Il Natale dei miei ricordi

(I've put enough negative reviews here on Hallmark Christmas movies, so I really need to comment on one that I like.)

By keeping the story small--meaning just the family spending time in the house with the few forays into town--there weren't opportunities for multiple implausibilities. I know that's a negative way to put it, but by contrast with other Hallmark Christmas movies I've seen, this one didn't have so many distractions. Mira Sorvino is very winsome in her role. It's easy to see how this family would come to love her. And Cameron Mathison plays the suitably low-key , gentle, and supportive man a lost woman would be glad to have helping her in such a situation.

The first and only review of this movie a month ago was so bad I decided not to watch it. Then I decided that since I liked the plot summary so much I would watch it. I'm so glad I did. I loved it. It was a well done Happy to watch movie. Mira Sovino in the lead reminds me so much of a Mrs Walton/Mrs Ingles and Sandra Bullock with her smile and mannerisms. Also loved Cameron Matheson in the lead. Now I see there are four more reviews for this movie and they are all great. The lead actor and actress are actually in their late 40's. Recognized the Grampa from the Christmas Lodge. Could have kept watching this movie loved it.

I have to admit I'm a sucker for these movies. I recorded them and then we watch at our (retired) convenience. Then I delete them after watching. Not so with this one. It's actually still there and we watched it a couple more times. This is a step above the rest of the Hallmark movies. The story was simple, and only a couple of small plot holes but overall quite good. It was well acted in as much of a minimalist way as is possible with the genre. We love ALL the characters from kids to sports writer who gave us a couple of chuckles as well as face palms. It's one we wished it was to be a hour longer to expand on all the characters.

Love this movie. I just read on IMDb that Cameron Mathison just had surgery for kidney cancer. Prayers sent his way.

One thing many of these romances miss is enough interaction between the leads. It's not easy to show believable relationship building, but the scripts which try, and which get it right, are a cut above the rest.

This one tried and hit a home run.

Cameron Mathison always plays well as a guy "who has it together". Here he and his kids find a woman who's wandering on the highway after a wreck, and she's lost her memory. She's stuck with them during a blizzard (yes, contrived but it keeps the characters in the same place).

"Jennifer's" identity remains a mystery to "John" and the small town he lives near. In the meantime she melds into the family as the romance builds.

We watch this one every year. Highly recommended.