SIT. STAY. LOVE

Australia, 2021, 87 minutes, Colour.

Georgia Flood, Ezekiel Simat, Anthony Phelan, Christine Amor, Kaushik Das, Charlotte Stent, Anna McGahan, Leon Cain, Ling Cooper Tang, Joshua Pyman, Mansoor Noor.

Directed by Tori Garrett.

Dogs!

And we might add: dogs, cute, cute, cutest! (And three of them, despite having no owners, look the part, act the part, perfect dogs to be adopted.)

This is a Christmas story, Christmas in Vermont, in a small town, snow, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, winter rituals… For those not in the know, as happened with this reviewer, it is something of a revelation to find that this is an Australian film, filmed in Queensland, with an all-Australian cast, with the principal actors all coming from Brisbane! (It certainly would show American filmmakers that Australians can do America and Christmas very well!).

This is the story of Annie (Georgia Flood) who is an alpha-leader, a volunteer who has worked for in Nepal for three years, setting up schools, establishing libraries. who is returning home for a Christmas break before she gets a promotion and moves to Costa Rica. She is welcomed by her family who want her to stay at home. Her Aunt Claire (Christine Amor) tempts her with the prospect of adopting homeless dogs – Annie agrees but will spend her fortnight at home looking for adoptive owners.

She is surprised when she meets up with her old school debating partner/opponent, Dylan (Ezekiel Simat). We know we will not be surprised at what happens at the end with Annie and Dylan though she is! He is tall, dark and handsome, immediately liked by us the audience (and Aunt Claire declaring him both cute and adorable!).

This is a very nice town. In fact, throughout the whole film, every character is nice. And there are no suggestions that there could be any un-nice types around – though there is an offscreen threat to the vet that the animals have to be moved before Christmas. Which means that Annie has to go into leadership mode, organise an event to raise $10,000 for moving the animals. And we enjoy all her endeavours, rousing up people, putting on the pressure, working with Dylan, and all the time getting closer again to her father, the sad memories of her mother, and the rest of the family.

And she has been trying to get adoptive owners for the dogs, including a tough martial arts type, Stacey, and the owner of the vegetarian caravan diner, Jake. And persuading them to fill in the long ownership applications that she has written.

There is some drama towards the end when there is a power outage threatening the success of the event. But, Annie to the rescue with generators and all kinds of assistance.

The production logo states that the company’s aim is to entertain and inspire. The film is G rated, very much so, which means that everyone can watch it – and it is a nice, easy and undemanding entertainment, a kind of movie Christmas gift.

1. A folksy American story, Vermont and a small town, Christmas?
2. An Australian production, filmed in Australia, an Australian cast? Capturing the American atmosphere?
3. The small town, the streets, the shops, homes, veterinary surgery, the weather, the snow, the power outage? The barman for the event? The musical score? The range of Christmas songs for atmosphere?
4. Annie’s story, her work in Nepal, achievements, the school, education, the books? Strong leader? Absent for three years, affected by the death of her mother? Ambitions for promotion to Costa Rica? Her arrival, Phil and the taxi, her father, her aunt, sister and husband, niece, the atmosphere of the family? Hopes that Annie would stay? Aunt Claire and the device of adopting the dogs? Annie liking dogs, deciding to follow this?
5. Annie and her personality, in charge, strong, leadership and management? To the vet, meeting Dylan, memories of school, the debates, arguments? The choice of the dogs, taking all three? Deciding they should be adopted within her fortnight? Taking the three?
6. A dog film, for dog lovers? The three dogs, their personalities, appearance, activities, the touch of training, freedom? Stacy and her work with her dog? Jake, the vegetarian caravan, his dog? Annie and the small dog? And the elaborating the pages of the application form and Stacie’s and Jake’s response? The other animals at the vet, the cats, the hairless cat, the turtle? Making this a film for dog and animal lovers!
7. Dylan, his personality, tall dark and handsome, smiling, and Aunt Claire calling him cute and adorable? The audience response to him? His attraction to Annie? Her innate resistance? Yet working with him? Going to the Christmas functions in the town, working with Gary, his upset about not working with the animals, bad management, Dylan taking all the animals? The information from the authorities that they had to be moved by Christmas?
8. Annie, the posters, her campaigning, letterboxes, handing them out? Dylan later using the same method for the other animals?
9. The personal side, the time with Aunt Claire, memories, talking, advice? Aunt Claire and the dogs and allergies? Annie not spending time with her father, the eventual discussions with him, the shopping, his wanting her to buy the necklace, memories of her mother? The bond with her sister, the shop, the cakes? Her brother-in-law and friendship? Her special niece?
10. The ultimatum about the dogs, Annie deciding to have an event, Gary, collaboration (and the attraction to Aunt Claire), his building, a mess, the squad cleaning it out, painting, decorations, Christmas tree, Phil and the trees and his donation, Jake and the donation of the food?
11. The power outage, Annie taking charge, getting the generators, the candles, assuring people the function would go ahead – and people turning up, the target of $10,000, getting it easily, people enjoying the occasion? And the dancing?
12. Annie, getting the news of her promotion? The effect on her? The effect on Dylan? Eventually talking, her decision to stay? Dylan and his proposal?
13. And getting Stacy to take the hairless cat because she did not like fur? Jake and the turtle?
14. The title and its meaning for Annie to sit, stay, love?
15. A happy ending – nice characters, pleasant, a film for all the family?