Undercover Holiday

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source: Undercover Holiday

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source: Undercover Holiday

5.0 stars. I don't go below 5 stars for any Hallmark films, because 99% of the time they are at least average films. Cinematography and music are always decent. Acting and chemistry are a roll of the dice. When I read several reviews and see such awful descriptions of this or that and nobody, like nobody likes the movie, then I'll give it about 20 minutes. Well, I gave 'Undercover Holiday' all of about 15 minutes give or take. I don't like the lead. You might think it's because she's robust. Ummm, well, uhhhhh. I love healthy women, I've dated several of them, they are usually what I go for. But for some reason this movie doesn't work and she's the reason for the flop.

This movie was like reading a textbook on Mexican Christmas traditions, sprinkled in with an implausible script and odd casting. Feeding in all the Mexican Christmas traditions was heavy handed, so much so I was bored. Add in a "pop star" who can neither sing nor dance and no album to her credit and you have a dumpster fire. The lead has only won ONE singing/talent contest!! Read that again, she's only a talent show winner😬 And yet, she lives in a big, beautiful rented house and merits a 24/7 bodyguard. And why a bodyguard for two corny notes along the lines of "I'll love you forever." This threat to the heroine's person was a big reach. Even more of a reach was the chemistry between these two. Despite both of them being very attractive I didn't see them together in any reality.

Steven Hussar is probably the best thing about this film, although there were some great supporting actors and it was nice to see some Hispanic traditions brought forward for the Christmas season. This tells the story of a reality contestant turned pop star, who wants to do her own material...but whose record label wants to keep her doing the pop numbers that made her famous. Christmas is approaching and someone managed to get on her property to leave a live note, so the record label hires a body guard to go everywhere Jaylin goes. At Christmas, that means he is going with her to meet the whole overprotective Rodriguez family...her grandmother, her father, her mother, her brother and her pregnant sister-in-law. Only Jaylin can't tell her family that Matt is her bodyguard, so she lies and says he is her boyfriend. Single and professional Matt is not happy about going along with the lie, but really starts to enjoy the Rodriguez family and Jaylin. This was a sweet holiday romance, but I had a little trouble with the actress playing Jaylin (Noemi Gonzalez). There were full scenes that just felt awkward and I don't know if it was actually the acting or if it was really the direction, but there was some awkwardness that I can't quite put my finger on. I loved seeing a Latina in the lead and even more I loved seeing a more full-figured lead in which it was never mentioned! I applaud the show runners for that! So a big yes for romantics and more rubenesque ladies.

Wow, I don't get all the "bad love" for this lovely movie! The cast is SPLENDID and it's a touching Christmas holiday story that speaks to us about being courageous enough to get out of "life's box" and be strong enough to stake our own claim, be ourselves, & find success on our own terms; these are huge themes in my own life now, so I found it powerfully relevant! Also, this movie is about learning to open ourselves to the kindness & goodness around us, as well as learning to change & adjust to get the most from life, as Matt did so well with Jaylen and her whole family!!! BRAVO this film!!!!

This movie was just awful!! The poor acting, the lack of chemistry, the atrocious singing and the unbelievable concept that people have never heard of a song in both Spanish and English. Every time Jaylen tries to sing is cringeworthy. Was anyone in the room while they were filming? On a positive note, Jaylen's family members are adorable and they did a good job sharing their cultural festivities. Honestly, I've been enjoying all of Hallmark's movies this season, but this one quite simply is the worst of the new movies. Don't make the same mistake I did, because there's no way to get those two hours back.

This may not have been the best Hallmark holiday movie or the most believable story plot but, as I expect on Hallmark, it was an enjoyable, watchable movie. Very typical of Hallmark Christmas movies, a nice escape from reality! I give credit to Hallmark for giving viewers diverse views of some other ethnic holiday traditions other than good, ole' down home America! This involved a Mexican-American family. A recent movie infolved a Chinese-American family. I think with the defection of many long time Hallmark stars to GAC, it's refreshing to see some new faces, as it was with the femail lead, Noemi Gonzalez, in this movie. I thought she did a wonderful job. I always enjoy Stephan Huszar. Some viewers may see them as an unlikely pairing, but, as with life, you never know! I do have to comment on one reviewer who decided Hallmark should not have "fat girls" as a lead in their movies. Noemi isfar from fat and is beautiful. She also looks normal to me and the her character had many wonderful things going for her including her beautiful good looks!