FALLING FOR CHRISTMAS (NETFLIX) (2022)

SYNOPSIS: A newly engaged, spoiled hotel heiress (Lindsay Lohan) gets into a skiing accident, suffers from total amnesia and finds herself in the care of a handsome, blue-collar lodge owner (Chord Overstreet) and his precocious daughter in the days leading up to Christmas. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

The Mean Girls star not only starred in the flick but also executive produced it. Falling for Christmas is Lindsay Lohan’s comeback effort after decades being labelled as a troubled actress.

Lohan plays Sierra Belmont, a spoiled hotel heiress who lost her memory after a marriage proposal by her influencer boyfriend, Tad (George Young from Channel 5’s The Pupil if you recall) went wrong on a snowy mountain top. Fortunately, she is saved by Jack Russell (Chord Overstreet), a local bed and breakfast owner who in turn offers her a room to stay for the time being since she is unable to recall even her own name and home.

In other words, you know the ending before the credits rolled.

Falling for Christmas is that kind of formulaic romance movie that no one in the right mind will pay to watch on the big screen. The script is clichéd, all so predictable and unbelievable. Generally, it has shades of Overboard, the 1987 movie starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. However, given that Falling for Christmas is likely set in 2020 or beyond, it’s quite unlikely that no one in town is able to spot a hotel heiress liked Sierra Belmont. You mean no one recognises Paris Hilton if she loses her memory one day?

Story aside, if you are a big fan of Lindsay Lohan then at least the actress still has what it takes to channel some playful fun vibes to charm you. She even records her version of “Jingle Bell Rock” and even her sister, Aliana contributes to the soundtrack.

Not to be labelled as a scrooge, Falling for Christmas is the kind of movie that plays in the background while all of us enjoy the turkey and champagne. It’s chock full of festive holiday spirit and the two leads are charismatic enough to make us root for their reunion. Basically, it’s a Netflix version of a Hallmark movie.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee