I was hoping to enjoy this movie as much as Haul Out The Holly, but unfortunately I didn't. What made the first one funny, quirky and sort of charming was the easy chemistry of the cast. Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Stephen Tobolowsky, Melissa Peterman, Ellen Travolta, etc., all returned, which was great, but the addition of three new neighbors (a family who's made it big via a reality TV Xmas decoration contest, which sets up the premise of this movie) made me want to get in my car and drive away from Evergreen Lane. It wasn't the actors; it was the way they were written, over the top, self-absorbed and annoying. There was nothing endearing about any of the newbies and there needed to be in order for this movie to be semi-enjoyable, at least in my opinion.
Hallmark just might be able to redeem itself next year if it comes up with another sequel to this, one with much better dialogue and a return to the fun, whimsical feeling the first one brought. In contrast, I wasn't expecting too much from Holiday Road, another 2023 Hallmark holiday offering, but it's one of the best TV holiday movies this year. Skip HOTH: Lit Up and watch that one instead.
