Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 10+
A predictable holiday romance lacks spark.
Not present
Videos and photos
What is the story?
IN SNOWED FOR CHRISTMAS, a blizzard traps a boss and his employee in a luxury mountain resort on a meeting with an important potential client. Adrian (Henderson Wade), the head of a historic preservation/renovation company, has brought Rachel (Zarrin Darnell-Martin) with him to compete for a big job in Italy. As its new marketing director, she represents, along with Diane (Josephine Buettner), the company’s penetrating and self-important architect. Diane and Adrian had a brief relationship and she plans to rekindle their affair. Adrian and Rachel have the newly opened hotel to themselves until the roads clear the next day, just enough time to fall in love with each other. But it’s all so new that they’re not sure if it’s really happening, or if it would be right, given their working relationship. Will it work?
Is it good?
Stupid plot, check. Unforgettable acting, check it out. Banal plot, check. Cheeky songs, check, check and check. This is innocuous enough, but how much better would it be if fully realized people evoked our sympathies rather than the cookie-cutter humanoids we find on screen. Cartoon Diane couldn’t be funnier if she wore a necklace that said “Villain.” The hotel manager fakes himself through a sad French-Canadian accent. The couple knows their romance is going to work when they discover they both love sardines!
Zarrin Darnell-Martin miraculously rises above dialogue and plot to give a convincing performance as Rachel. Snowed in for Christmas is to good movies what sugar-free cotton candy would be to a County Fair staple — an ill-conceived imitation meant to be consumed only by those with no other choice.
Talk to your kids about…
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Families can discuss how the movie tells us who the villain is. Do you think Diane has any awareness of how unpleasant she is? Why or why not?
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Do you think the romance between new hire Rachel and her boss will last? What good or bad effects can such a relationship have on the dynamics of their work environment?
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What does the film say about relationships between women?
Did we miss something about diversity?
Research shows a connection between children’s healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in the media. That’s why we’ve added a new “Different Representations” section to our reviews, which will be published continuously. You can help us help children