'Countdown to Christmas' movie review: 'Good Morning Christmas!'

No movie as straightforward as 'Good Morning Christmas!' (premiering Nov. 25 as part of the Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas) should be this oversimplified or have as many dangling plot threads that go nowhere.

In short: Contentious TV co-hosts Melissa (Alison Sweeney, 'Christmas at Holly Lodge') and Brian (Marc Blucas, 'Holiday for Heroes') are sent to cover a small town Christmas. While the pair pretend to get along for appearances, they truly to get to know each other during the last week of their show.

'Good Morning' is entirely dependent on the concept of two co-workers - who don't like each other in the least - pretending to like each other. It's all for public appearances. And it's not just that they simply irritate each other - there's a fundamental lack of respect that seethes in their clenched smiles. This is a problem for two reasons: the 'Good Morning' pair are shallow characters ... and worse still, they are wedged into a forced plot that bends over backward to trap Melissa and Brian together and practically coerce them into "falling in love."

She's a bit of a stick-in-the-mud and he's nonchalant bordering on lazy. She doesn't like surprises and he doesn't plan. Melissa and Brian are ridiculously superficial characters solely defined by their mutual lack of respect. It's one thing to have two characters who seem like oil and water - but their strained work relationship is literally the only thing that defines Melissa and Brian.

Melissa's touchstone is her sister Kate ... who isn't really a character. She's more like Melissa's inner voice - just personified as an extraneous, unnecessary character. Supporting characters should either add some zest to the script or gently nudge a protagonist's character arch - but Kate merely parrots back whatever Melissa is clearly thinking herself. Similarly, the show's producer Jennifer seems singularly focused on tripping up and locking Melissa and Brian together at every opportunity. She just keeps springing surprises on them. It's literally the only thing she does.

To the movie's credit, Sweeney and Blucas keep 'Good Morning' afloat. They don't have a lot to work with in terms of character depth for Melissa and Brian, but they're fine as the nearly one-dimension pair of co-leads. Frankly, Sweeney and Blucas deserve better. And when the story doesn't know where to go, it simply pads the runtime with some clunky misunderstanding.

Final verdict: 'Good Morning' should make the demise of the morning TV show seem terrible - but honestly ... it would be fine if Mel and Brian went their separate ways ... or if they stay together. The movie doesn't make a strong case either way.

Score: 2 turtle doves (out of 5)

'Good Morning Christmas!' is rated TV-G and has a running time of 90 minutes. The movie premieres on The Hallmark Channel on Nov. 25.