A Christmas Number One (2021)
It's always a worry when you see so many bad reviews listed on IMDB before you've even started to watch it, but ignore them all! Most of them didn't bother to give it more than ten minutes or try to compare it to the Hallmark standard made for TV Christmas films that are released en masse every year.
This isn't one of those films though. Admittedly the romance follows along the same sort of lines, but it is a British take on things and therefore much less focussed on the sugary sweet elements and nobody makes cookies or even puts up a tree. It does still have that slightly more amateur feel to it and is missing the polish that others like 'The Holiday' and 'Love Actually' have.
It's a similar style to 'Nativity', which I didn't like and it seems that it might have been made more for the teenage market, certainly to start with, but it does build to something lovely.
It is a grower, give it time to blossom and you'll feel the rewards at the end as it really hits your emotional spots.
The characters are a bit extreme and exaggerated, but it works to provide a hint of comedy. This style, however, works really well with Alfie Boe, who does a fantastic job in his first major film role.
I did recognise the relationship between the Uncle and his Niece, although mine expresses her love in a constant stream of sarcasm. Actually the Niece, Nina, really grounds the film with heart and warmth, whilst also modernising the film with her blogs.
I've always adored Iwan and it's nice to see him playing a nice guy for a change. There is no sign of "Ramsay Bolton" here.
I do think that it could have ended with the chart countdown, without the need for any more, but I did like that they wrapped it all up. It's always annoying to have loose ends.
802.66/1000.
