12 Dates of Christmas (2011)

Title: 12 Dates of Christmas
Year of Release: 2011
Available On: Netflix (as of 11/15)
Rating: 4.5 out of five Jingle Bells

Amy Smart and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. ‘nough said? I do believe so. But I’ll elaborate nonetheless, because nobody came here to read one question and one answer.

Addiction to you. Plucky optimism to me. –Kate

This film follows the Groundhog Day model, wherein our heroine, Kate, has to live the same day over and over until she gets it right. In this case, Christmas Eve. Over and over, Christmas Eve. Kate doesn’t like anything carbonated, that’s how we start this weird movie. She’s looking at her phone throughout her first date. It’s hella rude. Even ruder, she breaks the date with Miles for a guy, Jack, who is clearly not interested in her whatsoever – no wonder she has to keep living this day over and over! (Sometimes it feels like we’re living the same day over and over, doesn’t it? I think that’s why these people write these movies.)

In Kate’s case, she wakes up each time passed out on the floor of a department store while doing some shopping for Jack. Her first mistake. She’ll make that one a couple more times before she learns better.

You know the drill – eventually she gets it right. And meanwhile, this entire movie manages to be amusing, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, and unlike lots of these ABC Family schlock, this one is pretty dang enjoyable!

Wow, you kind of feel real for a dream. –Kate

Kate’s kind of a brat, but that’s the purpose of this format, isn’t it? She has to have room to improve or there’s no point.