The 2020 Lifetime Christmas efforts did vary and often veered between mediocre and slightly above average and were indicative at times of rushed productions. But there were enough of them that were still watchable and more (was pleasantly surprised by some) and were not amateur efforts. Actually think on reflection that the standard was of better quality than 2019's batch. 'The Christmas Setup' sounded promising and really appreciated its inclusion of diversity by having a same sex couple in a milestone move for Lifetime.
Luckily, 'The Christmas Setup' turned out to be very nicely done. Is it a great film? No, none of the 2020 Lifetime Christmas films are though in all fairness. Is it worth watching? Absolutely yes (as is enough of this particular batch),and by far one of the best and most interesting 2020 Lifetime Christmas films. While not everything in 'The Christmas Setup' works, a lot does and very well indeed to the point of greatness. The central relationship is also handled very well.
Am going to start with what could have been better. The plot is nothing special formula-wise and in terms of how it maps out. It's another film that is a bit of a slow starter, where it takes time to set up and the dialogue is on the awkward side, with an overload of cheese and schmaltz.
Similarly felt that the ending felt too hasty.
However, a lot is good. Ben Lewis and Blake Lee are both immensely engaging and give warm, honest performances. Their chemistry is beautifully done, tasteful and sympathetic with no judgement and they are very natural together, that they are married in real life helps. Fran Drescher is a sheer delight in her scene stealing role. Lifetime have always varied when it comes to having characters that are interesting and worth caring for, 'The Christmas Setup' is a case of both with the most rootable central partnership of the Lifetime 2020 Christmas films.
Visually, the film is professional looking rather than looking on the cheap, the scenery is lovely. The music is not used too much and has an appropriate sound. The direction shows somebody at ease with the genre and while there is nothing innovative it's not routine or dull either. Furthermore, a great job is done with the Christmas atmosphere, where it does feel like Christmas and in an affectionate way. Some lovely Christmas touches, especially in the second half, and there are some very sweet, but not sickly, scenes. The script did have a nice mix of funny and poignant lines, especially the banter between the leads. The story may be thin but has a warm heart and charm and doesn't take itself too seriously. While the first quarter is not easy to get into at first, a vast majority of the second half is great.
Overall, well done. 7/10.
The Christmas Setup
2020
Action / Drama / Romance
The Christmas Setup
2020
Action / Drama / Romance
Plot summary
Just before he and Madelyn McKay, his BFF since college freshman year, are to head off to Milwaukee to spend Christmas with his long widowed mother Kate Spencer and his army soldier brother Aiden Spencer, hard working and talented Manhattan lawyer Hugo Spencer, facing his regular year end review, issues an ultimatum to his boss, George Vogel, for a position as partner in the new year, he looking for a job elsewhere otherwise, such forthrightness about himself unusual for Hugo. Vogel admits that the thought of Hugo being partner at this time had not yet passed his or the other partners' minds, something that they will have to ponder over the Christmas break. In Milwaukee, Hugo finds that his mother, as is her usual nature, has assigned them all 24/7 tasks, this time associated with her role of the Carroll Avenue Neighborhood Association President in organizing the annual Christmas Eve Festival at the historic Carroll Avenue Train Station, this the last year in this role for her not only in giving up the Presidency, but that the town planning commission has overridden the historic society in planning to demolish the train station building in the new year. In the process, Hugo reconnects with Patrick Ryan, two years ahead of him in high school, and the most popular person in his class in spite of being already out, something that Hugo did not do himself until after high school. Despite his young age, Patrick has already retired as a former Silicon Valley app developer, he finding his place being home in Milwaukee doing philanthropic work. Believing Patrick out of his league, Hugo is surprised to find that Patrick seems to want to spend time with him, that only fostered by Kate. While feelings do develop between Hugo and Patrick, Hugo, less assured of himself than Patrick, doesn't know what to do with what is happening between the two of them in light of he heading back to New York right after Christmas. Working on the festival, discovering some unfinished business at Kate's home, researching the issue or the train station which he has always loved, getting some advice from Aiden about his own unexpected Christmas romance, and learning what Vogel and the other partners have decided about his fate at the firm will all factor into whether Hugo believes there is a potential future for him and Patrick.
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Nice set up
A very sweet, very chaste gay romance
Suddenly everyone is all for making the yuletide gay. Earlier this month it was The Christmas House, Hallmark's first attempt at including a gay couple in their kitsch Americana; now it's Lifetime's The Christmas Set-up, which mostly revolves around a will-they-won't-they gay romance. While Hallmark's gay story was rather tentative, extremely shaky and reeked of tokenism, Lifetime's effort is surprisingly sweet and engaging, and not at all apologetic. As is to be expected, it's also very vanilla; yet the story manages to make that a plus, rather than an obvious avoidance of male-on-male action (which it absolutely is!). The leads (real life couple Ben Lewis and Blake Lee) are appealing and the story around Hugo's career/life balance crisis is likely to resonate with many. And then there's Fran Drescher as Hugo's mother. If nothing else, The Christmas Set-up is an opportunity to marvel at that weirdly mesmerising voice - somewhere between a screech and whine, and now with added raspiness. It's as if he's been gargling with razor blades. The Christmas Set-up is worth a look for Fran alone.
"I highly recommend the rum rum Rudolph"
The kind of wooden over acting that is synonymous with the likes of Hallmark and Lifetime, but that's what Christmas movies are all about. And not a bad outing for Lifetimes first gay Christmas movie. Hard to believe that the leads in this movie are married in real life. Shame some of that off screen romance didn't translate on screen.