Real life wife and husband due Lauren and Josh Swickard return as Callie and Joseph. Once again Lauren is the writer and I love that facet. She does a good job with a sappy Christmas story and low-budget limitations of the production.
Its been a year, the city misses you. The line is what sends Callie and Joseph off the ranch and into the urban metropolis of San Francisco. There’s a plot we could rehash but there’s no need. If you are watching this film, then you aren’t interested in structure or details.
Positives are to be found.
We can start with the return of comical characters of Leo and Manny – Ali Afshar and David Del Rio – respectively. Both are good for an abundance of laughs. Manny is given more of a role this time around. He attempts to hit it off with Callie’s best friend (Raquel Dominquez) and run the ranch on his own. We also corner the Christmas Hottie’s market with new characters played by Laura James and Bethany Walls. James plays Victoria – the antagonist of the story. Walls is in a handful of scenes and has some good humor.
The chemistry between the Swickard’s is something that can’t be taught. When Callie and Joseph are interacting on screen together, in passion or in a feud, they aren’t acting. They just are. It’s what makes the movie palatable.
I critiqued the original for its setting. A Christmas movie has an uphill battle if it takes place on a sweltering California vineyard. San Francisco helps a bit but its still a long way from New York.
“A California Christmas: City Lights” is funny in a dumb sort of way. It’s okay as a holiday movie. The cast is likeable enough to get you through it. Despite being a virtual clone of the original, I can’t wait for a third in 2022. I expect it will take place on the moon.
