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Best Christmas Party Ever

The Best Christmas Party Ever rages away on Hallmark Channel!

Best Christmas Party Ever

You know this Christmas party is about to get turnt up because of all the very young children in attendance!


It’s no secret I don’t go to Christmas parties, because I’m a natural recluse and only venture out of my caves in the deep woods to forage on berries during the spring thaw. But for those of you with active social lives, you probably know about Christmas parties and what makes a good Christmas party. Did you know what makes a good Christmas party involves Hallmark Channel? It must be true, because they’re airing a movie called Best Christmas Party Ever, and you aren’t going to call Hallmark Channel a liar, are you? They make movies and cards, and corporations would never lie to us!

But let’s learn about this supposed Best Christmas Party Ever….

With the holiday season at hand, young party planner Jennie Stanton (DeVitto) learns that her boss, Petra (Thorson), will be retiring after Christmas and hopes she will be left in charge of Petra’s Parties, New York’s premiere event planning service. Jennie’s hopes fade when Petra’s charming and handsome nephew, Nick (Lund), arrives on the scene and Petra announces that he will take over the business. To make matters worse, Jennie and Nick do not get along. When an opportunity to plan a toy store’s Christmas Eve party arises, Jennie runs
with it, arranging a warm and traditional affair in the same vein as the Christmas parties that inspired her as a child. Soon, Todd Perry (Walsh), an executive for a powerful corporation that acquired the toy store, rejects Jennie’s traditional party plans, demanding an exclusive, high-end, corporate event and threatening legal action if she doesn’t comply. Nick rallies to Jennie’s support, encouraging her to continue planning the party in the true spirit of Christmas. Before long, feelings begin to develop between Jennie and Nick. As Christmas Eve approaches, Jennie chooses to follow her heart, moving forward with her party plans and finding true love in time for Christmas.

Wait, where are the jello shots off of hot nude college students of whatever gender you are attracted to? Because I thought that’s what made a good party! Never fear, the true meaning of Christmas will solve all party problems you’ve ever had, because if someone is a party pooper, you can just beat them with a candy cane. Okay, maybe that’s why I’m not invited to Christmas parties anymore…

Best Christmas Party Ever is directed by John Bradshaw (Pegasus vs. Chimera , One Starry Christmas), with a story by Lewis Chesler, Fariba Chesler, and Kevin Commins, and was written by Robert Vaughn. Best Christmas Party Ever stars Torrey DeVitto as Jennie, Steve Lund as Nick, Linda Thorson as Petra, Kalinka Petrie as Kim, Harmon Walsh as Todd, Emily Coutts as Natalie, Sean McCann as Arthur Tyrell, and Michael Gordin Shore as John Mitchell.

Best Christmas Party Ever premieres December 13th on Hallmark Channel! It’s one of The 12 New Movies of Christmas as part of their Countdown to Christmas celebration.

Photo via Hallmark Channel Press/Elly Dassas

Pegasus vs. Chimera (Review)

Pegasus vs. Chimera

aka The Blood of Pegasus

2012
Written by Jeremy Levy, Angela Mancuso, and Kevin Commins
Directed by John Bradshaw

Mom! My toys broke again!

Pegasus vs. Chimera actually has the Pegasus and Chimera fight, and not just for three seconds at the end of the film. Sure, the fighting isn’t really spectacular, and is rather irregular, but it exists enough to justify the renaming of The Blood of Pegasus into Pegasus vs. Chimera. The SyFy name change designed to get the ratings juices flowing is not the only thing Pegasus vs. Chimera has going for it. Nazneen Contractor is a great standout as the tough Princess Philony, while Carlo Rota and James Kidnie have a contest to see who can be the most scene-chewingly evil.

The CGI for the Chimera is actually pretty good, the only drawback is I don’t like the red scars in the face as it distracts from the realism. The cat models they used for the movement are far more polished than I’ve seen in similar films, Chimera moved like a real cat would. Pegasus spent much of the film as an actual horse, which was also a smart move as the horse becomes one of the actors. CGI wings are added when the creature flies, otherwise it is “in disguise” as a normal horse, as that frees up money to pay for more extras to get wasted. There is even a bonus monster in the beginning of the film, the Dracanine! It’s a crocodile/dog mix with a name straight out of a SyFy flick. So if we ever needed a spinoff film….

This dagger will be perfect on my quest to buy homemade leather clothes at the Ren Faire!

The evil king sends the Chimera out to kill off his rivals. What’s a ragtag band of rebels to do? Tet their own monster! Thus, the Pegasus comes. Pegasus as a white horse allows us to bond with the creature more as a real being. You even feel for Pegasus later when the pure white horse has a bloody wound thanks to his capture.

Pegasus vs. Chimera is a pretty fun SyFy flick, it kept me entertained and wasn’t awful. The strengths outweigh the weaknesses, and for free entertainment that follows a strict formula, Pegasus vs. Chimera tried to have some fun. While not my favorite SyFy flicks, it is in the top 20% easily. If you are a fan of the creature features, then you shouldn’t miss Pegasus vs. Chimera.

Horse vs. Cat, the movie!

Belleros (Sebastian Roché) – A blacksmith who’s getting his Liam Neeson on, using that veteran acting style to guide his character. Belleros’s father was killed while they were out hunting together and Belleros was young. He spent the next twenty years keeping a low profile and waiting for it to finally be time to rebel against the evil king for justice.
Princess Philony (Nazneen Contractor) – A Tieran Princess, her father is killed and her kingdom sacked when they refuse to join King Orthos’ quest to become an Emperor. She’s tough as nails and wants revenge.
King Orthos (Carlo Rota) – Evil king and would be emperor of Argus, kept alive and young for decades thanks to the magic of General Actae. Is seeking immortality both via power and via actual immortality.
General Actae (James Kidnie) – Evil magician who uses spells to extend Orthos’ life and is second in command of the kingdom, but he desires his own realm. Conducts the magic spell that brings the Chimera to this world, and killed Belleros’ father.
Mayda (Rae Dawn Chong) – A witch who hides in the forest and summons the Pegasus after Queen Caria and Philony as for her help.
Chimera (CGI) – A beast from the underworld that agrees to come to Earth to kill and devour souls.
Pegasus (a real horse and occasionally CGI) – A constellation brought to life to fight against the Chimera. It’s blood grants immortality, it heals its riders, and if the Pegasus dies, the world ends. No pressure, but there is no room for failure.
Chimera has Sith tattoos all over his face!