Campfire Christmas movie review

IN A NUTSHELL:

Romance rekindles for Peyton and her closest friends during a holiday-themed reunion that Peyton’s parents decide to host in their family-owned summer camp before selling it.  The Hallmark movie was written by Anna White and directed by David I. Strasser.

If you want Christmas cheer in July with a family-friendly story, this one is for you.  If you can’t handle the over-the-top saccharine of Hallmark movies and how everything is always tied up with a pretty bow at the end, you definitely won’t like this.

THINGS I LIKED:

  • The cast includes Tori Anderson, Corbin Bleu, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Caitlin Stryker, Matt Hamilton, Alec Santos, Iris Quinn, Fred Henderson, and a young cast that plays their characters when they were teens.
  • There are a lot of flashbacks, utilizing both casts of characters fully.
  • As an author of 31 books, I always enjoy movies that feature writers and publishers.  I love seeing how other authors go through their process and what inspires them.
  • Dance number!  ha ha
  • The movie is clean and appropriate for family viewing.
  • I was hoping the dialogue and scenario would be more realistic, but it’s not a terrible thing to say this movie is too happy and perfect.

 

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

  • The dialogue is very cheesy.
  • There are some cringe-worthy acting moments.  Most of the characters are just too smiley all the time.
  • The humor is just silly, nothing laugh-out-loud funny.
  • There’s not very much romantic chemistry among any of the couples.
  • The adults act a lot like giggly teens.   Example dialogue:  “You KISSED?”  – woman 1     “And it was a good one!”  – woman 2
  • It felt very old-fashioned.  This movie would have been a big hit in the 1950s.

 

TIPS FOR PARENTS:    

  • A gay couple hugs and almost kisses
  • Other couples kiss
  • No profanity
  • Jealousy is portrayed
  • Friendly competitive games and behavior

 

THEMES:

  • Family
  • Traditions
  • Friendship
  • Romance
  • Memories
  • Community
  • Retirement
  • Rivalry
  • First love
  • Second chances
  • Reunion

You can see the full review on the Movie Review Mom YouTube channel.

tmc.io contributor: MovieReviewMom

I review movies at MovieReviewMom.com and on my Movie Review Mom YouTube channel!

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