AC18: Random Movie Review - The Holiday Calendar

 

Now, this is something that may actually be original, especially in a Christmas film. Utilizing the advent calendar in the story. We all like advent calendars as it gives us a reason to look forward to Christmas by giving us things every day in the lead up to the big event itself. It used to be just chocolate, but nowadays most advent calendars can give you other things instead. I don't know when this trend started, but it is nice to have variety. Personally, I like having LEGO ones and the occasional cheese one (as in the food). But I know full well that there are plenty of others out there. Plus, there are also ones where you can actually use it again and again and put your own items in them. So let's talk about this one:

Struggling photographer Abby Reilly (played by Kat Graham) one day receives an advent calendar from her grandfather. Despite not being impressed at first, she takes it home and upon the first day of December, realizes that there may be some magic behind it. As she connects what is inside each day of the calendar to what happens in real life, the things that are seen in the calendar start to become reality. She may receive stuff, get her career on track and possibly may find love too.

I like the originality of the film because advent calendars are often forgotten about in Christmas films, just like how paperwork is in police films unless it's Hot Fuzz. It's not the best film in the world, though, with some predictability with the story and acting. But it's definitely magical in some sense and original too (well unless there's another film about advent calendars) so it's got those going for it if nothing else. 7/10