Ghosts of Christmas Always
Ghosts of Christmas Always
Starring Kim Matula, Ian Harding, Lori Tan Ginn, Reginald VelJohnson
Directed by Rich Newey
Every year three ghosts of Christmas visit one particular person who needs the Christmas spirit like a candy cane over their head. Generally they're self-centered, not caring about the needs of others, and are extremely unpleasant to be around, which is why Ghost of Christmas Past Arlene (Lori Tan Ginn), Present Katherine (Kim Matula), and Future Roy (Reginald VelJohnson) are so good at their jobs - they've always been able to change a cold heart and make them see the error of their ways. They're never seen by anyone other than their "mark," and the wheels of Christmastime keeps churning on schedule - until Katherine is seen by Peter Baron (Ian Harding) after a successful change of heart. Confused as to how this happened, Katherine is more confused when they receive their next assignment for the following Christmas: Peter himself. As the ghosts start their normal spiel, they learn that Peter isn't your typical Scrooge - in actuality, he's more a Tiny Tim, a man who helps feeds others, loves the holidays, and is an all-around decent guy. Katherine thinks they're supposed to prevent him from joining his father's soulless business, but as she connects more with Peter, it seems that maybe he's not the "mark" after all, but she is.
Sure, "Ghosts of Christmas Always" falls under the trope of finding love during the holidays, but it does so in a very magical, enjoyable way that differentiates itself from the generic "woman falls in love with her hometown childhood crush over her big-city workaholic boyfriend" trope. Here, Katherine isn't even alive: she's a spirit of Christmas, but she develops feelings for Peter that exceed her eternal state. Likewise, Peter finds himself drawn to Katherine's charm despite knowing that she's not human, but what's a pesky little thing called death to stop people from falling in love?
"Always" differentiates itself from the Dickens classic by insinuating that Charles Dickens wrote the story after coming into contact with the spirits himself, making them way older than anyone remembers them to be. Also, the spirits were formally people who lived and breathed, but died on Christmas after doing something selfless that makes them the Christmas spirit police. To that end, the film is also a mystery that delves into how and why Katherine died, and her deep connection to her former hometown where Peter now resides. It's more than just a love story, and packs a lot of story in a thinly confined box, allowing it to not get bogged down in sentimentality but allows the actors to breathe and find their voice more than just two-dimensional characters.
Kim Matula shines as Katherine, an ever bubbly spirit who still believes in love and the magic of Christmas, and who's personality is infectious and lovable. She lights up the room and doesn't resort to the traditional pitfalls of Hallmark heroines, but forges her own path thanks to a solid script by Zac Hug. "Pretty Little Liars" star Ian Harding is perfect fodder for Matula, as their chemistry is insanely hot from the get-go and only intensifies from there. He's an odd choice for Scrooge, and only later do we find out the true purpose of the spirits' mission, but he maintains a sense of childhood wonder as to what's happening to him, and he's keenly aware of the spirits' purpose because he's seen all the A Christmas Carol films, even citing Murray's as the best (it's hard to debunk that). They both seem to enjoy their roles and each other, and their personalities come through the screen in a huge way that keeps you keenly drawn to their story and surprisingly feel a deep connection with them that you don't normally find with Hallmark.
More than a typical Hallmark love story, "Always" also centers on the topics of grief and forgiveness, as Katherine learns about her untimely demise and how she never got her happily ever after, but also learns that time isn't linear, but circular, and maintains hope that she might still get her happy ending. Likewise it's a forgiveness story centering on Peter and his oft-absent father who focused more on his work and money than his family, leaving Peter in the hands of his loving and caring grandfather where he got his strong heart from. It's more emotional than you'd expect, and the writing is surprisingly layered for a Hallmark Channel movie, and through the years of watching such films during the Christmas season, I have to say this is the best one by far.
The Score: A
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