Coyote Creek Christmas is what happens when you crib ideas from a Hallmark Bingo card and try to make a movie out of it. This one has all the elements of a traditional Hallmark film but none of the heart. It does, however, have two very beautiful stars in Janel Parrish and Ryan Paevey. The story relies on that workhorse of a plot about a developer who swoops in right before Christmas to ruin dreams and destroy livelihoods at a family-run inn. I’m not a fan of these generally, but I’ve liked the odd one here and there. This is just a slapdash effort though, a movie where the implausibility of the plot is further undermined by a lack of emotional beats.
Both Parrish and Paevey deserve better. There are moments when their chemistry blazes, like in the final scene. Granted, the warm lighting design gives Parrish an added glow-up and makes Paevey look heartbreakingly vulnerable, but they’re constantly let down by a directionless script. The characters have so many great threads that never go anywhere. Event planner Paige Parker (Parrish) struggles to figure out the next steps in her career, but it’s unclear whether that’s down to her boss or dissatisfaction with her company. She gets a lift when she stages an international-themed celebration at her parents’ inn. Mom and Dad Parker (Linda Minard and Cameron Bancroft) give her the freedom to do what she wants but neglect to tell her that they’re also selling the place, possibly to handsome guest Dylan Bailey (Paevey). The most interesting thing about Dylan is his relationship with his son, Noah (Azriel Dalman), a precocious kid with a talent for photography and memorizing SAT words. His devotion to Noah is undermined by his job, one that keeps him on the road and, in this case, forces him to deceive Paige.
Though the story is ripe for drama, it takes the easiest route at every opportunity. There’s minimal tension between the characters. For example, the strongest case Paige’s parents make for selling the inn is that they want to sip mai-tais and let someone else have a go at running the place. That lack of urgency puts a damper on what might have been emotional discussions between Dylan and the Parkers as well as their dedicated employees. Dylan has more conflict with his brother (Brad Bergeron), with whom he owns a development firm; the former considers the human impact of their business decision while the latter takes a strictly practical approach. Even so, the most we see are a few curt phone calls between the two, nothing to suggest a serious rift or an end to family holidays. At the other end of the spectrum are Dylan and Paige, whose relationship barely reaches a simmer. The script doesn’t give them meaningful chances to bond and instead forces them to connect over inane things like the pronunciation of pfeffernüsse.
The promise of a fab Christmas party with an international flair might have saved the movie. All we get, however, is a montage of overseas guests chattering about a handful of holiday traditions. Then again, maybe we shouldn’t expect much from a story about a woman who tries to pull off an international Christmas celebration in two weeks. I’m supposed to believe that Paige is going to research traditions from around the world, cobble together the resources on her schedule and budget, and make it all look brilliant? It’s foolishness. The only thing that isn’t is the romance between her best friend (Naomi King) and the resident musician (Adriana Ravalli), the only two bringing any heat to the movie.
Released: 2021
Dir: David I. Strasser
Writer: Alexa Garster
Cast: Ryan Paevey, Janel Parrish, Cameron Bancroft, Naomi King, Adriana Ravalli, Azriel Dalman, Linda Minard, Brad Bergeron, Dolores Drake
Time: 84 min
Lang: English
Country: United States
Network: Hallmark Channel
Reviewed: 2021
Fits of Fury 