MOVIE REVIEWS

Most fitting word to describe <em>'Best. Christmas. Ever!'</em>: lousy. Nothing about this 2023 production feels organic, every inch of it comes across as unnatural as it even fails to include suitable festive cheer. All of the characters, perhaps aside from the kids (Madison Skye Validum as Beatrix is good tbf), are either unlikeable or uninteresting. The story is so mundane, I got bored by it quick - and the film only lasts around 80mins, so should be a breezy watch but just isn't. Validum is the only actor onscreen that I would praise, as none of the others manage to stand out; admittedly they are all not helped by what they have to worked with, of course. Heather Graham's Charlotte is pretty poor, quite unlikeable in truth. Brandy Norwood (as Jackie) tries, probably the best of the (not so good) rest. Possibly lucky to get a 5/10 rating, in truth. The small run time probably helps in that regard, to get below that score from me you kinda have to annoy me - and releases that are short in length don't tend to do that to me. A bad film, all the same.

In my opinion, this film was decent and enjoyable, despite its cheesy elements. While it may have leaned into the cheesiness, the story was still coherent and easy to follow, making it a fun watch without going completely over the top. Critics can sometimes be overly harsh on movies that deserve a fair chance. This particular film may not have received the recognition it deserves, as not enough people have given it a chance to appreciate its value. While I wouldn't rate it as a three-star film, I also wouldn't give it a rating below two stars. I have always been a fan of Brandy's singing and found her performance in the movie to be enjoyable. She has a beautiful voice and brings a special charm to any project she's a part of. Brandy's talent as both an actress and a singer often goes unrecognized, but she truly shines in roles like this, showcasing her versatility and skill.