Christmas Full Of Grace Review: Predictable story, lame jokes and lazily written characters makes this a boring watch

1.5/5

Just a few days before Christmas, Carlinhos and Graca cross paths in chaotic circumstances. Carlinhos is not looking forward to it, and Graca has missed the chance to spend Christmas with her family. She offers to go with Carlinhos in the role of his fake girlfriend so that his family will see how well he's doing and she can have the family Christmas she wants.

As she gets the family of Carlinhos to open up and wins Carlinhos over as well, her unusual nature thoroughly unsettles the family. But when her secret is exposed, Carlinhos questions her, leading her to walk away. Later, he realises how much he truly cares for her and goes to great lengths to win her back.

The film does a good job of capturing the settings and the overall spirit of Christmas. The costume department can put forth all of their effort because there are so many different characters, and the cast is decked out in some striking attire.

Although Gessica Kayane gives her all as the larger-than-life Graca, there are times when the character can be annoying. She has the right intention, but she's loud and annoying. Most of the time, her antics are funny, but as time goes on, they start to feel a little over the top.

Carlinhos is portrayed by Sérgio Malheiros as being much more restrained, while having certain moments of panic. Malheiros does the best he can with the dialogues given to him even though the character isn't particularly well conceived.

The writing really detracts from the other members of the ensemble, who otherwise do a good job of fitting into their characters. 

Even though it is highly predictable, the movie's second half is unexpectedly adult and subdued, which is an improvement over what comes before. This concluding scene makes the story much more bearable.

You have undoubtedly seen the plot of Christmas Full of Grace before. Graca is screaming about various topics while a series of absurdities are put together. You're left wondering how characters in these Christmas movies fall in love with each other without rhyme or reason as Carlinhos fell for her without spending any time with her.

When it comes to the main characters' overall journey and how little the plot tries to do things differently, it is unoriginal. The writing is subpar and cliched. The storyline itself doesn't seem to have been carefully thought out, and it's full of gaps and occasionally frustrating moments.

The movie Christmas Full of Grace follows a predetermined formula. It deserves to be termed everything that is used to describe a trope-heavy, predictable movie that shows a plot that is used in practically every other written romantic comedy.