Ah, blogging. A lot of Christmas movies are about bloggers nowadays. I mean, didn’t you know that bloggers are living this amazing life traveling all around the world? Oh, right. They’re not.
Caroline (Sara Canning) is a travel blogger/vlogger/writer. Her editor sends her to Carte De Amor in New Mexico to do a 12 Days of Christmas blog….and to find her Christmas spirit again.
First off, I don’t really understand what Caroline’s job is supposed to be. In the beginning of the movie, there’s an office and a staff and they are acting like it’s a magazine. But then Caroline and her boss, Camilla (Alison Araya), keep referring to her piece as a blog. But then she’s actually posting vlogs and pictures to the website? A magazine writer is fine. A blogger is fine. A vlogger is fine. Just pick one. And if she’s going to be a vlogger, make her videos interesting. She would be better at her job.
Next, there’s a whole section in the movie based on the fact that Caroline doesn’t have clothes with her? Again, she’s a travel writer. She knew she was going to New Mexico. Why didn’t she research what the weather would be so she could pack appropriately? Is it normal for a travel writer (who I can almost guarantee is not super rich) to have to buy new clothes whenever she gets somewhere? Do better, Lifetime.
Other than that, The Christmas Yule Blog is starting to head in the right direction. They show a variety of interesting traditions celebrated by the people of color in the town. Instead of an ugly Christmas sweater contest, there is an ugly Christmas poncho contest. (Not my favorite example, to be honest.) The town is lit up by luminarias, which are actually gorgeous on screen. And there are a few Mexican food references thrown in. I would have loved to have a more….New Mexican feel to it though. It seemed to be missing that…thing…to make it a traditional Mexican Christmas.
Would I recommend it? It’s not a terrible movie, by far, but it’s also not very interesting. Even the Christmas romance in boring. Does Oscar (Zak Santiago) only speak in monotone? B.O.R.I.N.G. If you’re really interested in seeing the pseudo-Mexican traditions, I would say to give it a watch. Just be warned that you might fall asleep in the middle.