Fast Times at Jolly Acres
When you are going to have a movie based around a St. Nick character, it’s very very important to have a St. Nick one can feel really drawn to. I’m not sure whether I am an outlier here, but this portrayal just didn’t do it for me. He was very nice looking, but a touch too corporate looking for me. But my main problem was the smile he had plastered on his face through practically the whole thing which too often turned into a grimace, even when he was talking. I just didn’t like the vibe. He was good with the eye-twinkling though.
Our main character, Maren Pollock, played by always good-to-see Amy Groening, owns the local Hardware store in Bright Creek which she has worked in all her life, and which she inherited from her late father. Not ever much into dating, we are told, but always wanting to be a Mom, she adopted her daughter Leah when she was a baby and who is now 10 years old, I believe. Five years ago her father died, and Maren has buried herself in her work, taking all burdens cheerfully on her shoulders, and going all out helping others because that’s how she is, but also to bury her sadness. She is yet another example of a sufferer of Hallmark Heroine Syndrome, closing herself off from meaningful relationships to avoid disappointment and hurt (except for her best friend and righthand woman, Josie, and Leah, of course.) The very much sidelined character of Josie was played by Stephanie Sy, who was wasted in the role. Time for her to be promoted to head girl like Amy Groening. About 3 weeks before Christmas Leah meets Kris Patterson in the hardware store, who reminds her of her late grandfather, whom she misses very much. He is an escapee visitor from Jolly Acres, a new retirement community in town. That name. Don’t get me started. I did not find it at all suitable for a nice retirement community, and it was not even meant ironically. Leah wants to sign up for their Adopt-a-Grandparent program that is going on, and Maren and Kris are more than happy to oblige. Thus, Maren and Leah start to get involved in all the Christmas activities at Jolly Acres. They meet Reid, the man in charge of opening new locations of Jolly Acreses all over the country and the attraction between the two adults is immediate. Conveniently, Maren is on the spot when Reid loses his contractor in the middle of renovating The Great Room for the center, which was to be a main attraction for the Grand Opening and Celebration. Maren, known locally as The Handy Ma’am, who can fix anything and knows people, takes over the project, which further throws her and Leah together with Reid and Kris.
Meanwhile, Leah has gotten the idea that Kris is really Santa Claus and is taking notes on everything he says and does that supports that theory. And there is a lot. He is always making lists, has a way with reindeer, always looking at a world globe, wants to know what the weather will be on Christmas Eve, and can turn on Christmas tree lights with the wave of his hand. For most of the movie, everything goes super smoothly with the renovation, the romance, and Leah’s investigation. A little too smoothly, actually. The only cloud on the horizon is the transitory nature of Reid’s life since childhood. He has always moved from place to place and he doesn’t even have a Christmas Tree! But not for long! That is a situation not to be tolerated in a Hallmark movie where homes do not just have one tree, but usually at least 3. Just when Reid is starting to think about settling down in friendly and nice Bright Creek, things come to a head when he gets his next assignment from “corporate” which will be in Honolulu. Needless to say this puts a damper on the nicely percolating romance. And then the ceiling to the Great Room collapses and the plumbing leaks all over Maren’s beautiful renovations.
Everything is solved and wrapped up romance-wise and career-wise in typical Hallmark fashion. Except, happily once again, we forego the dumb and totally avoidable last minute misunderstanding between the sweethearts. I think Hallmark has finally gotten the message in that regard. Next on the agenda is the almost-kiss-interrupted. As to the final determination as to whether Kris Patterson’s last name is really Kringle, no spoilers here in that regard. You will just have to watch it. It’s not a spectacular effort but perfectly watchable, even without your full attention.