Laughing All The Way
A Comedy Club Christmas
Aubri is the long-suffering assistant/writer to legendary comedienne Bella. Mike is a former stand-up comic who made it (semi) big, and is now back in town for the holidays.
I’ll be honest - for the first few minutes I wasn’t sure I would make it through. Then it got moderately better, however - again! - this is not a “Christmas movie.” It just happens to take place around Christmas.
Was I laughing all the way, as the title asked? Not really. But I also wasn’t crying tears of frustration, so…
The two leads were decently enjoyable here and there’s something about the Lifetime/non-Hallmark movies this year… Is it because there are fewer and those that do get made have a bit more budget?
Perhaps one of the best parts about this one is that it actually felt like winter in Ottawa Chicago-area, with plenty of snow on the ground and in the background of shots. No offence to the cotton clouds and foam, but you really can tell when it’s real snow.
Classic Christmas movie tropes:
Filmed in Canada (Ottawa)
Tree lighting
Walk through Christmas lights
Need to “save” something - in this case, the Christmas Eve Variety Show
Dressing up as Santa & Mrs. Claus
You’ll like this if…
You like comedy club stories, complete with an aging boss who still considers herself the star of the show, bad comedy sets, and cringe-worthy audition montages.
SCORE: 5/10
Tell me more!
Aubri Callahan is an aspiring comedian and ghost writer for Bella Delmonico, acclaimed stand up comic and owner of the Vista Theater. Performing at the Vista is a key step on the way to stardom and despite her natural talent, Aubri patiently waits for her time to shine, writing jokes for Bella in the shadows of the comedic giants that came before her. When The Vista Theater Variety Show lands in Aubri’s lap she must plan the whole event and find a headliner all before Christmas eve, just three weeks away. Aubri worries that the success of the show will be a make or break moment for her career. That is until famous Hollywood comedian Mike Baxter strolls into the theater. On the verge of his own life-changing opportunity, Mike has become nostalgic for the stage that launched his career, and he’s immediately charmed by Aubri’s quick witted banter. Fate seems to be calling Mike and Aubri up on stage at the Vista. There, Mike rediscovers his stand up roots and Aubri shows the world her inner funny girl, and as their journeys collide they fall hopelessly and hilariously in love, laughing all the way.
