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!