Review: “Deck the Heart” (2021)

What should be a charming holiday romance about a successful NYC businessman inheriting his grandfather's Maine lake house stumbles from the start.

The premise holds promise — event planner Meredith Block is hired by Christian Ackerman to decorate his inherited property, presumably to fulfill some requirement in his grandfather's Will.

As a romance novelist myself, I recognize the potential in this setup. Unfortunately, what unfolds is more reminiscent of a first table read than a polished production.

The awkwardness between our leads is palpable — and not in the intentional, meet-cute way. Every interaction feels stiff and unrehearsed, as if the actors met just moments before filming. This culminates in what should be the movie’s crowning moment: the declaration of love and final kiss.

Instead, we’re treated to what I can only describe as a master class in poor blocking.

The blocking in the final scene is particularly problematic. The actors are positioned almost a car length apart, forcing our heroine to perform what amounts to a geometric feat just to reach her love interest’s lips.

Christian’s attempt at tender gestures — touching her arm, caressing her cheek — come across as hesitant and unnatural, like an actor unsure whether his improvised movements will make the final cut.

Having grown up watching the fluid grace of Cary Grant and his contemporaries, these mechanical performances are particularly jarring.

Even Christian’s boss, played by a character actor I’ve seen perform competently elsewhere, delivers his lines with such exaggerated flair that it borders on parody.

The lake house’s interior design choices left me cold — quite literally, given the sterile, utterly white walls that dominate the space. As an interior designer, I found myself longing for even a hint of color to warm up the atmosphere.

However, the Christmas decorating sequences provide some relief, offering genuinely enjoyable moments as Meredith transforms the space.