Christmas Casanova
Reviewed by Lisa Sue
Unlike Chris who has the Universe picking his next Christmas movies, I look out to the great beyond, that is the massive list of Christmas Movies growing by the day and just pick the one that speaks to me. Now, Christmas Casanova spoke to me partially because of alliteration, which I know is totally judging a book by its cover. And also because when you think Casanova, is Christmas even the on the list of top 5 things you would associate with him? Probably not, which is why I was intrigued by the set up. Spoiler- After watching all 89 mins, the main guy Daniyal is many things, but a Cassanova he is not. A little background to Daniyal, he’s a work obsessed ad exec who’s having issues landing his new client. He is somewhat pre occupied as he was supposed to be spending Christmas in Vermont with his bestie Tanya, but due to a tree accident Tanya’s parents are coming to NYC for Christmas and spending time with Tanya and her new boyfriend Cliff. It is when he sees his fairytale Christmas slipping away that Daniyal realizes that he’s in love with Tanya.
Now stay with me people as we try and break down the set up, which has to be one of the more convoluted ones I’ve encountered. So our heroine is Elise, a podcaster who is currently hiding from her boss because she thinks her long form story telling podcast doesn’t have a place with new management who want more instant gratification. Her bestie is fellow podcaster Bonnie, who’s hosting a live streaming event and ropes Elise into helping. First call is Daniyal, who says that he’s in love with his best friend, and how can he win her back from Cliff. Going against her MO, Elise calls out Daniyal and says he only thinks he’s in love with his best friend now that she isn’t available, and that he will get over it. And truly, this is where the movie should have ended, but it doesn’t. Podcast Boss Lady hears this “sassy” (her words, not mine) version of Elise and is like she wants more of that Elise! And the idea springs into boss lady’s head- how about doing a podcast on Daniyal with the premise to him of Elise helping him get the girl, winning Tanya over by showing her that he has more Christmas spirit than new boy friend Cliff. To get Tanya and her family to agree to the podcast, the podcast company would host them in a luxury NYC apartment and Elise would be their personal guide to the most fabulous Christmas in NYC! Everyone has a price, and an all expense paid trip to NYC at Christmas was apparently enough for Tanya and her family to agree to this scheme. Daniyal, showing some dignity and pride, was like no he wouldn’t want to exploit his friend and her family like that on a podcast! But jealousy will make you do strange things, and with very little manipulating by Elise, Daniyal is on board. Let the Christmas Spirit competition, Daniyal vs Cliff, taking in all the best NYC has to offer; commence! But really according to Boss Lady the podcast will be about the tension- Boss Lady doesn’t care if Daniyal wins or loses Tanya, either way she sees a podcast gold mine!
Are you still with me? Cause if you aren’t, I totally understand. And know that I watch these movies dear reader, so you don’t have to. And I too would have dropped out after the podcast premise was outlined to me. But like a marathoner, I pushed passed the wall and kept on watching. I’m sure the same nausea, dizziness, and pain that I got post the wall is just like what runners experience, minus the runner high. First up is some pre work before Tanya’s family arrives. Elise and Daniyal personalize stockings to hang up, so even though this Christmas is on the company dime it is meant to feel homey. Along with Elise’s Christmas twist on Manhattan drinks- drum roll please, add in nutmeg! Daniyal calls out Elise for this, thinking this is small time, that they have to step it up! And frankly he doesn’t like making a stocking for rival Cliff, which I totally am with Daniyal on these things. And let me say it is this ability of the characters to call out each other on their BS that kinda ruins any Christmas magic that was here, just saying. I mean the characters are saying and commenting the things I’m thinking, which isn’t right!
Anyway, the first big adventure is seeing the Christmas window displays on Fifth Avenue, which Elise and Daniyal enjoy but Tanya…is busy on her phone. So not a winner, but then again what did Elise expect? I don’t know how long she’s lived in NYC, but she is a homebody who’s winging it, scared Boss Lady and/or Daniyal realize the fraud she’s perpetuating. From the early screenings Boss Lady’s notes are the podcast needs more tension, it is too nice, too “mushy” (again, her words not mine) To which ever direct Daniyal is like why doesn’t he just tell Tanya how he feels? Silly man, cause the movie would end there, so of course…the direct path is forgone, and we proceed again to Adventure #2- snow shoeing. Apparently that is Tanya’s family’s favorite Christmas tradition, and they were pleased to find a place in the city where they could get their snow shoe on, along with some hot chocolate. It is at among the snow, the grove of Christmas trees, basking in post snow ball fight glee that Tanya confesses to Elise that she’s starting to wonder, that ever so slight twinge; has she been blind to what’s been in front of her all along? This was a different side to Daniyal that Tanya wasn’t expecting….and what does Elise do? First she lies to Tanya that she isn’t taping, second she agrees that she won’t use this confession, and then three? Three will blow your mind, Elise tells Tanya to get Cliff to come early! We can only imagine the devil Boss Lady was on Elise’s shoulders making her do it. The movie makes great strides to emphasize that Elise doesn’t insert herself into her podcast, she lets her subjects shine, she excels at finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Again, we can only imagine jealousy, mixed with desperation that if this podcast doesn’t go well she will be out of job is what motivated Elise to act so out of character.
