Who would not wish to spend Christmas at the Chalet?
Teri Hatcher was pretty to expertise in a movie like this, and albeit, it is so refreshing to have movies exploring girls of their 50s versus the typical fare of 20s-30s.
Much like A Christmas Spark, following together with a “middle-aged” love story was most satisfying.
It’s additionally a signal that in all the methods the community has been diversifying its content material, it is particularly making some tailored tasks that cater to the precise age demographic that probably tunes in for Lifetime and its Christmas slate most.
As a fan favourite, Teri Hatcher is a nice particular person to helm a movie like this.
She has that quirky main lady high quality that makes you all the time root for her, one thing she exuded nicely throughout her Desperate Housewives days.
In some ways, Christmas at the Chalet may’ve taken issues additional and in a completely different route by not bothering with the romance.
Instead, it may’ve absolutely dedicated to its central story of a middle-aged divorcee rediscovering her wishes and forging a new path in life now that she’s not tied to a husband or taking good care of her little one anymore.
Something notably notable about Christmas at the Chalet was that the romance felt like second nature. It virtually felt prefer it was an afterthought to Lex’s journey to discovering herself.
And that is good, nice even, however as a result of there wasn’t a lot emphasis on the romance, it felt pressured by the finish of the movie.
Lex’s trope-filled realization in the remaining couple of minutes of the movie led her to chase after Eric earlier than the lovely misunderstanding, expression of emotions, and kiss felt compulsory.
It was as if it hit them at the movie’s finish that it was alleged to be a Christmas romance, so that they tied up free ends.
Lex Riley was a pleasant protagonist. You may inform she was at a stage of her life the place she was making an attempt to determine her subsequent act.
She had the misfortune of being in the public eye in the aftermath of her divorce and typical societal norms; it was deemed “shameful” that her ex-husband had already moved on with a lady 20 years his junior, not even six months after he and Lex known as it quits.
The media sensation facet of this tended to fall to the background shortly after the first act, nevertheless it was principally a device to push Lex towards the Chalet and drive the plot of her kicking off her personal social media influencer profession.
Thankfully, the movie takes a extra delicate and enjoyable method to this lady’s foray into changing into an influencer. They did not make a joke out of the specific career or present the obnoxious nature of it we too usually see.
George had his preliminary concepts about what his mom may do. Still, as soon as he realized that she discovered her personal area of interest and that folks tuned into her content material for her honesty and relatability, notably as a 50-year-old single divorcee and empty-nester, he realized to go away nicely sufficient alone.
It was additionally good that they did not make some colossal joke out of Lex changing into a chalet particular person.
She wasn’t the lady who thought the job was beneath her till she realized a worthwhile lesson about service and arduous, trustworthy work ethics.
No one appeared down on her in the least for her taking over the process, even when they thought it was odd initially that she did.
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And her rapport and the way simply she fell into sync with the remainder of the workers at the Chalet was nothing in need of endearing.
Her interactions with the precocious Aurelie had been a few of the sweetest, cutest moments of the movie, and expensive Mila Jones was nothing in need of a scene stealer any time she appeared.
It was notably treasured that Lex constructed such a sturdy friendship and dynamic with Nicola, on condition that she’d be a part of the secondary romance with Lex’s son, George.
It’s all the time good when the mom and girlfriend get alongside, proper? In this occasion, Lex was mates with Nicola earlier than she and George turned a factor, which made all of it the higher.
Lex was genuinely enjoyable as she was susceptible along with her followers about how awkward it felt to basically tag onto a household journey to spend the holidays along with her son.
She was trustworthy proper out the gate about how she’d change into the chalet woman in trade for a room and made the greatest out of it, changing into some new rendition of a Martha Stewart.
Her interactions along with her viewers as she confirmed off cute little tips on folding sheets and napkins captured her character nicely, and it was no marvel she was endearing to the fanbase.
And on condition that she apparently got here from the background of serving as a reporter, it appeared like a pure segue for her to get again on the market publically along with her personal management over her picture.
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It additionally meant that it was simple for her to garner viewers and amass a fanbase due to her personal previous and her marriage to a standard newscaster.
On her personal, Lex was a beaming gentle and enjoyable to observe. She took to every part with such gusto that you simply admired her for all the time being so constructive and keen to make lemonade out of lemons.
She had the sort of infectious charisma and character that appealed to everybody round her.
Lex was the fundamental character in her story, which translated nicely, virtually too nicely.
