A Cookie Cutter TV Movie
Once upon a time, a long long time ago Christie Reynolds (Erin Krakow - Engaging Father Christmas) and Penny Miller (Miranda Frigon - Stonados) were childhood friends. That is until they fell out whilst performing at the school Christmas pageant and ever since have been fierce rivals especially as they both now teach in the same school. Things become complicated when not only does widowed father James (David Haydn-Jones - Dear Santa) and his daughter Lily (Genae Charpentier) enter their lives but their rivalry leads to them both entering a teacher cookie baking competition judged by local celebrity Chef Krueger (Alan Thicke). The trouble is that Christie hasn't got a clue when it comes to cooking and after she becomes close to both James and Lilly, Penny's jealous side comes out to try and sabotage things.
I have long come to the understanding that if you call a movie a Christmas movie it automatically generates a certain amount of good will. It doesn't even need to be about Christmas as long as it has some pretty lights and hopefully a tree or two to make it look festive. That is what the Hallmark movie "A Cookie Cutter Christmas" is; it's not really a movie about Christmas but almost a generic made for TV romantic comedy which thanks to those Christmas decorations brings out that natural aspect of good will which helps to make it enjoyable.
Okay, so I said that "A Cookie Cutter Christmas" is almost a generic made for TV romantic comedy and there is of course the very obvious side to is as we have Christie, the cute teacher, who bonds with Lily and who falls for James whilst being completely inept when it comes to baking, cue some cooking clumsiness. Every aspect of that is text book TV movie right down to the Alan Thicke cameo, here as a top chef and competition judge. And on the whole "A Cookie Cutter Christmas" is entertaining but nothing special. But then there is the rivalry between friends and whilst not a completely original idea either actually works well with the main romantic storyline.
But it has to be said that when it comes to being a Christmas movie "A Cookie Cutter Christmas" comes up short as pretty Christmas trees and lights do not a Christmas movie make on their own. Even the additional touch of some Christmas songs is just as basic as the decorations and so it you were to watch "A Cookie Cutter Christmas" thinking it would be a Christmas movie I have to say it is more typical made for TV romantic comedy with a seasonal backdrop rather than a genuine Christmas movie.
What this all boils down to is that "A Cookie Cutter Christmas" is pretty much a cookie cutter Christmas movie with a familiar style, look, content, story, characters and acting which you can find in dozens of other made for TV movies. It doesn't mean it is bad but it is only okay if you like easy to watch comedies.
Tags: TV Christmas Movies, Christmas Movies
