MUSIC STAR RETURNS IN ‘THE HOLIDAY FIX UP’ FOR DIY EXES ROMANCE


Lifetime either have really good movies or really bad ones. One of their 2021 titles tries to be a little bit of a Chip and Joanna Gaines plot with some DIY and of course, romance in The Holiday Fix Up.

The Holiday Fix Up (2021) Lifetime TV Film Review

Working hard and filming 40 DIY home project episodes in a year is normal for Sam (Jana Kramer). A professional without a personal life or relatable social media presence, Sam is ready to add more taping to her schedule. But when her manager tells her she needs to be more personable to compete with her network co-star, Sam considers a hometown request. The local inn has been damaged by storms; having a soft spot for the place, she finds she cannot say no to the inn’s owner and so she’s helps ready the place for the annual Christmas festivities.

Back home, Sam comes face to face with her one-man local crew and also, the man who broke her heart. Coop (Ryan McPartlin) is trying to move on but coming face to face with Sam, the woman he loved, is a surprise. Now their past creeps up as they work together in close proximity and together they help the traditions of Bell Harbor come to life.

TV FILM REVIEW | ‘A DICKENS OF A HOLIDAY!’: SMALL TOWN GIRL & MOVIE STAR BEGIN AGAIN
MUSIC STAR RETURNS IN ‘THE HOLIDAY FIX UP’ FOR DIY EXES ROMANCE #CHRISTMASMOVIES #CHRISTMAS #JANAKRAMER #RYANMCPARLIN #ROMANCE #ROMANCEMOVIES Share on X

Trying to capitalize on the DIY trend, The Holiday Fix Up wants to make something work that doesn’t quite. Sure it’s still fun and cute, and I am enjoy parts of the film, but overall, it’s a little “too much” in the attempt of making something realistic. I’m not sure if this is the fault of the actor or something else though a case can be made that it’s the former.

I’m not the biggest fan of Jana Kramer. I typically like her Christmas films, but don’t love them. She doesn’t play the demo scenes the best, and whether its her request or the stylist, her appearance doesn’t fit. Like, I get that a movie wants the heroine to be cute, but come on. I’ve seen movies accomplish this while still retaining some sense of practical realism. And this isn’t one of those movies where doesn’t know what she’s doing. This is a heroine who the script wants us to believe is expert in demo and getting her hands dirty. It just feels… off.

Another thing that’s wrong with this one is the over the top event (aka a snowball fight) midway through. I mean normally it wouldn’t bother me, but the silly filming doesn’t help. That said, despite my complaints, as usual The Holiday Fix Up is fun. Just not that “satisfying” like some of its peers are.

However, like usual, it’s great to see Ryan in something again because I still love the dude from his role on Chuck. Beyond this, the film doesn’t live up to the hype I had for it.


Content: later there’s a brief inference that a couple may have spent the night together. In the early part of the movie, a woman and man come face to face where he’s only in a towel and her in her lingerie. Sam has clients (only briefly) that are a same sex couple if that bothers you (it’s no more than 10 seconds). The film is TV-PG.

Photos: Lifetime

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

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