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Too Close for Christmas

Too Close for Christmas

Romance · Drama · TV Movie · 2020

When Hayley accepts an invitation to spend Christmas with her sister’s new in-laws, her seemingly perfect holiday takes a turn when Paul, Hayley's brother-in-law's brother, unexpectedly shows up. Still harboring a grudge against Paul for ending her last relationship, Hayley reluctantly spends time with Paul and slowly realizes she may have been too quick a judge on Paul

Movie details

Too Close for Christmas

2020 Romance · Drama · TV Movie 1h 30m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.9 / 10

Community rating

When Hayley accepts an invitation to spend Christmas with her sister’s new in-laws, her seemingly perfect holiday takes a turn when Paul, Hayley's brother-in-law's brother, unexpectedly shows up. Still harboring a grudge against Paul for ending her last relationship, Hayley reluctantly spends time with Paul and slowly realizes she may have been too quick a judge on Paul

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Too Close for Christmas?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Christmas Around the Corner

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ernie Barbarash

Written by

Nicole Baxter

Chad Michael Murray

Chad Michael Murray

Paul Barnett

Jessica Lowndes

Jessica Lowndes

Hayley Parker

Vanessa Sears

Vanessa Sears

Amy Parker-Barnett

Steve Byers

Steve Byers

Tim Barnett

Seana McKenna

Seana McKenna

Judy Barnett

Rob Stewart

Rob Stewart

Penn Barnett

Fiona Highet

Fiona Highet

Patti Larson

Court is in session

Put Too Close for Christmas on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.