If you could see me right now, you’d be laughing. Because as I looked at this blank computer screen and knew that I had to start this review, but it physically pained me. This week has been the week of bad Christmas movies I get.
I am going to say something – I love Kellie Pickler, the singer. Kellie Pickler, the actress. Nope. It’s like watching a country music version of Tara Reid. No range, no emotion, everything sounds the same. She’s this happy person in everything, so I am trying to not judge that, but i am also like – girl, ain’t no one got a smile on all the time.
This, coming from a person that has bitchy resting face and embraces it like no other.
Ok, ok – I am telling you this, because I am going to try not to drag Kellie Pickler. I know people love this movie, it was one of the highest rated movies of 2018 on Hallmark. But you know, I can’t really comment on other peoples bad opinions.
Because I do understand why they would watch this movie. I also hope that people understand why people would love it.
Graceland. ✅
Music. ✅
Christmas. ✅
Love Story. ✅
I get it – but hey, even when you have a guest starring Priscilla Presley in there, you can’t expect her to make something great.
The woman can only do so much. No one can be expected to carry all of that responsibility.
So here’s the premise, “A working Chicago mum brings her kids with her on a business trip to Memphis so they can all visit Graceland during the week before Christmas. But she is thrown for a loop when she bumps into an old flame from her days as a singer in college.”
What carried this movie was Graceland. Christmas At Graceland is the first Hallmark movie to film at Elvis Presley’s estate, and like therefore it should have been great. Because Elvis.
I may not be his biggest fan, but even I know he was great.
What carried this movie was a closeup look at the estate. But what didn’t carry this movie was its actors.
And here we go.
Wes Brown is a Hallmark movie staple. I really have never seen him in anything else. But, I have never really loved his work. That being said, he was actually decent in this movie. He was meant to be a country music star – even though I wouldn’t describe his voice as country.
The thing is that Wes Brown’s eyes never change. Before you come at me, let me just say it – you can see everything in a persons eyes. They are big part of emotions. And between him and Kelly Pickler, their eyes are dead. They don’t change. They are glazed over as if they are supposed to look happy all the time.
And hey, I can respect that, but it doesn’t mean I need to like it. When they are hurting, I wanna feel the hurt. When they are full of cheer, I wanna be full of cheer. When they are singing, I wanna sing.
Instead I just want to toss in some ear plugs, give them some edibles, and look for any sign that Elvis is still alive.
The highlight of the movie was seeing Priscilla Presley. She’s a goddess. I’m just gonna keep repeating that.
Christmas at Graceland is worth it if you are a fan of Elvis and Graceland. It’s even worth it to hear Kellie Pickler sing a song.
But it’s just not great. And for me, I can find the joy in most Christmas movies. But this one all I felt was a need to go to Memphis and visit Graceland.
And I don’t even like Elvis. So I guess that’s something?