Greetings, salutations, and a seasonal welcome to all you movie aficionados. Here are my considerations and recommendation for A Pastry Shop Christmas.
Story: 1.25/2 - Direction and Pace: 2.50/4 - Performances: 1.50/2 - Enjoyment: 1.50/2
Total 6.75/10
This Christmas Romance Story surprised me. I enjoyed the hell out of it, though the story is relatively simple, uncluttered, and follows plenty of commonly used plot lines. It was the well-defined and credible characters in the lead roles, which made the story for me. Better still is that the couple possesses a gradual chemistry: The pair don't hit it off straight away, but we watch as they form a friendship, then a working relationship, and finally, as it blossoms into a romance. These steps of attraction add to the realism, which's a pleasant change for a Christmas Love Story where it's usually all eye meeting eye and instant chemistry with lip-locking to follow. The writer gives the audience a plethora of believable characters and situations. Happily, the performers add additional realism with their excellent performances, especially the two leads, Camila Banus and Mark Hapka. A Pastry Shop Christmas - Sweet Navidad is one of the finer-performed tales on offer in this Goodwill Season. And the director adds the perfect pinch of light-heartedness and a sprinkling of heartwarming to the mix.
I'd joyfully recommend this for your Christmas viewing pleasure, especially if you're cuddled up with your loved one under a duvet with a mug of hot chocolate. It's a definite snuggle movie.
Please check out my HO! HO! HO! Christmas Belles list to see where I ranked the movie.
Take Care, Stay Well, And Best Wishes For A Merry Christmas.