All I Need for Christmas

7.9 stars.

What stands out about this film is the tension between the leads and also the lead male and his younger sister. While the romance is a long time coming, the buildup to it is palpable, so it's sufficient for me to come away refreshed.

There are several moments when the leads gaze into each other's eyes, but you know they're not going to kiss, they're not even leading up to it. But even in those moments you see there is potential. I thoroughly enjoy this type of tension in romantic films. So I went along with it, and the end was quite rewarding.

The cast were stellar and the story was good. Yes, this is still quite a formulaic Hallmark film, however It feels much different than most. The lead actors have a certain level of anticipation and a dramatic approach that is more prominent than most movies of this genre. They created a certain level of tension, and it was quite entertaining. It was probably the Director who orchestrated it. Along with the sister's competitive nature, and how it caused a lot of stress for the leading man, the nuanced performances were abundantly effective.

Will watch this every other year.