Displaying items by tag: Charles Shyer

THE NOEL DIARY

US, 2022, 99 minutes, Colour.

Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss, Bonnie Bedelia, James Remar, Essence Atkins.

Directed by Charles Shyer.

The Noel Diary is what might be called a nice film. It has a G rating. Though some of the issues of very serious, especially family tragedies, family alienation’s, it is geared towards the popular audience. It was co-injury by Charles Shyer career like baby Boom father of the Bride. This was his last film as directors.

1. A Christmas story, romance, family issues?
2. The world of the successful novelist, signings? Recluse, his home? His mother’s home and the mess, cleaning? His father’s home in the woods? Hotels? The musical score, Christmas songs and lyrics?
3. Jake Turner and his story, success as a novelist, adulation from the readers, the signings sequence? Yet alone, past relationships, hiding away, the photo on the back of his books, looking down? Age, news of the death of his mother, alienation from her, building up the story of his dead brother (and his father remembering and the visuals), his father leaving and the reasons, for him to be a comfort to his mother, the failure, his distance from his parents?
4. The lawyer, his mother’s will, the mess in the house? Ellie as the friendly neighbour, memories, her support? The discussion about the tender entry, the date, successful, the relationship, inviting him to Christmas dinner?
5. Rachel, the mystery of her standing watching outside the house? Coming in, her quest? Explanations, her mother as the nanny? Wanted to find her mother, Jake and his idea of asking Ellie, the address of his father, Rachel wanting to drive there, persuading Jake? On the road? Rachel and the discovery of her mother’s diary – and the opening with the visuals of novel writing the diary, the further excerpts of the journey went on, the effect on Rachel, wondering whether she was abandoned, finishing the diet, reassured?
6. Scott Turner, in the woods, friendly, his story, grief, the death of his son? Leaving Jake with his mother? The explanations, Jake and his hesitancy? Rachel coming in, the meal, the discussions, the memories, not keeping the family together after the death? Knowles kind words about Jake, his brother, his parents?
7. Scott and his letter from Noel, the address? The decision to visit?
8. Rachel, her relationship with Helen, her hopes for the UN translation job, Allen and his meticulous accounting, the proposal about the engagement party, Rachel not going to find her mother, with her adopted parents, Jake and his arrival, her saying she did not love him? Wanting security with Alan?
9. Jake, the visit to Noel, the conversation, giving her the diary, reassured her about Rachel? Nolan her happiness?
10. Jake, coming to the house, being rejected, going home, the discussion with Ellie, finding the many letters from his father and his mother concealing them? And Rachel arriving? And the future?

BEST. CHRISTMAS, EVER!

US, 2023, 82 minutes, Colour.

Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeno, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil, Madison Skye Validum.

Directed by Mary Lambert.

There are so many, many Christmas shows that are released every year, especially on streaming services.

Perhaps the cast will attract an audience, veteran Heather Graham (actually 50-51 at the time of filming which stretches credibility somewhat), and the popular Jason Biggs from the American Pie films. Brandy Norwood is a popular singing artist. And the direction is by veteran Mary Lambert, almost 50 years of film and television, making a mark in the 1980s with her version of Stephen King’s Pet Sematery (and filming a sequel).

But, having a look at the comments on the IMDb, it is a litany of derogatory mocking and condemnation. But…, This is a Christmas film.

What makes it different is that for the children generation, it raises a question of whether Santa Claus is real. And, for the adult generation, there has to be a willing suspension of disbelief that the perfect family exists and that a perfect happy Christmas family story is possible. (In the film, yes, in real life, highly doubtful.)

Brandy Norwood’s Jackie sends out a magazine Christmas card every year with photos of the achievement of the family. Her friend from college days, Charlotte, Heather Graham, resents these cards. Jackie has the perfect marriage, the most precociously intelligent daughter, already a Harvard student with expertise knowledge of finance (though conducting her research as to the existence of Santa Claus). It looks as though Jackie can do everything, en aviation company at a profit, construct a hot air balloon… And her husband, Valentino, Matt Part Cedeno, seems perfect in every way.

By contrast, Charlotte has not achieved her ambitions, has a sense of disappointment, does love her husband, and her two children, one of whom is always accompanied by a cartoon -looking toy, a monkey who gives him advice. Some  of the advice the monkey gives is that the son insert Jackie’s address into the GPS – and, a surprise arrival, plenty of jealous activity on Charlotte’s part, Ron being nice, happy memories of his past dating and playing music with Jackie. And the children get on very well.

All kinds of ups and downs, but to checking on Santa, all kinds of accidents, all kinds of reconciliations, a touch of sadness with the death of Jackie and Valentino’s son, but a Christmas pageant, the hot air balloon is the star of Bethlehem, and, all things, Charlotte dressed as Santa riding in his sleigh, including the Gospel story, but a transition to popular singing with Mary and the angels swinging along to the melody.

The last screenplay by writer-director, Charles Shyer, Baby Boom, Father of the Bride.

It is all very cheerful – but, apparently too impossible and too cheerful for many of the bloggers.