Highly enjoyable movie following Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" only Valentine's Day is coming not Christmas. Love John Reardon. I follow his movies and he is great! A woman who has become shallow and only interested in money, fancy cars and her boyfriend MUST have a great paying job.....finds out what love is all about with a little help from her deceased boss. Great job! James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 2/18/2021
8 Reviews
Promising Rom Com Plot Handled Badly
tabuno27 December 2022
Emma Caufield, four years after Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, has a lead in her own romance comedy and holds her own even in light of a promising but flaw script that has her portraying a well-known local radio talk-show host on love along with Barbara Niven, an established, experienced character actress, as her former mentor and now ghost in a romantic version of A Christmas Carol. The problem with this movie is its efforts to follow the Christmas Carol tradition in both a dramatic and comedic fashion with a script that even incorporates a sloppy version at times of Samantha's Bewitched (1964-1972) behavior from the television series along with poor magical over-the-top special effects as well as introducing two former beaus in the script as past lives with high hopes for a better movie but collapse into underdeveloped subplots with a simplistic, clumsy ending. At the beginning, the character that Caufield plays is too harsh and cold, not having the Devil Wears Prada (2006) finesse of Meryl Streep that it needed. There are moments when this movie rises above the mundane rom coms with several of its tender moments and suggestions of more complex relational scenarios and twists. The final scene with the holy light was a nice touch, but the ending scenes only manage to overly simplify a tossed together conclusion that the movie's evolving and potentially promising plot did not deserve.
A comical warning to the bitter and single
Tenchi6458914 February 2007
As a male, I actually looked forward to seeing this movie... on my own accord while I'm at it.
Starting off, I actually used to be like Emma Calfield's character until a year ago, and to be completely honest, I'm glad I'm not anymore.
This movie should serve as an eye-opener to those that not only like to tell others how love is supposed to play out, but also be an entertaining watch.
The only thing this movie doesn't have going for it is the fact that it's loosely based on "A Christmas Carol." (Duh, check the title.) Other than that minor flaw, this is actually a good movie.
8/10
Starting off, I actually used to be like Emma Calfield's character until a year ago, and to be completely honest, I'm glad I'm not anymore.
This movie should serve as an eye-opener to those that not only like to tell others how love is supposed to play out, but also be an entertaining watch.
The only thing this movie doesn't have going for it is the fact that it's loosely based on "A Christmas Carol." (Duh, check the title.) Other than that minor flaw, this is actually a good movie.
8/10
This takes the traditional Carol to a new level!
lexiluvsmovies14 February 2007
This is all about a women who is extremely successful radio show host. Her subject matter is relationships for women and how to find the perfect man. The one thing she never says is LOVE. She can't even say the word and she is going to get married on Valentine's Day to a successful business man in 3 days. Her predecessor Marly comes back from the dead to stop her from making the wrong decisions. Marly takes her to Valentines past, present, and future. Will she be able to learn to love? Will she marry the man who she is engaged to? Will she make the right decision or will she just tear her world apart? Watch and see.
It works
TallPineTree15 February 2007
Hasn't anyone ever thought of this for a movie before? I mean, making a version of "A Christmas Carol" but set against the backdrop of Valentine's Day with a look at the past, present, and future loves of a woman, who like Scrooge, is too caught up in material things to realize the importance of love.
Emma Caulfield is Ally Simms, a radio personality who gives advice on love & relationships. The years have coarsened her outlook on love and marriage to where her mantra is that only 5 things matter when choosing a man to marry. Money, looks, job/status, what kind of car he drives, and a fifth requirement which I forget. Love and compatibility do not figure in this list.
A few days before her wedding on Valentine's Day, Ally is visited by the ghost of Jackie, her former boss and radio personality who used to give advice on love and relationships. To earn the key to get into Heaven Jackie's mission is to show Ally - in a manner similar to the ghost in the Christmas Carol - the error of Ally's ways and cynical heart.
