User reviews

I enjoyed this Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Original Christmas movie. The story was not as strong as, for example, A Little Christmas Charm (such a wonderful film, by the way), nonetheless, it was a warm and charming Christmas mystery. The adventure begins when a mysterious key and a holiday riddle arrive at the doorsteps of Kate (played by Taylor Cole) and Kevin (played by Steve Lund), the two protagonists in this story. As the two solve the riddles and clues, we watch their relationship grow thru some warm and playful conversation and banter. Moreover, the story is engaging and has a kind and heartfelt feel to it (gets you in the Christmas spirit). The acting is superb and is what makes all the above work on screen, of course. Taylor Cole, a Hallmark regular, had a very strong performance. Steve Lund too was great (he was easy to connect with). The chemistry between the two was brilliant, I felt. The banter and kind/warm conversation were quite convincing, believable, which is always a plus in a romance film. As another reviewer here has pointed out, the writers could have done a better job developing the romantic connection. It just felt like there was a step missing between the warm and playful/flirtatious conversation and them falling in love. As I alluded to above, the movie did have a nice Christmas feel to it. The scenery, props, and sets were quite festive in Cedar Park. Overall, it is an entertaining movie, which is driven by some strong acting and delightful chemistry between the leads. It is a nice edition to Hallmark's 2020 Christmas movie lineup.

...with some of the other reviewers: this was nothing special. The plot barely kept the movie moving forward until it staggered to a Hallmark end. Steve Lund and Taylor Cole, two old hands at these things, were the only thing that made this worth watching, although the actress who played Liz, the female sidekick, was a bright spot. It's ok, I certainly wouldn't recommend against watching it, but it's not great.

Steve Lund was really charming in this one. This is the second movie I have seen with him as the male lead this Christmas. He was excellent in that one also. He infused his lines with personality and humor. Just wanted to register my appreciation of his performance. Signed, his mother. Just kidding. I have received no material compensation from Steve Lund or his affiliates for this review.

Taylor Cole and Steve Lund do a great job with what they are given, but the writers have really let them down on this one, The leads have good chemistry together but the story is weak, there aren't any interesting subplots, which makes the makes the pace seem slow, and the script doesn't really allow for any romantic connection to grow. You can see the possibility for romance in many scenes, and you're thinking any second now, but due to the writing, it just never happens. Lund's character remains aloof for nearly the entire movie. Luckily Cole and Lund are entertaining and fun to watch, so it's worth watching just to see these two work.

Christmas related quests are the latest thing. That's pretty much it for story except for where the quest comes from - many or even most viewers probably figured that out early. There are no great highs or lows and zero tension except for "greener grass". The conflict is manufactured and a bit clumsy based on the usual misunderstandings. I will give points for the ending being a slight role reversal in terms of grand gestures.

The leads, Kate (Taylor Cole) and Kevin (Steve Lund) are lead through a few Christmas activities leaning towards doing good for others. Many reviewers thought they had great chemistry but it seemed average at best to me.

This movie is OK and will appeal more to viewers who haven't watched dozens of similar ones already this year.

Steve Lund is a very handsome man when he doesn't have the weird haircut he has in this film. I also felt that he was a bit too overexcited all of the time.

I liked the fact that the forces element was subtle, quite often it can be forced down your neck in an overly sentimental and saccharine way, but here it's just in the background.

The story idea itself is cute, wouldn't it be nice to have a Guardian Angel steering you towards love or at least giving you some fun challenges on the build up to Christmas.

Full of fun stuff and with a generally jolly feel, it doesn't hurt anybody at all and is easy to watch.

6ish.

I was really looking forward to this one because I love the acting of both Taylor Cole and Steve Lund. They're two of my favorites. Though the story line was decent, and I thought the leads had good chemistry, I couldn't get over the hair.... FIRE THE HAIRSTYLIST on this one. Both leads looked like they had greased down, stiff, hair, that could use a trim and a brush. I also really dislike the 2 day growth of beard that has been 'the in style' for the past 5+ years. Get rid of it already!!!.. the style is great if taking a day or two off of shaving on the weekend or vacation, but otherwise looks lazy and sloppy. Both are really attractive leads, and deserved much better care than this.

I enjoyed Unlocking Christmas from start to finish. Taylor Cole was great as the female lead, she always gives a great performance, one of my favourite actresses who was backed up by Steve Lund and an infectious and enthuasiastic set of supporting cast. I'm not one to nit pick a film like so many that give reviews, it either entertains me or it doesnt. Hallmark have provided some pretty good Christmas films this year, Unlocking Christmas is right among the good ones. It has a lot going for it, romance, mystery, sub plots and a happy ending, all you can expect from Hallmark so well done for that. Taylor Cole was a strong lead here as she always is so just watch and enjoy the film.

Bickerimg Kate and Kevin each receive keys on their doorsteps along with cryptic poems. They must decipher the poetry to see where the keys lead.

I had hoped for of a mystery story. You know, they find a hidden stairway in Kate's new house starting a treasure hunt through town to . . . Well, that's for the writers to decide. But along the way they learn to depend on each other. Not a mystery full of blood and corpses, but with quaint old secrets that need to be aired in time for Christmas.

Personally, I'm sick and tired of the "dark side" in movies and TV and novels. Whenever anything is described as dark I avoid it.

On the other hand, I don't care for sweet and cuddly and innocuous. I had high hopes for a sort of Nancy Drew for adults.

I like a good mystery-romance between equal boy/girl sides who learn to trust and depend on each other, but this isn't so much a mystery as two independent people learning to open themselves to helping others and inviting others into their worlds. And each other, of course. "Giving back" as the modern phrase goes, coined by people who think that sort of behavior never occurred to anyone in human history before they happened along. Well, this thing is based on a novella by a woman who writes that sort of book. Look her up, if you like this. She's churned out dozens.

