2018's 'A Majestic Christmas' was one of many festive films, from mostly 2017-2019, seen in the past couple of months as part of a Christmas film quest, featuring the festive work of Hallmark and Lifetime primarily. Just to broaden my horizons other than just seeing the old Christmas classics seen every year without fail ever since very early childhood. A quest that turned out to be quite interesting but very variable.
It turned out to be one of the better films in this quest. Not a masterpiece in any shape or form and won't be a personal favourite, but it did well with what it set out to do, didn't try to do more than needed and at least seemed to know what to do with itself. This is coming from somebody who loves film, television of all genres and decades, so somebody that aims to have as varied a film taste as possible judging it on its own merits and not comparing it to anything else.
'A Majestic Christmas' is not for those that dislike cliche overload, with most of the characters and situations as cliched as they come it does make things very predictable.
There is some sloppy editing here and there and some of the script is a bit overripe and sappy.
However, anybody that wants their hearts warmed and wants to be charmed for a couple of hours, while seeing something inoffensive and something different on the television are likely though to find much to like about 'A Majestic Christmas'. The odd parts of sloppy editing aside, the film looks quite good with a quite picturesque setting that makes one want to be there. The soundtrack creates nostalgia and put a smile on the face.
While the dialogue is not flawless by any stretch, it is generally not as cheesy or as forced as a lot of festive films or films with similar story types. The story is formulaic, but is also immensely charming and heart-warming. There is nothing mean-spirited about it and it generally doesn't go overboard on the sentimentality. Some nice romantic chemistry can be seen and the character interaction is natural. The film further benefits from likeable lead performances, that didn't look wooden, and a competent supporting cast that aren't bland or annoying. The characters are familiar tropes but ring true more than most characters that fit these tropes in these films.
Concluding, worthwhile if not a must see. 7/10
A Majestic Christmas
2018
Action / Drama / Romance
Plot summary
It's the approach to Christmas. Architect Nell Harper works for a New York-based real estate redevelopment consulting firm, her oft views of heritage preservation not meshing with the company or therefore their clients' priorities. In her first assignment as project manager, she is to work on a building in her home town of Briar Falls: the Majestic Playhouse. The new owner Connor Martin, a non-Briar Falls resident who inherited it from the longtime owner, his Aunt Emily, wants to redevelop the property into a multiplex. Despite not agreeing with the general redevelopment seeing as to the importance of the playhouse to Briar Falls, it the town centerpiece where most community oriented functions are held, including many of the Twelve Days of Christmas Festival events capped off with the Christmas Pageant and Tableaux on Christmas Eve, Nell accepts the assignment. In meeting Connor, Nell finds that he is purely financially motivated and quick to jump to conclusions, in her mind often the wrong conclusions. And in heading back to Briar Falls, she finds that most of the town's residents - her friends and family - are also against the redevelopment but do not hold it against her personally. She also learns directly from Connor that he is not and never has been a Christmas person, but she is able to convince him to allow the town to continue with most specifically the Christmas Pageant and Tableaux at the playhouse for this final season. In the process of Nell trying to get Connor to fall in love with the Christmas traditions of Briar Falls and with Christmas itself in trying to soften his stance on the playhouse redevelopment, the two start to fall for each other. Beyond the actual redevelopment itself, Nell has to decide whether to take a personal chance with Connor seeing as to his stated future of moving from town to town across the country to work on redevelopment projects, which doesn't fit with Nell's own perceived future, and one action by Connor which makes her question whether she can trust him.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Not so majestic but not a folly
Memorable spirit of fond Christmas's past
Memorable on many levels. First, there are the childhood memories of Connor (Christian Vincent),that are reminiscent when he sees a picture of himself as a 10 year old boy standing in front of the Majestic Playhouse with a very broad smile on his face. The Majestic Playhouse was owned by his Aunt and Uncle and willed to him when his Aunt passes away.
Nell (Jerrika Hinton) is the architect assigned to tear it down and re-build it in to a modern day plaza/entertainment venue but she also has fond memories as do her parents who assisted every year in putting on the annual Christmas pageant. Now that annual event will be nothing more than a memory if the Majestic Playhouse is torn down to make way for future profits.
A romance between Connor and Nell is imminent and it is their fond memories of years gone by that draws this romance/Christmas themed story into a "majestic" masterpiece. It will make most viewers reflect on their own fond memories of the spirit of Christmas past. It did for me.
Nicely done. I rate it at 7/10
A Majestic Christmas
6/10 - not bad, but it had nothing to make it special