Movie: Trading Christmas
Release Year: 2011
Starring: Tom Cavanagh, Faith Ford, Gil Bellows, Gabrielle Miller
Synopsis: A widow from Oregon trades homes with a Boston professor who is eager to finish his novel, only for their friends and family to complicate matters.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
⚠🛑 Disclaimer: This review may contain movie spoilers
Review:
So with the Christmas season now behind us I thought I would watch an older movie. One I have seen before but not for quite some time. Boy was this a good decision. This movie was engaging from beginning to end. I didn't touch my phone once during the whole movie so that tells me alot.
Emily (Ford) is a widow who's college aged daughter has decided not to come home for Christmas. Emily is a traditionalist and decides that she will do a house swap as she is sure her daughter would love to see her. Emily trades with a writer Charles (Cavanagh) who has a deadline and wants to get out of town. Emily heads to Boston only to find out her daughter isn't there at all and is in Arizona with her boyfriend. She bumps into Charles's workaholic brother Ray (Bellows) and ends up getting to know him. Meanwhile Emily's friend Faith (Miller) shows up unexpectedly to visit Faith who isn't there and spends some quality time with grumpy Charles.
This movie is engaging. It has so many moving parts but that doesn't distract at all from the overall movie. It just makes it more interesting. You have two main plots and then some smaller plot lines. What is particularly well done is the development of some of these characters. In particular you have Emily (Ford) struggling with her ability to let go over the traditions she held with her deceased husband. Her struggle to move forward and carry on without him. Faith Ford was exceptional and the growth from beginning to the end where she finally does something for herself is great.
The chemistry between both couples was fantastic. I admit that Gil Bellows came across as creepy at first but he began to grow on me. By the end the chemistry he had with Ford was good. As for Cavanagh and Miller, they were hilarious. They had a fun banter for alot of the movie. Yes they didn't end up together until almost the very end but I enjoyed them and watching the progression of their interest for each other. The scene where he runs into the bus to ask her to stay was amazing.
One of the highlights for me was Tom Cavanagh. Tom for me will always be the Labatt Blue commercial guy! A fellow Canadian. Admittedly when I first saw him I said "Oh No" as a nod to the O'Henry commercial. I just like this guy.
And in true fashion he didn't disappoint in this movie either. He was beyond grumpy at the beginning of this movie. His first interaction when the children came to see him was so funny. His comedic acting came in handy in this role and he was probably my favourite thing about this movie. OK maybe one of my favourites because I could say the exact same thing about Gabrielle Miller. Again another Canadian who I grew up watching on only one of the best comedy sitcoms "Corner Gas." She too was quick, funny and had such a great interaction and relationship with Cavanagh on screen.
This movie kept me engaged the whole time. Definitely recommended and will watch again.
Did you watch this movie? Tell me your thoughts in the comments.
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