But don't expect a mystery in any conventional sense.

Fortunately, the giggly girls (one a doctor; I don't think I'd want to go to a giggly doctor) are very pretty. It's nice, but not enough in itself. Other viewers describe the guy as cute (whatever happened to the word "handsome?") But I'm no judge of that. He leaves me as cold as an icicle.

6/10 - this one is not nearly as good as some of the other movies this year with similar premises (see A Little Christmas Charm)

If that's what passes for flirty banter these days I'll be surprised if anyone ever gets together.

I couldn't tell by Steve Lund's face that he was going for flirtation. It looked weirdly hostile and aggressive. If I ran across this at a coffee shop and doctor's office, that would be the last time that I spoke to him.

Come on, writers! Haven't you ever flirted with a stranger that you found attractive? No? Can you ask someone who has?

I do not normally watch the Hallmark Christmas movies because they all seem to blend into each other. But this was recommended because I am a Fern Michaels fan and the story is based on one of her novellas. This was sweet and endearing. The older gentleman who kept checking WebMd was true to form for anyone who looks up their symptoms on-line. Let's face it...life is NOT like a movie. That's why we watch them. A nice escape from the challenges we face every day. A good "meet-cute."

The action takes place in Cedar Park, a small town where a couple are united in a quest to solve a puzzle. Each finds a key on their doorstep with clues about how it is to be used.

Kate (Taylor Cole) lands a temporary medical job in Cedar Park, though her first choice had been Chicago. Kevin (Steve Lund), having just left the Air Force, is back in his hometown, trying to decide where life will take him. When united, this unlikely twosome becomes chummy. When Kevin is offered a dream job in California, he has to decide what is most important to him.

This Hallmark holiday film does a good job of capturing the spirit of Christmas. Eventually the romance kicks in too, despite a rocky start.

That kind of Hallmark movie lovely predictable, interesting for supporting cast, with a game as spice, defining, în fair manner, desialmost boring but not so bad in essence because you know than all is just Hallmark. The acting as fragile motif to not ignore it.

I saw this on Hallmark's Christmas week leading into July's month long Christmas celebration. Loved it. Treasured the memories it brought...the smiles it created. I have seen comments where there are nasty slams against the season retrospective. Too bad for those who refuse to enjoy what is freely given. Your choice. No problem.

Looking back, we see the start of the GAC Family Network...shadowed by the reality of their first year with actors/ actresses "stolen" from the Hallmark channel. We see the pontificating of "our channel will be a more 'pure', more 'acceptable' picture of what is good or bad in this world.". And now we see that in reality the channel which has changed, adapted, opened its arms to all lives- is instead, Hallmark.

Please choose your movies and the channel they originate on for your favorite actors/actresses, writers, and directors whose work speaks to each of you. Enjoy this and all seasons. Remember all the ways that lighten your days. And you pick. You choose what you want to watch. Enjoy life- your way!

7.6 stars.

If you want an accurate description of this movie, just read the top three most commented featured reviews with the highest percentage of helpfulness. It's a pretty useful algorithm if you ask me.

I think this one is above average, although not by much. Taylor Cole is in my top of female leads for Hallmark. I don't watch movies that don't have a female lead I really like. Unfortunately, I have resorted to deleting all the movies with Lacey Chabert and Danica McKellar and I'm half-way to deleting the Candace Cameron Bure ones. These three, while pretty and accomplished, do not provide sustenance for me. Many say they are pillars of Hallmark, but I don't see it. And so at this very moment I still have 72 unwatched on my DVR and I've already seen like 85 to this point. And that's even with deleting the ones mentioned above. If a movie containing one of the three women noted above is highly rated (at least over a 6.7, I might break my rule and give it a shot).

That all being said, these reviews are written mainly for myself, because I am not a great writer (I was told in college that I was not gifted as a writer, although I really enjoyed it anyway). And so with that, I must say I'm mainly writing these reviews so I can come back to them every year to see which Christmas movies to see again. I don't think this one is on the annual watchlist, but maybe once every five years.

A feel good sweet Christmas story. Had such a nostalgic feel to it. No negatives.

My wife and I disconnected from them movie at about 45 minutes and starting getting work done on our laptops with the movie rolling in the background. An hour after that, I thought... WOW, nothing has happened this whole hour and now the predictable story is about to unfold in a very traditional fashion. Ehh...

At first I thought, wow, this movie totally blows. Until I watched the scene that had a picture of a guy with frosted tips and an old dude. What a good scene. 10/10 would watch again. Shout out to meemaws.

I love Taylor Cole, and I knew of Steve prior but did not think they had good chemistry at all. The plot is very slow, and I get he's supposed to be a veteran but the hair has got to go! He just looked more unkept and dirty than a vet, but maybe that's how Hallmark perceived veterans?!

I don't believe that's Neil Crone - at least the picture showing is not the same person that played Mr. Matthews.

I usually like Taylor Cole and orSteve Lund movies but this felt rushed with zero chemistry between the stars. A shame asi expected more. It's not unwatchable but it isn't redeeming in anyway.

I really enjoyed this movie. The lead actor and actress were fun. I cared enough about the characters. The mysterious puzzle wasn't anything special tbh. It was fun watching the main characters interact though. The male was a little too immature and childish at times that made it seem like the actor tried a little too hard, but still adorable. The actress was great though and I felt for her and rooted for her. I also loved the male actors parents. They were adorable too. This movie gave me those Christmas feels and I loved it.

I like Taylor Cole but she wasn't paired well with Steve Lund. I found his character to be very smug and unlikeable. They had zero chemistry. Sometimes it's ok to not get the leads together. This movie was really boring.