The Borrowed Christmas

This is the most awkward and uncomfortable situation I have ever experienced. Who would ever agree to a situation where a Borrowed Christmas was something a "Rent Shop" would be able to provide. Not to mention the pacing is excruciating. The weird music in the background and a lack of transition from scene to scene is as low budget as you can get. I don't even know how I'm supposed to feel. It's got a weird suggestive relationship going on and I would be happy to never watch this movie again in my life. I can't believe this movie even got made. It'll make you skin crawl but hope that maybe it will get better but then it just doesn't.

This movie is more like a live play. The premise is a good one. Not the best, but still entertaining.

So for those who do not know, this film is an adaptation of a play called The Rented Christmas. Why in the world they felt the need to change the title is beyond me, but that's by far the least offensive change that was made when creating this movie.

So the director is a Christian, and appears to make Christian films, which I want to make clear is not a problem, you can make religious movies if you want. But the original play isn't about Christianity, it's just not, it doesn't come up at any points. Some small changes in this movie such as having holiday decorations that feature Christ would be absolutely fine, but the film changes dialogue and even the entire message of the movie.

In terms of objective quality, every single high school theater production that has put on a production of the original play is 100% better than this movie. The film is supposed to take place in a rich man's mansion, but instead is clearly just shot inside the director's living room and there is basically zero effort done to try and make the room look fancy. Thing is, if you are on a low budget, don't try to make a film where the setting is extravagant and requires expensive sets if you cannot afford them.

Overall, nothing works in this movie, I cannot even begin to describe how bad the directing is, to the point that every word that comes out of each actor's mouth sounds like it was AI generated, or is just a bastardization of the play's original script. Watching this movie is like if you went on an adult film video site and put in the tags "Christmas" and "Christian" and then scrolled to the bottom. I would give it a 0.5/10 if I could. The only thing keeping it from me wanting to give it a 0/10, is that some of the actors are kids, meaning some of the bad acting can be excused by that small fact.

0.5/10, just go watch A Christmas Story.

Let me count the ways. No, there are too many. Let me sum up. Interesting premise, but awful script, acting, character development, production quality, scenery (I think the entire movie is shot on a two-room set), camera work--did I leave out anything? Oh yeah, bonus of religious drivel on top.

I love Christmas movies, even the shamelessly insipid ones. I can forgive the over-emoted, always-good-hearted, low-stakes movies because they are fun, guilty pleasures.

This movie is none f those things. It's a church play that didn't get beyond the rehearsal stage. Obviously flubbed lines, or awkward pauses while the actors try to remember their lines, and completely unbelievable emotions. Truly, it felt like a run thru the got accidentally recorded.

There is nothing redeeming here. It's not even worth a "so good it's bad" watch.