A Biltmore Christmas
A Biltmore Christmas
Starring Bethany Joy Lenz, Kristoffer Polaha, A.K. Benninghofen, Jonathan Frakes
Directed by John Putch
Lucy Hardgrove (Bethany Joy Lenz) is a screenwriter who gains the opportunity to write a remake of the beloved holiday classic "His Merry Wife," but wants to give it a more "realistic" ending, but her boss wants the generic happy ending. He sends her to the Biltmore House where the movie was filmed to give her inspiration, and while there she finds an hourglass that was used in the movie. When she turns the hourglass around she's transported to 1947 when the film was made, and meets the star of the movie, Jack Huston (Kristoffer Polaha). Although she's smitten by him, she knows that things won't work out because she's from the future, and she's there to uncover a mystery: there was an alternate ending to "His Merry Wife" that was lost, and she wants to find out what happened to it. Yet as she spends more time in the past - and with Jack - she finds herself getting invested in the lives of the people involved in the project and learns that sometimes all you need is a happy ending.
"A Biltmore Christmas" is more than the generic cheesy Hallmark movies in that while the love story is there, it's got a lot more going for it than just that. Sure, the main story arc is Lucy and Jack falling in love, but the ramifications of such a relationship doesn't go unnoticed - she's from the future, he's from the past, it's not like they're on opposite ends of the country. Still, the natural chemistry between Lenz and Polaha is undeniable, and they both give off great vibes that makes their budding romance believable in a totally implausible world.
Apart from the love story there's other side stories that drive the film forward and keeps from becoming too one-note, such as Lucy trying to find the fabled lost alternate ending of the film, the friction between the two main stars, the director's marriage problems, and an overly excited new friend she makes in the modern time. These stories help break the monotony and allows the film to breathe, giving a refreshing feeling.
The setting itself is beautiful, as it was filmed at the Biltmore House in North Carolina. To call it a house would be like calling Jay Leno's garage a...well...garage, as the place is a castle. It's beautiful inside and out, and will give you those warm Christmas feelings with their extravagant decorum. One flaw I found in the movie, though, is when Jack and Lucy are sitting outside there's another building that is like a big greenhouse with blue lights illuminating the top, and I doubt such a building existed in 1947 (I also noticed an American flag flying with what looked like all fifty stars yet in 1947, before Alaska and Hawaii became states, but it was a fleeting pass and I could've missed it). Still, the setting is lovely, a great backdrop for a unique story.
Bethany Joy Lenz shines as Lucy, a woman who would do what everyone else in her shoes would - think she's going insane. She doesn't believe what happened to her until she realizes the hourglass can take her back in time, and slowly she begins realizing the tremendous opportunity she's been given. Her comedic timing is top notch, and she even gives a hilarious nod to "Back to the Future" as well as Sandra Bullock. Although she does look like a Dollar Tree version of Elizabeth Olsen (and her sister in the movie looks like a Dollar Tree version of Brie Larson), she fills the screen with natural charisma. So too does Kristoffer Polaha, who has that classic Hollywood look to him that would make you believe you would've seen him in films in the 40s and 50s.
With a fascinating setting, a charming cast, a fun time travel story and a storyline that'll keep you entertained, "A Biltmore Christmas" shows that sometimes Hallmark can make something decent and outside its generic box.
The Score: A+
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