The flood of Christmas movies on VOD and streaming starts earlier every year, and even though it\u2019s not yet December, there are still plenty of new holiday movies available. This year\u2019s selection includes ski resort owners and horse farm managers falling in love, Christmas ornaments and toys coming to horrific life, and Mrs. Claus pole-dancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Christmas Classic<\/em><\/strong> (VOD and <\/strong>Hoopla<\/strong><\/a>):<\/strong> Malin Akerman and Ryan Hansen have honed their chemistry across three awful direct-to-VOD comedies set at holiday celebrations, going from Thanksgiving (2020\u2019s Friendsgiving<\/em><\/a>) to a birthday party (March\u2019s The Donor Party<\/em><\/a>) to this truly pathetic Christmas tradition. The title refers to a supposed annual tournament at the ski resort now owned by Hansen\u2019s Randy Collins, who inherited it from his late father. Elizabeth Bird (Akerman) has returned to her New Mexico hometown to negotiate a purchase of the ski resort for her corporate employer, and Randy inexplicably agrees to sell if Elizabeth can defeat her sister Lynn (Amy Smart) in the Christmas Classic. There appear to be no other competitors, and only three actual events, which are judged by unclear standards. The perfunctory romance between Elizabeth and Randy barely registers, with the abrasive sibling conflict taking most of the focus. Maybe someday Akerman and Hansen can find a worthwhile vehicle for their onscreen connection, but this isn\u2019t it. Grade: C-<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Christmas With Jerks<\/em><\/strong> (VOD)<\/strong>: The title overstates the jerkiness of the main characters in this amiable Christmas romantic comedy that adds a slight edge to the format. Eve Carter (writer and co-director Leanna Adams) is a former child star whose acting career has taken such a rough turn that she can\u2019t even get cast in the reboot of the beloved Christmas movie that made her famous. She wants to hide out for the holidays at her sister\u2019s empty house, but when she arrives, she discovers that stuntman and family friend Ace (Tyler Buckingham) is already there, house-sitting in exchange for a place to recuperate from an injury. They engage in some low-grade sabotage before agreeing to a truce, as Eve proposes to help Ace win back his ex-girlfriend if he\u2019ll vacate the house by Christmas. Of course, that brings them closer together, and while the romance is predictable, the characters are charmingly crass. Adams engages in some honest soul-searching for her middle-aged protagonist along the way to the predetermined outcome. Grade: B-<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n