The Noel Diary
Charles Shyer’s feel-good flick, based on Richard Paul Evans’ eponymous novel, is perfect for a ‘Netflix and chill’ evening.
Barret Doss, Skye and Justin Hartley
Despite its categorisation by Netflix, this is not a Christmas movie per se (the season is a clever hook to hang it on). And while the gratuitous screengrab of a shirtless Justin Hartley (in bed) is delicious eye-candy, it is misleading because neither is this a romcom.
The famous, enormously popular and wealthy novelist Jake Turner (Hartley) gets a call that his estranged mother has died. So he makes the trip to the house he inherits to find she was an extreme but well organised hoarder (anyone want dozens of bottles of neatly boxed hand sanitiser?). The only female in his life is his gorgeous Border Collie called Ava.
In the house Jake literally uncovers a valuable Steinway and finds a box marked ‘Personal’ containing a diary. The diary. Then the genre planets align, and Rachel (Barrett Doss) appears on the kerb across the street, who is an adopted young woman engaged to a stable but boring accountant. She believes the unanswered questions relating to her biological mother are in the Turner home. Together, she and Jake declutter the house as well as unravel their great personal and family losses and histories.
Charles Shyer’s film is an artistic work full of quotes (“they say time heals all wounds – it doesn’t”), literary references (Kerouac and Frost to name but two), and appropriate music that grounds the narrative rather than telling viewers how to feel (Nina Simone is a beautiful link between Jake and Rachel). And a running theme is “the universe rewards the brave.”
Each of the main characters is creative, well-read and somehow believable. The chemistry between Jake and Rachel is evident and seemingly effortless, and the painter Ellie (Bonnie Bedelia) is the delightful long-time next-door neighbour everyone wishes they had. James Remar puts in a strong performance as the stoic, lonely Scott Turner, and Essence Atkins delivers an achingly poignant portrayal as Noel Hayden. And an uncredited Ava is a subtle hidden gem, essential to bringing the story together (“Life’s all about the chase”).
Like the flakes in a snow globe, The Noel Diary swirls gently through topics of adoption, abandonment, death, risk, love, security, reliability and long-shot chances without becoming heavy-handed. The results are beautiful and eminently watchable.
So suspend disbelief, overlook the flaws, embrace the heart-warming intentions, and cosy up for a ‘Netflix and chill’ evening. It is a film about family, hope, reconciliation of the past with the present, and wishing for miracles. Perhaps it is a Christmas film after all.
FRANCES PALMER CAMERON-WILSON
Cast: Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss, Essence Atkins, Bonnie Bedelia, James Remar, Aaron Costa Ganis, Jeff Corbett, Andrea Sooch, Lucia Spina, and Skye, uncredited (as Ava).
Dir Charles Shyer, Pro Timothy O. Johnson, Stephanie Slack, Margret H. Huddleston and Ridoyanul Hoq, Screenplay Charles Shyer, Rebecca Connor and David Golden, from the novel by Richard Paul Evans, Ph Ashley Rowe, Pro Des Caley Bisson and Aja Kai Rowley, Ed David Moritz and R.C. Fill, Music Dara Taylor, Costumes Jaqui Getty.
Johnson Production Group/Off Camera Entertainment-Netflix.
99 mins. USA. 2022. UK and US Rel: 24 November 2022. Cert. PG.