The different characters had been principally there for present, somebody for her to play off of every time it was required. And whereas we’re at, Christmas as a theme was dealt with equally. It felt extra like a ski resort movie than a particular vacation one.
We had been advised about the closeness Lex shared along with her son, however we did not see a lot of it, not as a lot as one would anticipate, given he was the cause she dedicated to this Aspen journey in the first place.
Charles was there to be sizzling and try and lure her again into a relationship, however even that principally fell flat. Lex deserved 1000% higher than Charles, however he did not appear convincing when trying to rekindle issues along with her.
It felt like he was going by way of the motions simply because, so for the sake of contributing to this battle between her and Eric, it was serviceable, however total, meh.
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It by no means even felt inside the realm of risk that Lex would ever take her ex-husband significantly about probably rekindling issues. And he did not even do the greatest job of behaving as if that is what his intentions had been.
His girlfriend was a prop, however that additionally spoke to the shallow nature of their relationship total. It wasn’t that deep for him, however he additionally did not thoughts sticking it out along with her when it was clear he and Lex would not be a factor in any case.
How he deserted Lex on the slopes was so irritating, but when that is what it took for her to recollect how a lot of a self-absorbed jerk he was, then so be it.
Even with out that remaining act of Charles’ insensitivity, it was obvious from the starting that Eric was the better option.
The problem is that Eric was the better option if one needed to be made.
There was nothing flawed with William deVry as a romantic lead. He was good-looking and charming if we exclude that preliminary cab fiasco, and he balanced Hatcher/Lex out.
Teri Hatcher and Devry had a completely wonderful chemistry between them. But oddly sufficient, for the majority of the movie, it simply did not really feel romantic.
Eric was a superb pal to Lex. Most of their interactions felt like that of a platonic friendship. Even eventualities meant to be romantic felt extra like two mates kicking it collectively who simply so occurred to be female and male.
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Eric was a bit reserved and closed off. He suppressed a lot from the shift in route relating to his aspirations about jetsetting to France or stepping as much as care for the Chalet and his niece.
Lex positively lit a spark in him, loosened him up, and made him extra open and susceptible in a method that he beforehand hadn’t been, in accordance with all the different characters.
But their connection did not really feel notably romantic, even in these moments when it was obvious that he developed a fondness for her nicely earlier than she realized it.
I anticipate nothing much less from the dishy cleaning soap star serving up the pining nicely. Sure, he bought us on it in the finish, in that method that we knew issues would inevitably finish in romance.
However, I can not say that it was one thing you strongly and constantly felt all through the film. I did not have any funding in whether or not or not they might really change into a couple by the movie’s finish.
Eric was a supporting character in Lex’s large story, which is ok; hell, the complete Barbie film has confirmed why that system can work with our feminine protagonists being every part, and the males, nicely, they’re “just Ken.”
But Lex and Eric weren’t compelling as a romantic pairing. You did not yearn for them to get collectively and even squeal in delight once they acquired to the well-earned kiss, no matter how steamy it was, as a result of it did not really feel like we earned it.
Things simply fell into place as a result of they had been alleged to, and the script dictated it.
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Even their dinner was such an uncommon battle that it felt like a dialog amongst mates. Eric was seemingly placing feelers out about her being the lady he might have been searching for, whereas Lex appeared as if she did not even take into account him as a romantic prospect in any respect.
When he spoke about Charles’ mistreatment, his real concern for her well-being was the equal of a nice pal who’s brutally trustworthy with you about stuff you do not wish to hear.
When you take into account the several types of chemistry amongst the leads, it makes you marvel if Lifetime may’ve been daring sufficient to nix the idea of romance altogether and depart it at what it was: Lex discovering herself once more after a divorce and assembly new mates.
Lex would’ve been the excellent character to do that with since they constructed the complete movie round her, serving as an inspiration and relatable determine to single girls over 40.
It was most rewarding to see her lean into being herself unapologetically.
Over to you, Lifetime Christmas Fanatics!
What did you consider Christmas at the Chalet?
Did you take pleasure in Teri Hatcher starring in a Christmas flick?
Were you feeling the warmth between Lex and Eric? Hit the feedback!
Jasmine Blu is a senior employees author for TV Fanatic. She is an insomniac who spends late nights and early mornings binge-watching method too many exhibits and binge-drinking method an excessive amount of tea. Her eclectic style makes her an unpredictable viewer with an appreciation for advanced characters, various illustration, dynamic duos, compelling tales, and responsible pleasures. You’ll positively discover her obsessively live-tweeting, waxing poetic, and chatting up fellow Fanatics and readers. Follow her on X.
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