Jackie and Ally visit Valentine Days past to see how Ally's choices on that day led to breakups in her past engagements. They visit the present to show her more about her current boyfriend than she knew. The future where Ally learns her unpleasant fate and how her actions today will lead to unhappiness in a number of other people. But this is done in a funny way.
Now, if you don't care for the Christmas Carol, you probably won't care for this movie. While updated to present day Seattle, Washington, and starring women as the lead characters, this movie has the same structure and lessons as the Christmas Carol, though this movie is a comedy. This ghost doesn't come with rattling chains, she comes with dead flowers and a drink in her hand.
The movie worked for me. That is saying something as this is Valentine's week and I've watched more than my share of romance movies, and lots of bad ones. I didn't have high expectations for this TV movie, but I liked it.
The movie was well cast for the most part. I did have a quibble with her current boyfriend. I thought he was a nice guy, and the actor did fine in a limited role, but Ally looked to be in her mid 30s and he looked to be in his mid 20s. Nothing wrong with the older woman / younger man romance, but I think he made her look older than what she was suppose to be. I only noticed this about her when they has screen time together.
Otherwise I liked Emma Caulfield as Ally. The movie wisely cast a brunette for the role. This enabled her to be cold and hard in the beginning, but not so much so that the audience would not go with her on her journey. This allowed her to be rehabilitated and softened and likable by the movie's end. If the actress was a blonde or had dark hair the journey from cold and mean to nice and likable would be much more difficult to achieve. It also didn't hurt that Ally looked similar to the musician Sheryl Crow.
Emma Caulfield also was able to use her eyes to portray the good change in her character. I mention this because in a movie I saw recently I felt part of the reason why that actress failed is she needed to use her eyes to convey warmth and affection and I didn't see it.
The script moves along. It has some funny asides that are throwaway and won't hurt viewings years from now. For example, when Ally frets she may have a lesbian stalker she then quips when leaving that if anyone asks she will be watching "Ellen". One gets that quip today. 20 years from now, who knows?
Emma Caulfield is Ally Simms, a radio personality who gives advice on love & relationships. The years have coarsened her outlook on love and marriage to where her mantra is that only 5 things matter when choosing a man to marry. Money, looks, job/status, what kind of car he drives, and a fifth requirement which I forget. Love and compatibility do not figure in this list.
A few days before her wedding on Valentine's Day, Ally is visited by the ghost of Jackie, her former boss and radio personality who used to give advice on love and relationships. To earn the key to get into Heaven Jackie's mission is to show Ally - in a manner similar to the ghost in the Christmas Carol - the error of Ally's ways and cynical heart.
Jackie and Ally visit Valentine Days past to see how Ally's choices on that day led to breakups in her past engagements. They visit the present to show her more about her current boyfriend than she knew. The future where Ally learns her unpleasant fate and how her actions today will lead to unhappiness in a number of other people. But this is done in a funny way.
Now, if you don't care for the Christmas Carol, you probably won't care for this movie. While updated to present day Seattle, Washington, and starring women as the lead characters, this movie has the same structure and lessons as the Christmas Carol, though this movie is a comedy. This ghost doesn't come with rattling chains, she comes with dead flowers and a drink in her hand.
The movie worked for me. That is saying something as this is Valentine's week and I've watched more than my share of romance movies, and lots of bad ones. I didn't have high expectations for this TV movie, but I liked it.
The movie was well cast for the most part. I did have a quibble with her current boyfriend. I thought he was a nice guy, and the actor did fine in a limited role, but Ally looked to be in her mid 30s and he looked to be in his mid 20s. Nothing wrong with the older woman / younger man romance, but I think he made her look older than what she was suppose to be. I only noticed this about her when they has screen time together.
Otherwise I liked Emma Caulfield as Ally. The movie wisely cast a brunette for the role. This enabled her to be cold and hard in the beginning, but not so much so that the audience would not go with her on her journey. This allowed her to be rehabilitated and softened and likable by the movie's end. If the actress was a blonde or had dark hair the journey from cold and mean to nice and likable would be much more difficult to achieve. It also didn't hurt that Ally looked similar to the musician Sheryl Crow.
