Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Did you people see the same film I saw?

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

As many people have mentioned this movie is parallel to the movie Sliding Doors especially in the beginning where Fired Eve (FE) catches her boyfriend in her own bed with another girl. This movie just isn't done as well as the original, although it does have a totally different twist on the ending. In that I like this one better.Hillary Duff is OK, but not great. Likewise Chris Carmack. They do connect. Gib Gerard is terrible and so is his second girlfriend. Diana DeGarmo does a powerful rendition of O Holy Night.The story has potential even to the extent that it is different from the original. LA Eve's story progresses pretty well except for Matt the original boyfriend . Who calls the girlfriend he is cheating on while he is right next to the one he is cheating with? And several times. But I also had a problem with FE's story. For one thing, she doesn't start picking herself up until 3/4 of the movie is gone. Until then she does a lot of whining and not much else. It seems like a lot of wasted screen time that could have been put to better use.Connie Sellecca is the boss we love to hate. BTW there are at least two incidents of blatant sexual harassment that appear to be accepted without complaint.

Dull, clichéd redo of "Sliding Doors" that's utterly devoid of charm or magic. Duff is okay, but the rest of the acting is subpar at best. There was zero chemistry between the lead actors. Poor Duff could have been acting with a giant tree trunk with as wooden as her costar was. I couldn't understand what she saw in any of the men she had to choose from. Add in some bonus unexpected gross sexism to boot! What was with the inappropriate comments in the boardroom and in the phone call from her client!??! I expect these kinds of movies to be unrealistic but that was ridiculous and unnecessary. All in all a complete waste of time.

"All About Christmas Eve" is one of the best Christmas movies of the year! Haylie Duff shines as an overworked business woman who ends up pulling a "Sliding Doors" and gets to experience Christmas through two alternate timelines. Whether she's playing a cutthroat business woman or a bohemian artist, Duff is fantastic, as is the handsome Chris Carmack, who plays her love interest in one of the two universes. Connie Sellecca is perfect as a ruthless boss and Patrick Muldoon is lovable as a goofball executive. The "Sliding Doors" gimmick brings a fresh perspective to the usual Christmas movie clichés, and with Christmas-themed bar mitzvahs, hilarious drag queens, and two great musical numbers... this movie is a DON'T MISS!

When I sat down to watch "All About Christmas Eve," I was expecting the traditional Lifetime romantic comedy. However, the commercials didn't really do this one justice. It's a surprisingly deep and witty fantasy about a woman (Haylie Duff) who gets to experience two alternate lives for Christmas. In one, she becomes a super successful businesswoman and meets the man of her dreams (Chris Carmack). In the other, she loses her job and reconnects with her true passion, painting.Connie Sellecca is fantastic as the Miranda Priestly-esque boss, and there's two great musical performances from Diana Degarmo... who I loved on American Idol. (And a surprise cameo from another Idol alumni... I wont ruin it!) If you're looking for well-acted, well-made Christmas fantasy that is completely unpredictable (and even a little artsy!)... then this is a must see. I loved it!