While Tanya is being bombarded with lets say luke warm twinges, the team of Elise and Daniyal continue to spend time together. They go for ice cream, which as pointed out in the movie is kinda of silly for Christmas as it is already so cold outside…but it is countered that you can enjoy ice cream at Christmas time without fear of it melting. Which while a true statement, doesn’t persuade me but I did find the ice cream inclusion noteworthy. They were eating the ice cream with gloves on, which seems like a hot mess, but no one is uber concerned with doing laundry in these movies. Turns out Daniyal wasn’t fooled by Elise’s claims to be expert on Christmas in the city, but he doesn’t mind. They are a team, and despite his initial skepticism with the Manhattans he’s liked the game plan that Elise has deployed so far. In return, he does ask her for one real hard truth, they’ve been so focused on winning Tanya over, but what is Elise’s favorite Christmas tradition? That would be getting some Christmas cookies from Helene’s bakery, and sitting on a park bench, missing her dead mom (Mom was totally murdered, that Lifetime movie coming soon) In exchange Daniyal admits that all he wants for Christmas, is his family to come and visit.
So bonding, just not the way Elise intended. Cue adventure three, seeing that a more intimate and cozy setting was required Elise opts for game night. Tanya’s parents are there, I don’t even recall what game is played but this adventure is notable in that Tanya’s dad snaps a very nice pic of Daniyal and Elise…and Cliff arrives! Dum dum dum! All this does is force Elise to question, what is the ending of this story? Is Tanya right for Daniyal? Elise needs to get some distance, to get some perspective to allow room in her mind for a solution (ending) to present itself. I’m not sure I completely get Elise’s thought process here, but just repeating in her own words what she’s planning. Doesn’t help that in reviewing the recordings Elise has so far, Boss Lady is like, she loves the love triangle between Daniyal, Tanya, and Elise. Which Elise can’t deny there is something there. But for the sake of Daniyal and the podcast, she’s just gonna ignore. And then are we ready for the big grand finale adventure? That would be a carriage ride through Central Park- with the initial plan being Daniyal and Tanya have a carriage to themselves while Tanya’s parents and Elise ride in the other. Fate/Destiny intervenes, and the carriages set out with Cliff, Tanya, and Daniyal together. What drama would ensue? Turns out, while initially not a fan Daniyal is slowing starting to realize…he is not really upset that Tanya is with Cliff. Turns out, maybe Elise had it right on the call in show, that Daniyal would get over Tanya. He comes to Elise’s house to tell her that, in coded terms like maybe plot b (the Daniyal Elise Train) should overtake the main plot a- the Daniyal Tanya train. It is then when Daniyal is reviewing some of the recordings (completely getting on Elise’s computer without permission) that he hears the conversation Elise and Tanya had about having Cliff come down early and that my friends is the break. I mean based on the set up we knew it would end ugly- the whole thing is based on lies, deception, and betrayal vibes likes crazy…and we’re sitting here for like 70 mins waiting for the bubble to burst, but ultimately it isn’t all those untruths that upset Daniyal, just the one where Elise gets Tanya to invite Cliff down earlier than expected. And boom, that’s the end of Daniyal’s involvement with the podcast. He knows he can’t stop Elise from using what’s recorded, but he can’t let Tanya and her family be embarrassed like that, and he hopes that Elise does the right thing.
Which gets Elise thinking, what is the right thing? Daniyal apologizes to Tanya and her family, who were quite forgiving as they brunched in their luxury apartment rental. Tanya and Daniyal admit that over the course of this sham podcast there were feelings but ultimately, they are better off as friends. No ghosting, no name calling…no face slapping, which we were disappointed at. And then Daniyal even apologies to Cliff, who I guess in the end won the Christmas spirit contest? Not only does Daniyal get off easy with Tanya and her crew, turns out the pictures Tanya’s dad snapped with him and Elise were enough to win over his hard to please client, so Daniyal killing in on the work front as well. And then he got his real Christmas wish, his own family will come visit him for Christmas next year, no need to keep using Tanya’s family to fill that void.
Regarding Elise and the podcast, well Elise broke her cardinal rule and inserted herself into the narrative, there was something of an apology in there to Daniyal as well as an admission of her feelings. Which has the double effect of getting the podcast Boss Lady wanted, who now admits that the long form story telling Elise excels at does have a place at the company as well as getting Daniyal to forgive her and they all lived happily ever after. After all this, Daniyal is a little more attuned to people and feelings, a little more confident in his own hunches, not just what a focus group is telling him. And Elise….well, she found the missing ingredient to the cider recipe, it was rosemary. She got out of her comfort zone, made some mistakes, and learned to live with what she’s done. Life after all is what happens when we’re planning to live…those in between moments. Well, I got to say, for having stuck around past the truly absurd premise and the running commentary that was looking to derail this very tenuous plan at any moment Elise and Daniyal deserve each other. I can’t say I was rooting for them from the start, but with such a rough beginning their characters could only improve by the end.
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