"A Christmas Frequency" tries to tune into the holiday spirit but ends up as a static-filled mess of clichés and predictable plotlines. The concept of setting up blind dates on air could have been a fresh take on the Christmas rom-com genre, but instead, we're served a re-gifted plot that feels like it's been under the tree for too long. The radio show in the movie is dying, and unfortunately, no amount of on-air chemistry can save the lackluster script and the underwhelming performances.
Watching the Kenzie juggle her affections between her boss and a radio caller is as cringe-worthy as overhearing a breakup on a bus. The movie aims for heartwarming but lands squarely in the territory of second-hand embarrassment. Ansley Gordon's acting is as convincing as a mall Santa in July, and the romantic tension is about as thick as the budget seems to have been. It's a wonder that the frequency didn't cut out halfway through filming, saving us all from the awkward dialogue and forced festive cheer.
In a final act of desperation, "A Christmas Frequency" tries to wrap everything up with a big red bow, delivering a resolution that's supposed to be touching but feels as rushed as a last-minute Christmas Eve mall run. The choice between head and heart is less of a dilemma and more of a foregone conclusion in a film where the only true surprise is that the runtime felt twice as long as the 12 days of Christmas. If you're looking for a film to add to your holiday tradition, keep scanning the channels-this one's just static.
