“A Castle for Christmas” is a brand new Netflix original holiday film. It could have been called “A Castle” since there is no Christmas setting until a shoehorned party at the end.
The synopsis is predictable and somewhat dull. A successful writer travels to Scotland after negative feedback from her final book. She takes refuge in a beautiful castle that her ancestors once occupied. She meets a cantankerous groundskeeper and of course, they fall in love.
The top stars are people I really like. Brooke Shields plays Sophie Brown – the author and central character. Sophie is shown to be a grounded celebrity. She loves her Scottish lineage and the Christmas season. Cary Elwes of “The Princess Bride” and “Saw” does well in the opposite role. He’s a curmudgeon named Myles. Shields and Elwes play well off one another. I enjoy the casting of more mature talent for this type of film. Maybe because I relate better to a pair of fully fledged adults than to twentysomething models. That said, the on screen romantic chemistry is forced at best.
I liked the idea of a writer fleeing her New York City penthouse for the majestic castles of Edinburgh. The film was shot on location which adds obvious breathtaking beauty. We of course are treated to scenes in Scottish pubs and grounds. Characters are dressed in enviable Scottish attire. They all speak with the great accent.
The problem is the limited seasonal fanfare. Yes there is a climactic Christmas party in the final act. That’s really the only yuletide offerings the movie has. The rest of the film plods slowly. It’s nice to see the heritage of Scotland. Watching, I was convinced (incorrectly) that Shields herself wrote it. It feels more like a tribute to her own Scottish heritage than a Christmas romcom.
Despite the great atmosphere and likeable actors, “A Castle for Christmas” is boring. It’s a lackluster option given the breadth of holiday films one can find.
