Movie: A Fiance For Christmas
Network: Lifetime
Starring: Amanda Payton, Adam Gregory, Marie Osmond, Sarah Jayne Jensen
Synopsis: A single woman, Sawyer, opens a fake wedding registry, hoping a shopping spree would cheer her up. When the registry is discovered, she's too embarrassed to tell the truth. Instead, she finds a fake fiancé, Landon, to help her navigate the holiday festivities.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⚠🛑 Disclaimer: This review may contain movie spoilers
Review:
So the first 5-10 minutes of this movie was a nightmare and I was contemplating turning it off but decided to stick it out. Boy did I ever make the right decision. This movie was so good and funny. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has a great story-line, humour, great chemistry between leads, and a fake relationship! As most of you know fake relationships are one of my favourite romance movie tropes and this one did not disappoint.
Sawyer (Payton) is a Doctor who is a bit down that she still hasn't found the right person. Not only is she bummed about her social life, but her boss is set to retired and isn't quite sure that Sawyer is the right person to take over his practice. Her colleague Jules (Jensen) suggests she create a fake wedding registry so that she can have the fun she thinks she is missing. So Sawyer creates a fake wedding registry which is found by her best friends. Her friends think she is actually engaged and throw her a bridal shower. Knowing she is in over her head with the lie, Sawyer enlists Landon (Gregory) to be her fake fiance Joshua Gotaway. What follows is a hilarious process of fake dating, falling in love and keeping those things on your wedding registry.
So let me start off by saying that I liked this plot. Yes I have seen a fake fiance story before but combine that with a fake wedding registry. That was plain funny. The whole story, writing and jokes had me hooked with this movie. I've even watched it a second time even though I haven't watch many Lifetime movies yet.
Payton is absolutely brilliant in the role of Sawyer. She is quirky, charming and her delivery of lines in parallel with glances and gestures is what makes this memorable for me. Little things just make it so much better in making her character endearing. For instance when she is talking to Landon about the mess she is in he offers her a bit of a cookie. She says yes and then just shoves the whole gingerbread cookie in her mouth and tries to talk. I found this just so endearing and funny. Payton had little things like this throughout the movie which made her character lovable.
Payton also had such a special dynamic with her colleague Jules. The two of them together have such a cute and quick banter and they really made this movie what it was. Their back and forth jabs and quick one liners were funny and well timed. Payton also has great chemistry with Gregory. They are great onscreen and have good chemistry. Their love story is believable and they have a nice transition from friends to love interests.
Marie Osmond plays the role of Sawyer's mother. She is funny and a bit quirky which Osmond plays well. She in fact had some of the most funny lines in the movie. She is a bit over the top but that's what makes her lovable.
This movie had alot of quick one liners and memorable comedy moments. What follows here is a few of the scenes that got the chuckle from me.
Scene overview: Sawyer and Joshua visit Sawyer's mom Margaret for the first time. Margaret thinks there is a baby involved which the two quickly say is not true. To appease the mom's disappoint, Joshua gives Margaret the impression that they are just planning for a honeymoon baby. Margaret takes the two of them to a room she had redone into a nursery for her new grandchild.
Margaret - "Being a grandma is the reward for surviving parenthood...in every culture."
Sawyer - "I was a perfect child."
Margaret - "You were an only child so there was no point of reference."
Scene Overview: Sawyer and Joshua/Landon are asked to babysit Sawyer's best friends children. They are having cookies around the table when the little girl Grace sneezes all over the cookies and some remnants of food spray onto Landon's hand. Sawyer quickly turns and appears like she is about to throw up.
Landon: "This is gross but birth is fine?"
This movie was great. Please ignore the first 5 minutes and give this a chance as you will not regret it.
Did you watch this movie? Tell me your thoughts in the comments.