User reviews

Maggie (Jessy Schram) is producer for a cooking Christmas special by Julie Wise. She is forced by the network to work with a former producer, one of Julie's son (Chad Michael Murray) and record Christmas segments for the show all across the country, during which she gets to know Danny and makes it her mission to reunite all three siblings.

It was a pretty good one! Both leads were great, Jessy is becoming one of my favorites HM ladies, amazing storyline, good chemistry and a road trip! What else can you ask for? It contains only a few of the typical cliches we know.

It shows us what Christmas and that time of the year should be: about being next to your loved ones. Definitely watch this one.

This was better than expected, the story was a bit different which is nice to see from Hallmark, the acting was good and it had some genuine emotion.

Hallmark's Christmas output is very variable and 2018 was a mixed year for them. Some though are above average level and there are some surprisingly very enjoyable ones amongst the average and less films that there is a good deal of in their output. Along with my love of Christmas and that it was one of the films in my Christmas Hallmark/Lifetime film completest quest, my main reasons for seeing 'Road to Christmas' were because of liking the concept and having liked the cast in other things.

'Road to Christmas' may not be an exceptional film and has shortcomings. Yet it managed to be to me a quite charming and enjoyable film and in the surprisingly good category of Hallmark's Christmas output. Of a very mixed bunch, 'Road to Christmas' is towards being one of the better Hallmark Christmas films overall and one of the better ones of 2018. A festive cracker it may not quite be, but it's not a humbug either and overall this is a road worth taking.

It is predictable story-wise with a lot of familiar Hallmark tropes with not much fresh done with it. It does get treacly in spots, a common problem with Hallmark well before 'Road to Christmas' and just as bad and perhaps even worse now.

Do agree that it maybe could have had fewer characters, which would have helped give development to the characters that were actually crucial to the story.

On the other hand, 'Road to Christmas' is very professionally filmed and the locations are simply beautiful. A lot of Hallmark's Christmas films suffer from being over-scored, meaning being too constantly used and too loud. That isn't so big a problem here. While the characters are not meaty or original, none of them annoyed me and nor did they bore me. They also had personality traits that appealed and any negative traits were not exaggerated, which can be a common problem with female lead characters in Hallmark's Christmas output.

The acting is well above average, with charming performances from Jessy Schram and Chad Michael Murray. Their chemistry always looks natural and is easy to get behind. Teryl Rothery steals the show in my view as the most interesting character. The dialogue can be treacly, but it did generally make me smile and didn't take itself too seriously (while not treating things as too much of a joke either). The story is light-hearted and heart-warming, even if originality pretty much goes out the window. It isn't sluggish and it is not as contrived as other Hallmark Christmas films. The messaging is sweet and didn't find myself being beaten around the head with it.

Summing up, nice film as long as not too much is expected from it. 7/10

This movie was very well done and I was tempted to rate it a Perfect 10. The ending was so good (eyes got moist) that if I rated it right after watching, it would have gotten a 10. I loved Teryl Rothery in Cedar Cove and she was a delight here as the Cooking show host Julia Wise. Her producer Maggie and son Danny are working on the live Christmas show from Vermont. In doing so they fly/drive from Los Angeles and have some great adventures. I loved how they showed their journey on a map of the USA and this made the title "Road to Christmas" fit the movie. There is also a 2006 movie by the same title which is also excellent, but much different story. Here we get a Christmas tree farm, snow man making contest, white elephant gift exchange, cute dog looks, train ride, sleigh ride, and a Christmas song sung by the actors at the end. Maggie is high energy and Danny is a bit opposite. This was very enjoyable. Since they are making a Christmas special, some of the story is revealed in the video clips. Teryl Rothery as Julia Wise helped make the movie.

7/10 - fun Hallmark movie that helped get me into the holiday spirit

I really liked this movie. It was different from the usual. Chad Michael Murray was perfect for Danny. He took me back to the beginning of a real relationship. His brothers were great, too. I really liked the whole package!

Jessy Schram (Pitch Perfect) and Chad Murray (One Tree Hill) are the romantic leads surrounding the theme of a Christmas Television Special being produced.

Will they outrun the storm? Will they manage to get all three sons to the location to surprise the host? Will the power go out on live tv?

