With my next Youtube effort Christmas in Boston I get another nice surprise. This generically titled 2005 film is another TV movie but has a surprisingly smart rom-com script and top-notch performances. It’s convoluted, silly stuff but entertaining nonetheless. Gina (Marka Sokoloff) and Seth (Patrick J. Adams) have been pen-pals forever and both want to take things further. When fate brings them both to the same national toy conference in Boston at Christmas – he’s a toy executive, she’s a journalist – they both get the heebie-jeebies. In a zany twist, it’s revealed that both of them have sent ‘selfies’ to each other of their slightly better-looking best mates. So, they both rope in their buddies to stand in for them on the first date but are unprepared for the impostors hitting it off big time, causing all sorts of hilarity and confusion.
It sounds dumb, but I find this a lot more enjoyable than it has any right to be, which is likely down to the charisma of its likeable leads. Jonathan Cherry as Seth’s slacker wannabe actor best friend Matt is particularly amusing, casting shades of Brad Pitt’s True Romance stoner Floyd in this happy-go-lucky dude who’s a little dim-witted but cheekily charming. Lindy Booth as Gina’s girlfriend Ellen is similarly excellent. She’s cute, she’s cool and endearing even when she’s doing despicable things like smooching the guy she thinks her best pal is in love with.
I enjoy Matt and Ellen’s storyline more than the main plot that finds Seth and Gina somewhat implausibly crossing paths and falling in love anyway. The movie contains no big surprises but I enjoy hanging out with these four characters and listening to them tease and flirt with each other.
‘Christmas in Boston’ is an uninspired title but there are at least loads of pretty images of Massachusetts in winter, which is a fantastic place to spend Christmas. This one brings back happy memories for me of visiting Boston at Christmas a few years back, so I’m especially pleased when Matt and Ellen go on a tour, visiting notable landmarks like Cheers and Quincy’s Market. It’s a gorgeous city that looks even better all lit up for the season.
I’m in a cracking mood today as – hurrah! – after a horrifically tough year, we’re finally moving house tomorrow. This was a good example of ‘right movie, right time’ for me – it’s silly but intelligently so, if that makes sense? It also has a sweet sprinkling of festive stardust with just enough raunchiness to make it a good laugh, which isn’t bad at all for a TV movie floating around on Youtube.
I’ve noticed the Halloween decorations going up on some houses round the neighbourhood last night, so everything is starting to feel festive and magical. In terms of my filmic quest, it definitely feels like I’m entering the final straight in the run-up to this year’s yuletide. I’ve also noticed that the ‘Christmas Movie’ channels are starting to appear on TV. In that sense, it’s starting to feel a bit less weird to be watching stuff like this every day.
So, moving day tomorrow – I’m gearing up for an absolutely knackering day and already wondering just how the hell I’m going to fit a Christmas film in as well….
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