Lifetime’s Scentsational Christmas sounded stupid when I wrote it on the calendar months ago. Little did I know what I was in for.

Ellie (Nazneen Contractor) develops scents for perfumes. This year she decides to go home for Christmas to help her father with the family’s candle-making business. When she arrives home, she finds that her father has rented the cottage to Logan (Mykee Selkin), a writer who is looking for inspiration. Together, they try to find the secret to the famous Christmas scent of the holiday candle.

Not only was this a staggeringly boring movie, this was also just dumb. The big conflict comes when Ellie submits a “Christmas scent” to her boss for a famous client. Then the famous client finds out that Ellie’s family uses this “Christmas scent” in their holiday candles because Logan wrote about it on social media. While I can understand not wanting to steal a scent from another company, it’s still Ellie’s scent! They could have easily marketed this as some sort of collab between the client and the candle company. Or just use the scent for the perfume anyway. There was no reason to throw a fit over it. Guess what…there are only so many scents out there and it’s not like the client was making candles. They are completely different products.

No, don’t watch this one. The plot is dumb, the main couple has zero chemistry, and there really isn’t anything redeeming here. Throw this one out with grandma’s perfume.

I had hope that the movies released closer to Christmas would be better. It doesn’t seem to be going that way.

Addison (Cindy Sampson) is a middle school principal. Her school is slated to close after the Christmas break. She turns to Dylan Davidson (Steve Byers), an old school friend who is now a somewhat famous actor. Addison convinces Dylan to direct the school’s Christmas play, which they will use as a fundraiser to keep the school open.

Are there school districts that actually close schools in the middle of the school year? My school district has recently closed a couple of their buildings but it was always done after the school year is over. Why would they close it in the middle of the year? That makes no sense to me. And that isn’t the only weak link.

Unlike Olivia in Spotlight on Christmas, Dylan isn’t a super famous actor. As a matter of fact, he’s having trouble landing jobs. So why is his manager (or whatever Garth (Arnold Pinnock) is supposed to be) following him around everywhere? I’m sure he has other clients that are making him more money. The same goes for the paparazzi. I can’t imagine that anyone would be that interested in his love life.

Beyond the troubles with the plot, the acting is also bland. It doesn’t feel like Addison really wants to save her school. Instead of trying a variety of plans, she hinges everything on Dylan directing the school play. Dylan doesn’t even seem all that interested in his own life. When his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Monique (Samantha Helt), shows up, he just kinda lets her walk all over him and the kids. Grow a set, dude.

If you want to watch an actor-comes-home movie, go watch Spotlight on Christmas. It is a much better movie. A Christmas Break isn’t worth your time or attention.