A Holiday “I Do”

The screenplay for A Holiday “I Do” by Melinda Bryce, based on a story by Bryce and the Schneiders, is a rowdy rule breaker. It takes a highly unorthodox path for a Christmas rom-com which hardcore yuletiders will immediately notice: the two leads don’t immediately butt heads. In the vast majority of these pictures, the main characters are direct opposites who hate each other. This sets up the puzzle as to how they will end up together against all odds. The problem is, they always end up together, so the writer’s machinations over how it gets pulled off may be clever, but it is a foregone conclusion.

So this story brilliantly sidesteps that by having these two like each other and seem compatible. This is reinforced by a splendid afternoon Jane and Sue spend where both have a really nice time during a hectic season. This is not how things are done with dramatics. Rules clearly state you have to constantly heap conflict and misery upon your leads in order to keep the audience rooting for them. You do not give them the afternoon off with coupons for a free yoga session. It shouldn’t work, but it totally does. It felt really good seeing these nice ladies getting a break for once. Instead of killing the momentum, this maverick move engaged me further in the plot. Plus, the dynamite angle of a woman throwing a bachelor party for her ex-husband is interesting enough to be another movie all by itself.

“…replaced every single strand of stale popcorn on the plot tree with a juicy cranberry.”

Every deviation throughout A Holiday “I Do” seems even more Christmasy than the tried and true formula. Why not throw a Christmas party for everyone during the second act? Everything will go to hell in the third act anyway, so why extend the misery? Why do we need to see George Bailey get kicked in the balls to the point of suicide in order to save the bank in time for Christmas? There are also several times when the story unexpectedly veers away from the holiday formula with intriguing results. The Schneiders know the Christmas moves, which is how they are able to pack so many surprises into the most predictable of genres. They have replaced every single strand of stale popcorn on the plot tree with a juicy cranberry. The decorations are fun and frequent, with a great deal of Christmas in the majority of the shots, even on the farm.

The actors give it their all as well. It’s good to see Warfield again. We have lost too many lately from the OG Night Court and should treat her like the national treasure she is. Soap star Larson will be recognizable to horror fans as Deborah Tate. She is a dear here. Hicks does a magnificent job of lassoing all of the audience’s focus. She holds her grip on the lead with grace and style. Reyes is outstanding as the tall, dark stranger, keeping that stern composure that pulls attraction and flows hot at the right time. There is powerful chemistry between her and Hicks, all the more impressive as this is the rare instance where the country girl is chasing the city girl and not the other way around like usual.

A Holiday “I Do” needs to be put on your holiday “to do” list right now.