Emma Caulfield also was able to use her eyes to portray the good change in her character. I mention this because in a movie I saw recently I felt part of the reason why that actress failed is she needed to use her eyes to convey warmth and affection and I didn't see it.
The script moves along. It has some funny asides that are throwaway and won't hurt viewings years from now. For example, when Ally frets she may have a lesbian stalker she then quips when leaving that if anyone asks she will be watching "Ellen". One gets that quip today. 20 years from now, who knows?
The Ghosts of Valentine's Days Past
lavatch3 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
For most of "A Valentine Carol," it appears as though the film's theme is going to be: LOVE STINKS!!! Then, in the same spirit as Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" Jackie Marley successfully guides Miss Allison "Ally" Simms through the ghosts of Valentine's days past to discover a warm and endearing conclusion.
In Ally's life, she has had three male suitors, who all seem to be worthy of her heart. At one juncture, she is faced with three marriage proposals simultaneously. Ally could be tempted to marry all three of the men (Matt, Ben, and Paul), then deal with any complications as they arise.
Instead, Ally is given a glimpse of the future to recognize that Matt's true calling is not as a legal partner in a high-profile firm, but rather a piano player in a jazz combo. It was the ability to get out of her persona as a radio host giving superficial advice in love to truly connect with Matt's soul, in order navigate their future together.
The film was cleverly constructed with engaging performances all around. Some of the secondary roles, including Joe Biggs and his ol' buddy Tim; Ally's hopelessly romantic assistant, Gillian; and the indomitable presence of Jacklyn "Jackie" Marley that made for an outstanding ensemble.
The name of Ally's popular radio program is "Love Speaks." In the form of a fable, "A Valentine Carol" speaks all right notes in a genuinely heartwarming film experience.
In Ally's life, she has had three male suitors, who all seem to be worthy of her heart. At one juncture, she is faced with three marriage proposals simultaneously. Ally could be tempted to marry all three of the men (Matt, Ben, and Paul), then deal with any complications as they arise.
Instead, Ally is given a glimpse of the future to recognize that Matt's true calling is not as a legal partner in a high-profile firm, but rather a piano player in a jazz combo. It was the ability to get out of her persona as a radio host giving superficial advice in love to truly connect with Matt's soul, in order navigate their future together.
The film was cleverly constructed with engaging performances all around. Some of the secondary roles, including Joe Biggs and his ol' buddy Tim; Ally's hopelessly romantic assistant, Gillian; and the indomitable presence of Jacklyn "Jackie" Marley that made for an outstanding ensemble.
The name of Ally's popular radio program is "Love Speaks." In the form of a fable, "A Valentine Carol" speaks all right notes in a genuinely heartwarming film experience.
Cute and entertaining comedy, not a masterpiece
vchimpanzee18 February 2010
Ally Simms is a relationship advice talk show host on Seattle radio station 96 Kiss FM. She is a witch, or more accurately something that rhymes with witch. She treats her poor assistant Gillian like dirt--for example, Gillian is crying over a breakup with an abusive boyfriend, and Ally just doesn't care. Tim, who works in the office, has a crush on Gillian, and he too is sort of a loser, so they just might be right for each other. Ally does nothing to help.
Valentine's Day is coming up, and Ally is marrying Matt, a partner in one of the city's top law firms. But that wedding may not happen; Ally is hearing the voice of her mentor Jackie Marley. Then she receives dead flowers from someone. Finally, Jackie appears as a ghost no one else can see. She explains that Ally needs to change her life, and although Jackie has been dead several years, she can't get into heaven until she makes Ally see what is wrong in her life.
The title of the movie made it sort of obvious, but yes, Jackie Marley sounds like Jacob Marley. There is a Tim. Alastair Sim (who played Scrooge in a memorable version of "A Christmas Carol") sounds like Ally Sims. So we are going to see Valentine Past, Valentine Present and Valentine Future.
