A film review by Esme Mazzeo for telltaletv.co on Nov. 14, 2020.
Christmas In Vienna: A Sweet Enough Heart Song
As perhaps is expected, Hallmark’s Christmas In Vienna borrows its basic premise from 1965’s classic film The Sound Of Music, which was also set (and partially filmed) in Austria.
Jess is supposed to be a violinist struggling to find her love for music, and preparing to say goodbye to it, with a visiting performance on Christmas Eve at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. But within the first two minutes of the film, she has a line that tells us that she doesn’t have much of a journey to go on at all. When asked if music is her life she says: It's hard for me to describe what music means to me. It allows me to live in this magical world of my creation that exists beyond my own. Of course, she’s not going to tell anyone at the orchestra that she’s thinking of retiring, but she’s not being facetious when speaking about her passion for the violin.
We know that every holiday movie ever made has a happy ending with minimal angst. However, to capture our hearts the lead character has to go through a significant change. Jess saying she loves music is a signal to us, even unconsciously, that Jess’s journey is not as prominent as Mark (Brennan Elliott) and his kids. It’s a shame because part of the magic of Hallmark Christmas movies is watching a female-focused journey.
That’s not to say that Christmas In Vienna isn’t a female-led film. Sarah Drew is a necessary component in turning mundane moments magical where possible. Jess’s individual connections with each of the three kids she plays nanny to for a week are special in their own way. It’s particularly touching to watch her help Julian find a sense of home.
There is something sad about watching a young man study a language so intently in a desperate attempt to belong somewhere. It’s sweet to watch Jess try to understand Julian and make sure he always has a place to hang his hat. His dad, Mark, definitely doesn’t for most of the movie. Mark may be a good father, but he’s also incredibly self-centered and annoying. It’s fun to watch Jess put him in his place, especially during the passive-aggressive scene at the breakfast table the morning after he explicitly solicits her opinion, and dares get angry when she gives it.
Also, it’s 2020, can we do away with the plot where the white male must consider leaving a very impressive job for an extremely impressive one, and a woman has to remind him that his kids are humans with feelings he should consider?
As a matter of fact, Christmas In Vienna might benefit if the lead roles were gender-swapped. As it stands, Jess would be a good best friend to have. I particularly relate to her line about just living her life and hoping a man will magically appear. Plus, we share an insatiable sweet tooth. Plus, her talent for finding the perfect meaningful gift for everyone is also impressive and endearing.
Opposites might attract, but Jess deserves someone more exciting than Mark. Sarah Drew and Brennan Elliott have just enough chemistry to carry the film, but it’s nothing we can feel through the screen. The scene where Jess and Mark dance to Silent Night in plain clothes at night because Mark gets over his aversion to dancing for her is as close to perfect as Christmas In Vienna gets. I also like that they subtly break the fourth wall a couple of times by telling us, and each other, that they should kiss after a couple of their romantic moments. But gender-swapping would be interesting where their emotional intimacy is concerned, too. Jess would have a richer journey if she were the one who had walls that needed breaking down. Instead, Mark has a more intense promotion drama and emotional journey. (It barely exists but it’s there).
Jess even shares the only big concert moment we see on-screen with the Olson family. It’s very sweet. But even though Jess’s love magically appears in her life and she also magically gets a dream job at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; the best thing Vienna offers her is the chocolate cake and the Olson kids.
Christmas In Vienna airs throughout the holiday season on Hallmark Channel.
Labels: Christmas, drama, family, Hallmark, romance
IMDb 64/100
RottenTomatoes Averages (tbd=critics, 64=viewers)
Amazon DVD
Esme Mazzeo full review
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