A Timeless Christmas

A Timeless Christmas
Starring Erin Cahill, Ryan Paevey, Brandi Alexander, Zahf Paroo
Directed by Ron Oliver

Remember what life was like in the early 1900s?  Probably not because I doubt there's anyone still alive now if they were then, and even if they were born literally in the year 1900, they'd be 120 years old by now (I'm sure there's someone in some country that's that age, so good for them).  Apparently the 1900s was quite the boring time.  People never joked, there was never any excitement or passion, and everyone dressed in the same type of costumes you'd find at your typical church attic that they bring down every Christmas holiday.  Or at least that's what director Ron Oliver thought of the 1900s, as in his Hallmark Channel "A Timeless Christmas," where the main character's stoic, unsurprising demeanor never waivers despite learning of events that would send anyone else into a tailspin.

In 1903, Charles Whitley (Ryan Paevey) is a wealthy inventor who's always looking to the future, and is engaged to Eliza Parker (Cecilia Deacon), despite not seemingly having much of a connection.  After purchasing a Christmas clock, he's given sound advice by his maid Rosie (Anne Marie Delouise) whom he's always respected, and when she leaves his office he's struck unconscious mysteriously after the second full moon of the month.

Charles awakens in his office, but to his surprise it's been turned into a museum, and he goes downstairs to find a group of tourists in his home, and Megan Turner (Erin Cahill) seemingly playing the role of Rosie.  Charles discovers that he's now in the year 2020, and has no idea how he got there, as everyone else says he mysteriously disappeared in 1903.  Megan believes Charles's story since she's done extensive research on the man, and also shares a personal history with the family, as she's Rosie's descendant.  Charles learns that he's in the future thanks to the clock that would ring on the second full moon to find the owner's true love, and discovers that there's going to be another second full moon on Christmas Eve, and he and Megan set out to find the clock and get him back to his own time, until both discover feelings for the other, and contemplate whether or not it's the best decision to return to the past.

The Hallmark Channel has been notorious for producing the cookie-cutter Christmas films time and again, where you're not entirely sure which film you remember a scene from.  Kudos for them in attempting to change this pattern with "A Timeless Christmas," but that kudos only goes so far, as ultimately it's the same exact message just with different window dressing.  The concept of time travel is interesting, but ultimately pointless except for the obvious moments where Megan is explaining to Charles the new way of things (such as women paying for their own meal, the Internet, and microwaves).  Once the story really starts moving, it's easy to forget that Charles came from the past at all, save for the few moments where he literally says he has to stop doing things so he can find a way back to his time, before doing more things that again take away from his goal of returning to the dull 1900s.

Were the 1900s dull?  No earthly clue, but that's how Ryan Paevey plays it.  He never raises his voice above his baritone flatline, always coming off as highly distinguished and polished, but inconsequential due to his absolute dullness.  He has no charm, no chemistry, nothing more than a pretty face in classic costumes who is about as excited to see new concepts like electricity and cars as I am to clip my fingernails.  He's purely vanilla, and the only reason anyone would fall for him would be his physical appearance, as he has nothing else going for him that would make him stick out in any exciting way.

Of course, this being a Hallmark Christmas film, there is one woman who falls head over heels for this Dulltain America.  As Megan, Erin Cahill does have some spunk to her, especially when she stands up to Charles on a few occasions, but as you'd expect her individuality is diminished as her role slowly becomes more relegated to being Charles's infatuation.  While she was once a fierce, fiery intelligent woman, Megan soon becomes lovey-dovey with doe-eyes and a whispery voice around Charles that might be the simplistic way to show that she's falling in love with him, but comes across more as desperation and loss of individuality. 

The chemistry between Cahill and Paevey is as flat as Paevey's performance, and serve better as bantering brother and sister than possible love interests.  The chemistry is felt more with supporting characters Amber and Dan, who are married and also work at the museum, and they work so well my friend at the end of the film asked the question, "are they married?"  Even they had more chemistry, and that's saying a lot.

It sounds like I'm dumping on the film a lot, and in a sense I am, but those are just the knit-picking.  I enjoyed the film and its attempt to do something original for a Hallmark Christmas film, but was rather let down by the second act where it turns into just another Hallmark Christmas film, right up to the "big shocking reveal" that threatens the newfound love, which of course everyone knows never comes to anything.  I appreciated the story, the acting was acceptable, and I'm sure there's worse Hallmark Christmas films out there.  This one - like Charles Whitley himself - is just vanilla.

In attempting to offer something a little different, "A Timeless Christmas" eventually resorts to Hallmark's typical trademark Christmas film, but at least they were daring enough to add some science fiction elements to it.

The Score: B-