Everything important in Ally's life happens on Valentine's Day. She became engaged to Ben but got a call from Jackie to come to Seattle and be her assistant at Kiss radio. The relationship with Ben did not survive. And then there was the Valentine's Day that Ally hoped to become co-host to the radio host who was an even bigger witch (or something that rhymes) than she ended up being. She got more than that--she got a promotion! And she met Paul, but he and Ally later broke up as well. And Ally's first date with Matt reveals something about him that may become important later.
And then there is Valentine Present. Ally's ex-boyfriends mysteriously show up give her reasons to come back to them. Ally also finds out something about Matt she didn't know--something that could make them both miserable later on.
Finally, Valentine Future. Not just one, but several. Not just miserable for Ally, but for others she has affected. Can all of this be changed? Will Ally get married? If so, to whom?
This is not a classic on the order of the movies directly based on Charles Dickens. It is entertaining enough and has plenty of feel-good moments. Barbara Niven is just edgy enough, while Emma Caulfield is not easy to like--this makes sense when you realize she's supposed to be the Scrooge.
I like the music in nice restaurants and bars. That's something I agree with Matt about.
I would question the plain TV-PG V-chip rating. Despite the font (one with which the rating is usually accurate), it deserves more--at least a D, and probably an L because the B-word gets a lot of use. And macho morning host Joe Biggs is even nastier than Ally.
It's worth seeing.
Valentine's Day is coming up, and Ally is marrying Matt, a partner in one of the city's top law firms. But that wedding may not happen; Ally is hearing the voice of her mentor Jackie Marley. Then she receives dead flowers from someone. Finally, Jackie appears as a ghost no one else can see. She explains that Ally needs to change her life, and although Jackie has been dead several years, she can't get into heaven until she makes Ally see what is wrong in her life.
The title of the movie made it sort of obvious, but yes, Jackie Marley sounds like Jacob Marley. There is a Tim. Alastair Sim (who played Scrooge in a memorable version of "A Christmas Carol") sounds like Ally Sims. So we are going to see Valentine Past, Valentine Present and Valentine Future.
Everything important in Ally's life happens on Valentine's Day. She became engaged to Ben but got a call from Jackie to come to Seattle and be her assistant at Kiss radio. The relationship with Ben did not survive. And then there was the Valentine's Day that Ally hoped to become co-host to the radio host who was an even bigger witch (or something that rhymes) than she ended up being. She got more than that--she got a promotion! And she met Paul, but he and Ally later broke up as well. And Ally's first date with Matt reveals something about him that may become important later.
And then there is Valentine Present. Ally's ex-boyfriends mysteriously show up give her reasons to come back to them. Ally also finds out something about Matt she didn't know--something that could make them both miserable later on.
Finally, Valentine Future. Not just one, but several. Not just miserable for Ally, but for others she has affected. Can all of this be changed? Will Ally get married? If so, to whom?
This is not a classic on the order of the movies directly based on Charles Dickens. It is entertaining enough and has plenty of feel-good moments. Barbara Niven is just edgy enough, while Emma Caulfield is not easy to like--this makes sense when you realize she's supposed to be the Scrooge.
I like the music in nice restaurants and bars. That's something I agree with Matt about.
I would question the plain TV-PG V-chip rating. Despite the font (one with which the rating is usually accurate), it deserves more--at least a D, and probably an L because the B-word gets a lot of use. And macho morning host Joe Biggs is even nastier than Ally.
It's worth seeing.
Entertaining though some things didn't make sense
sonopolly13 December 2008
I do like these "feel good" movies, but a few things about this one didn't make sense. Of course, it's based on "A Christmas Carol" but I felt that the original made sense. What didn't make sense to me was that this woman was not that lovable yet she had 3 great guys who were so in love with her that two of them came back to check her out when they found out she was getting married. She was very attractive, but as we all know, that doesn't have long lasting feelings. She was very shallow with the first two guys and even her current fiancé. All of the guys were great catches in every way and she wasn't yet she was the one in control and rejected two of them - twice so this story doesn't really convey that being kind, caring, considerate, and deep work to make someone love you.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
