I saw the preview for âFit for Christmasâ – a CBS original holiday movie about a cute fitness instructor trying to save her hometown from corporate evil and I had to watch. The film stars Amanda Kloots who Iâve since learned is the co-host of a daytime talk show, and has appeared on âDancing with the Stars.â This marks her âbig screenâ debut.
âFit for Christmasâ is predictable, sappy, and absurd â all of which I expected. Klootsâ on-screen energy and intangible merriment are what makes it enjoyable. She also serves as co-writer and co-producer, making the production a personal project.
A Christmas oasis, if you will
Audrey (Kloots) is a fitness instructor returning to her hometown of Mistletoe – A âChristmas oasis, if you will.â We get a standard backstory for why she left and why sheâs returning. And of course her obsession with Christmas. Thereâs a smarmy businessman (Paul Greene) who may be a potential suitor. She has a hot best friend (Rebecca Budig) and a cause; the local rec-center is in jeopardy of closing down and Audrey et al. must find a way to save it.
Iâm a gym rat, and I enjoyed the backdrop of fitness to the character and story. Audrey got her start at the rec-center, and thatâs her emotional connection to it and the town. The idea of evil big business destroying Main Street is cliché, but so what? Itâs a Christmas movie and Iâm here for entertainment, not a migraine of convolution, nonlinear, and/or artistic storytelling.
Amanda Kloots leads the cast
Amanda Kloots really gets into the character of Audrey. Kloots is a real life dancer and fitness instructor, which lends credence to the performance here. We get the sense that she isnât really acting when she pops up at the crack of dawn ready to sweat. There are no special effects or body doubles. When she shows off her limber physique and seemingly impossible stretches, itâs the real deal.
Rebecca Budig is the best of the supporting cast. As Audreyâs friend Lisa, we have a character that is as equally invested in the happenings of the town as she runs a café with her husband Jim (Darryl Hinds). What I liked is that, unlike most other stories, Lisa isnât openly pushing Audrey to date the hot new guy – Griffin. Heâs an antagonist for the plot to happen, and is rightfully treated as such. Paul Greene does what he can with the part. I liked how the Jim character has a man crush on Griffin, which brought several laugh out loud moments.
The question is, can a CBS holiday movie compete with Netflix? Football is the only thing I watch on live television. In fact, Iâm not quite sure how I ever managed to view programs at a specified time each week while suffering through commercials and having to wait seven days to see what happens next. Try watching â24â like that. I watched âFit for Christmasâ when it premiered. Itâs a ninety minute movie stretched to over two hours with a bevy of awful commercials. Thatâs not the films fault. Commercials suck. Luckily, you can stream it on their website if you missed it.
âFit for Christmasâ is a fun option for gym rats and couch potatoes alike. I hope Amanda Kloots returns for more holiday themed films in the future.
âFit for Christmasâ is currently available to stream on CBS.com
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