A Holiday In Harlem (2021) -
It was a simple film, but not overly exciting and the romance wasn't really at the forefront, with the focus on the jamboree instead.
Will Adams in the lead male role was cute and I felt that he was too good for the lead female, Olivia Washington's character, who still had a lot to learn even at the end, but nobody gave a bad performance.
As Christmas films go, it was pleasant and it definitely tried to incorporate something new, with Basketball and Poetry elements that had a seasonal twist, but it was all quite simplified.
I would probably say that this was a middle of the road effort. There wasn't a magic sparkle, but there was also no sickly sweet child or daft elf to spoil it either.
5/10.
A Holiday in Harlem
2021
Action / Drama / Romance
A Holiday in Harlem
2021
Action / Drama / Romance
Plot summary
Business executive Jazmin Carter is known for two things: turning fledgling businesses into profit producers and avoiding Christmas in Harlem, the neighborhood where she grew up.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
November 12, 2022 at 08:36 PM
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I give it a year!
Neighborhood joy
Did like the premise, more so than most of the premises for this year's Hallmark Christmas output. Always hope that good premises are done justice and given good execution, and there are times where that is gotten and other times where the potential is wasted. Also instances where the premise doesn't appeal but the execution pleasantly surprised me. Hallmark's 2021 films had all three extremes, and all three extremes were obvious in the Christmas block.
'A Holiday in Harlem' doesn't waste its potential, but it also could have done a good deal more with it. Really did appreciate that it tried to do something different, but there are times where different doesn't always come off and it's executed unevenly in 'A Holiday in Harlem'. An example of a film that doesn't start off particularly good, but gets better if stuck with, which is a disappointment after three very impressive Christmas films from Hallmark in a row.
To me, 'A Holiday in Harlem' started off rocky with it taking too long to set up and some very awkward dialogue. Some of the editing seemed rushed looking and sloppy.
Did find too Olivia Washington and Will Adams rather stiff to begin with, particularly Washington who had too much of a fish out of water quality early on. Also thought there could have been more consistent chemistry, which isn't there at first and wouldn't even have been believable as a friendship. What would have helped though was if the relationship between them was developed more and didn't play as much second fiddle to the community stuff.
This sounds as if this reviewer thought 'A Holiday in Harlem' was bad. Not at all, actually thought that there were a lot of good things. Just thought that other 2021 Hallmark Christmas films were better and executed individual components more consistently. Both Washington and Adams improve from the middle act onwards, when the material becomes more natural and has more fun and heart. The supporting turns are very good on the whole, with a delightful Tina Lifford (classy, well meaning and fun) stealing the film. The chemistry also improves drastically, despite it never developing enough as a romance, but it's the heart warming community spirit feel that comes off best in the character interaction.
While not liking the editing sometimes, the film does look quite nice visually otherwise. Especially the colourful festive decor and the scenery. The music is also pleasant and fits nicely. The script gets a lot better later and sounds a lot less awkward and Lifford's dialogue brightens the spirits. The story likewise vastly improves, at its best in the heart warming last act (the section where most Hallmark films are at their weakest) and with the colourful Jamboree. It's light hearted and sincere and doesn't take itself over seriously, plus because of the different setting and scenario it is a lot less predictable than usual. The characters on the whole are easy to get behind and the community spirit really charms.
In summary, not great but worthwhile and worth sticking with if unsure initially. 6/10.
Different is good
There are so many versions of a Christmas Jamboree in these movies. And the leading lady was dealing with a promotion for her job. But neither was quite the usual we expect.
The Jamboree had some different festivities than the typical. I loved the basketball thing with Santa. There were other things.
And instead of the usual idea of a promotion or else, this time, the lead was ready to pass on a promotion with no contigencies.
It was a very nice story showing some customs we don't usually see on Hallmark and a budding but rekindled romance. I wish I could say there was more chemistry between Olivia Washington and Will Adams. It was building, but there were so many other things and relationships going on that the romance didn't get as much screen time as I'd like.
I didn't get Jazmin at first, but as we see her backstory it makes more sense. What didn't make sense is that this big time "fixer" seemed to accomplish things more through luck and generosity of others than her own skill. I don't see how a good "fixer" can do well without starting out with better team dynamics. Jazmin took a long time to adapt to her team.