Engaging Father Christmas (TV Movie 2017)

Engaging Father Christmas: Directed by David Winning. With Erin Krakow, Niall Matter, Wendie Malick, P. Lynn Johnson. This Christmas promises to be the best of Miranda Chester’s life. She has returned to the beautiful New England town of Carlton Heath, where last year she found love with Ian McAndrick and she is among the family she never knew she had.

“Found myself really liking the first film u0026#39;Finding Father Christmasu0026#39;, which did live up thankfully to its intriguing premise. It was not a masterpiece certainly, but it was one of the best 2016 Hallmark Christmas films and one of their better Christmas films overall too in my view. It similarly contained some of the best work of both Erin Krakow and Niall Matter. Seeing that they had returned for its follow up u0026#39;Engaging Father Christmasu0026#39;, expectations were far from low.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDespite worrying that, considering that it is a sequel (and Hallmark are very variable at best usually when it comes to their sequels), it would be too more of the same. Luckily, u0026#39;Engaging Father Christmasu0026#39; doesnu0026#39;t feel too much like that. It is not quite as good a film perhaps as u0026#39;Finding Father Christmasu0026#39;, but as far as Hallmark sequels go it is up there as one of the better ones and doesnu0026#39;t disgrace the first film at all. They do go well with watching back to back.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026#39;Engaging Father Christmasu0026#39; isnu0026#39;t perfect. Will admit to not liking the story as much, this aspect had a good deal more freshness in u0026#39;Finding Father Christmasu0026#39; and tonally it felt more focused tonally. Actually didnu0026#39;t mind that the film was predictable, but the moments of bizarre silliness and not always tight enough pace were less forgivable.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAgain the ending was on the rushed side, contrived somewhat too, and the script could have been tighter.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, there is so much to like about u0026#39;Engaging Father Christmasu0026#39;. It looks pleasing, despite the location not being authentic to me it didnu0026#39;t look too fake and was attractive in its own way. The photography is slick enough. There is a tendency in Hallmark to have the music too prominent and intrusive, found neither to be the case (not distractingly so anyhow) here. The script may be imperfect, but it was light hearted and had good intentions, the cheese and schmaltz not feeling too much.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLikewise, the story has imperfections but for all its predictability as such it did make me feel warm inside, it was very charming and it did have heart without being heavy or over serious. Krakow and Matter return, as does Wendie Malick, and they donu0026#39;t disappoint. Krakow is restrained and sensitive while never looking phoned in or stiff. Matt is pleasantly understated and sympathetic too without ever being too low key, and he looks relaxed. While their chemistry was natural and affecting in u0026#39;Finding Father Christmasu0026#39;, it has even more spark and growth here in u0026#39;Engaging Father Christmasu0026#39;. Malick is a breath of fresh air once again. Everyone is well above average and while the characters are not deep they were at least worth connecting with in my view. The direction is accomodating without being too deliberate.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eConcluding, well done. 7/10”