by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Is it that time of the year again? Once Halloween passes and the calendar begins to rush towards Thanksgiving and Christmas, one type of film begins to saturate the market. Holiday… Romantic… Comedies. There are two kings in this kingdom. The long-standing ruler of this genre has always been Hallmark. If you think of a Hallmark original film, chances are it is a rom com set at the holidays. But then the streaming giant Netflix has taken charge as well. It feels like every couple of days, Netflix has yet another film hitting its streaming ranks.
How does this latest entry, A Castle for Christmas, stack up? Mary Lambert (of Pet Sematary fame, no less) directs this new film that goes exactly how you would expect it. We start with a successful woman played by a famous actress (Brooke Shields in this case). Her career is hitting a snag when she writes off a popular character in her latest book. How does she cope? She goes on a vacation — I mean a work retreat — off to Scotland where she meets a grumpy Duke (Cary Elwes rocking a Scottish accent), and she tries to buy his castle. First world problems, right? Oh, boy do they hate each other too… for now. I will stop the rest of the plot discussion because it is exactly what you expect it to be. This is far from the most original holiday rom com that will be hitting Netflix this year.
Why doesn’t this one stand out amongst this sea of films? Lambert’s direction is standard and doesn’t really offer anything that is particularly unique or interesting. The filmmaking is sleek and produced and fits squarely in that Netflix rom-com vibe. This plot is beat-for-beat the same type of movie you have seen many times before. There are random celebrity cameos, including one from a famous actress that just sets up an awkward talk show segment. Is it enough to have a beautiful setting abroad in a rustic setting? Not quite.
But can it cannot be all bad? Up to this point, this review might be a bit harsh, but in the end, this film is inoffensive and watchable. Shields and Elwes have solid chemistry, and Elwes is having some fun being a grump rocking an accent. The supporting cast of villagers in the film are quite endearing and fun to spend time with. They add some layers to the film outside of the stock leads straight out of any rom com. And come on… there is a cute dog, too. So, there are certain elements of the film that do make it a fun time.
Will you be checking out A Castle for Christmas this holiday season? If you can get past a simple and predictable plot, you will find some fun. If this is your type of genre, this will be right up your alley. Shields and Elwes bring enough star power to the film, and the rest of the cast provide some fun, too. Go ahead, boot up Netflix, and enjoy an inoffensive evening with your loved ones this holiday season.
Grade: C-
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