Enjoyable. Worth a watch.

In LA, TV producer Maggie Baker (Jessy Schram) works for home style guru Julia Wise (Teryl Rothery). With pressure from the network, Julia needs to change the Christmas special and recalls her son Danny (Chad Michael Murray) to the show. He used to produce the show before Maggie's time. Maggie's secret plan is to reunite the three Wise brothers for Julia.

It's the classic romantic clash of a devil-may-care cad and an uptight heroine. There isn't much more than that here. It's a Hallmark Christmas romance special. On a super superficial take, Jessy Schram used to play the fragile ingenue or the damsel in distress. Her stick figure really sells her fragility. That persona goes away over time. Quite frankly, Matreya Scarrwener may be a better fit for the role. Both would be fine. The romance is fine but it's nothing super. The premise is not that pun worthy. Also the other brothers are not the most charismatic. At the very least, they need to be comic relief. This is generally pretty bland although the family reunion is pretty sweet.

I Have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films and Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

Review Date 11/19/2018

Los Angeles television producer Maggie Baker unwittingly falls for Danny Wise, the son and former producer of his mother's popular annual Christmas special Julia Wise Lifestyle which is basically "Martha Stewart" . Maggie's has secret plan that can bring her boss the best Christmas she has had in years! Now roadblock lie in her way but Maggie uses her charm and determination to make sure her plan is 100% successful.

Not a great movie. It borders on being "boring" but at times you know what scenes you can "Click through". See the film has a rail thin plot stretched out into a full length feature film .

A festive concoction set in the ruthless world of TV production, where nearly all concerned are preparing for the TV Christmas Special, hosted by a much-loved (but strangely charmless) fictional character named 'Julia Wise' - a TV chef/lifestyle guru with a dysfunctional family of three adopted sons, who haven't celebrated Christmas together in many years.

Through nepotism, one of the sons pursues a career in TV production, and having started out as an intern with Momma after graduating from college returns years later to co-produce the annual 'Christmas Special' with the female producer/momma fan, who was recruited to replace him.

This working partnership sows the seeds for romance in the setting of a TV production, with a festive tinge. If there were sparks between these two the camera didn't catch them.

Though the location shooting and overall photography are very good for the setting, the story (what matters!) is meandering and convoluted, with too many characters and not enough charm or witty banter to win me over. And the smaltz is ladled out in heavy doses towards the end like overly sweet & sickly Yuletide Punch.

One sip is enough!

I never blame the actors when encountering crud like this - the premise is interesting enough but can we really care about overly-competitive people who work in the ratings-obsessed world of TV?

Notice how often I've had to refer to TV six times already in this review! This movie is about the rather shallow media world rather than Christmas. If you like the glossy surface stuff but nothing remotely deep or thought-provoking you'll absolutely love this snow-laden festive caper. Saying that you may want to iron shirts or wrap presents while it's on in the background.

Towards the end I found the characters so wooden and charmless I didn't care what happened to their families/romance/prospects/lives yada yada or Momma's annual Christmas Special. Heartwarming it ain't.

The cloying punch metaphor aside, this over-stuffed roasted bird is a glass of festive fizz that's eventually served at room temperature - no bubbles.

3 out of 10 for the movie overall but 7/10 for set design and location shooting.

This film really brings you to the holiday spirit it was cute for the girl to reunite the three sons and has a great message

Jessy Schram, now a part of the ever-expanding One Chicago universe, plays a TV producer whose job of producing a Christmas special is cut in half this year, as she is asked to co-produce it with the star host's son, played by One Tree Hill's Chad Michael Murray, who seems to have made himself a home at Hallmark recently. Stop me if you've heard this one before, but at first they don't get on very well...and then they do! It's a tale as old as time.

As I alluded to, this trope has been done before, but the combination of Schram and CMM is a good one. What sets Road to Christmas apart, other than the afore-mentioned stars, is the family angle as well, lending the otherwise fairly lightweight plot some welcome emotional depth.

Above-average Hallmark.

Sure a girl meets a guy in this movie but it's much more about the guy's family. A very different storyline to the usual Christmas movie. I was particularly moved by this movie, perhaps because I'm the oldest of three brothers and could relate so well to much of it. The leads made it all believable without going soppy.

