- Film Review
- Reviewed By Sloan Freer
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2 out of 5
Jilted waitress Melissa Joan Hart resorts to extreme methods to impress her picky parents in this goofy seasonal romantic comedy. But from the moment she kidnaps customer Mario Lopez and demands he pose as the ideal son-in-law, you know how events will pan out. Consequently, the family Christmas that follows starts to feel like padding (and lamely scripted padding at that); a fact not helped by the scenario's implausibility. It's only when the clan's perfect façade ultimately cracks that the film's content matches its irreverent comic intentions, bringing spirited laughs as everyone emotionally unravels. Creeping sentimentality and heavy-handed lessons ensure humour takes a backseat for the predictable finale - though at least Hart finally gets to relax after all her overzealous wackiness.
Plot Summary
Seasonal romantic comedy from the director of City Slickers, starring Melissa Joan Hart. Waitress Trudie Chandler is desperate to prove to her wealthy parents that she's making a success of her life. When she's dumped by her latest boyfriend on Christmas Eve, she kidnaps a customer at gunpoint and forces him to pose as the ideal son-in-law at a family gathering.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Gertrude "Trudie" Chandler
- Melissa Joan Hart
- David Martin
- Mario Lopez
- Dad Chandler
- Timothy Bottoms
- Mom Chandler
- Markie Post
- Grandma
- June Lockhart
- Jake Chandler
- Kyle Howard
- Jessica
- Gabrielle Miller
- Lucy
- Layla Alizada
Crew
- Director
- Ron Underwood
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