Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Formulaic holiday romance has some kissing, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Christmas Wedding Planner
What's the Story?
Kelsey (Jocelyn Hudon) is a perky and naïve woman trying to start a wedding planning business. Her first affair is the large and elaborate wedding of her best friend and wealthy cousin Emily (Rebecca Dalton), whose family took Kelsey in when she was orphaned as a child. Connor (Stephen Huszar), Emily's ex from long ago, is immediately at odds with Emily when they meet cute. He's arrogant and aggressive and the message is that he's a bad guy, someone to avoid. The antagonism is cemented when he shows up at a reception announcing Emily's engagement. He reveals to Kelsey that he's a private investigator secretly hired to look into Emily's fiancé Todd (Eric Hicks), which could be problematic if he unearths information that could jeopardize Kelsey's first professional job. Although Connor is swaggering and presumptuous, he manages to recruit Kelsey to help him look into Todd and his family. As they tail Todd, they remain at odds but become closer and more attracted to each other, kissing briefly at one point. Is Todd a good guy or not?
Is It Any Good?
Justin G. Dyck has directed at least 36 films, and yet with what seems an emphasis on quantity over quality, he still can't seem to master the skill. Eight have either the words "romance," "love," or "wedding" in the titles, and 14 feature the word "Christmas," suggesting these are his areas of expertise. Yet, in keeping with his style, Christmas Wedding Planner is a bland, paint-by-numbers, cookie-cutter, not-an-original-moment-throughout made-for-TV piece of fluff that will neither satisfy nor delight anyone who has ever seen a movie before. Jocelyn Hudon lays on the perkiness as Kelsey, a female character whose slavish adherence to stereotype makes Dyck's direction seem artistic in comparison. This is certainly child-safe by way of its absence of harsh language, violence, and sexual situations, but so is It's a Wonderful Life, so is Harvey, yet those films have imagination, humor, and heart, exposure to all of which usually enhances a child's life. This lacks them all, making it the cinematic equivalent of empty calories, the Froot Loops/Cap'n Crunch of movies.
The movie is bereft of small details that indicate some connection with the reality of how people talk, think, feel, and behave. How does Kelsey, wedding planning newbie, speak with the jaded voice of long experience, as when she gives us her take on the different categories of bridesmaids she's observed? She's never done this before, so where does her world-weary take on bridesmaids come from? Kelsey regularly messages an unknown person to explain everything the script has been too weak to communicate through actions, relationships, and dialogue. The big reveal is downright creepy and adds nothing to the tale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how realistic this premise seems. Can you think of any situations or dialogue snippets that seem unlikely? Can you still enjoy a movie when you know it's unlikely? Why or why not?
How long do you think most people know each other before getting married? Why do you think people try to get to know each other well before tying the knot?
The movie turns a villain into a hero. Is that transformation convincing? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : January 1, 2017
- Cast : Jocelyn Hudon , Stephen Huszar , Kelly Rutherford , Rebecca Dalton , Joey Fatone , Eric Hicks
- Director : Justin G. Dyck
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Holidays
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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