The family. The love. The try to reunite three siblings with their mother. And Chad Michael Murray giving a nice character ( his more red nose than Rudolph is one of good things ). But, for me, it is one of the most depressing films from large Hallmark Christmas serie. For reasons who I can not explain. For many, a typical Hallmark or just a lovely movie. Its basic virtue - the accent to family, from the old couple and their tree farm to the Bakers and the sons of Julia. A nice aspect - the travel on the map. And, sure, the atmosphere.

Can the producers NOT find a hairdresser who doesn't think EVERY female movie star must have Ringlets!! Honestly, I'm so sick of everyone having childlike ringlets!! Let them grow up & have adult hair, please! And please, they're NOT dRumpf women!! Does everyone have to wear high heels through every snowy condition!! So tired of high heels constantly! And does NO one ever remove boots or shoes when they come inside from outdoor snowy conditions!? They walk through all those homes borrowed for filming in their outdoor footwear!! Every home is a gigantic mansion!! Does it always have to look like Home Alone!! A bit of realism would be welcome! Thanks for listening. It really is my hubby who selects the viewing & he's genuinely a fan of the Countdown to Christmas films! Please don't tell his buddies!

8.0 stars.

Another good one! My initial feeling as the credits roll is there should have been a sequel. This story, the actors, the whole production demanded another installment, alas it didn't happen and I'm sad about that.

'Road to Christmas' is comprised of an abundance of goodness all in one package. Two driven and very professional young TV producers are assigned to travel the country to create a Christmas TV special, and they have one week. Both are very driven individuals and precise with their work, but also opinionated - two peas in a pod. At first they butt heads, but per usual Hallmark, they will end up together.

There is nothing particularly amazing about this movie except that all the actors gel and are so likable. The comradery oozes off the screen. I can't imagine any story would fail with this combination of actors performing it together. They could have read out of the phone book and entertained our butts off. Where is the sequel? Why no sequel?

Julie Wise is the star of a Martha Stewart style show ... back when Martha had a show and before she did time for insider trading. Teryl Rothery, a favorite of our as the doctor on Stargate SG-1, plays Julie.

Because of some network paranoia about doing an entirely live show (for the first time) for her Christmas special, she brings in her son, who produced her first two seasons, to work with the young woman who has produced the last five seaons and promoted the idea of a live show.

Chad Michael Murray (a dead ringer for Andrew Stevens) plays the son, along with Jessy Schram as the producer. The new idea is to come with with a few pre-taped segments to bolster the live show.

The result is an interesting cross-country road trip which not only results on Christmas themed events, but bringing families together.

Definitely worth a watch.

This felt remarkably lacking in Christmas spirit, as if the participants were simply acting out what was written down in the script without feeling any real motivation for their actions. Plenty of surface Christmas detail (decorations, snow and other cliches), but this lacked a heart.

If the protagonists, the two co-producers of the live Christmas special, were supposed to overcome their differences and grow to like/love each other, it would have helped if there'd been some clear conflict between them at the beginning -- but they never seemed to lock horns.

And the idea of reuniting dispersed (sic) brothers, didn't work for me because they were adopted and couldn't have looked less like members of the same family. That's not a comment on adoptive versus non-adoptive families, but the physical dissimilarities here felt like distractingly random casting.

As another reviewer mentioned, Julia Wise (played by Teryl Rothery) is, for someone who's supposed to be a lifestyle guru, surprisingly charmless. It's either another failing of the script or Teryl Rothery is simply miscast (her smooth forehead and resultant lack of facial expressiveness, didn't help).

I really enjoyed this one. It's not the first time I've seen it and it won't be the last. Apart from the fact that Chad Michael Murray is just the coolest, sexiest man, it's actually a charming story that reminds us how important it is to be with our families at Christmas and how certain traditions are necessary to keep that spirit within us, but that we should also be prepared to embrace new practices and add them to our own.

The lady playing Julie Wise is actually quite an under-rated actor. I've seen her in quite a few of these films and her Kim Cattrall looks and manner are always well performed.

A cute story about a TV show getting ready to go live at Christmas incorporating the standard romance as well as a family theme.