. There is no chemistry between Parrish and Paevey, Paevey does try to make it work but Parrish's character is so unlikeable that part of me was so frustrated at Paevey's character still trying to please her and still find appeal in her when he deserves better. They are also too much of a mismatch in age, types of characters and acting styles (with Paevey's being a lot more subtle) and the relationship is underdeveloped and is erratically paced, aimless and wouldn't be believable as a friendship let alone a romance to begin and then turns into romance much later on like a sudden switch on of a ceiling light.
Dialogue is overripe with Parrish and trite and unnatural for most of the film everywhere else. The story is dull and predictable, as well as very thin. The ending is too easy and too pat, and feels unrealistic too from being unearned.
In conclusion, weak. 3/10.