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Reviews
This Time Each Year (2024)
More Real Than Reel
If you're looking for a funny romcom, this movie is not going to be it. In fact, there's very little rom and com in it. But if you're looking for something more real and less like the usual holiday fare Hallmark serves up this time of year, give this one a try. I had to watch this twice to appreciate all of the nuanced performances of every actor, especially the two leads.
Niall Matter and Alison Sweeney portray Kevin and Lauren, a couple who are at the one-year point of a marital separation and it's the holidays. Early on it is revealed why they're separated, and I'll leave it at that. They coparent a young son; and Lauren has just found out that her mom, who isn't aware of the separation, will be making a last-minute visit. Kevin and Lauren scramble to appear like a united family, but their tension and uncertainty are palpable. They also attend therapy sessions. Do they end up together? Watch and find out.
The nuanced, but palpable tension throughout by the family members also gives this movie realism. Alison Sweeney plays uneasy beautifully, and this surprisingly turned out to be one of my favorite performances of Niall Matter. In their capable hands, I found myself genuinely rooting for the couple as they navigated through uncharted, awkward waters. This one won't give you the warm fuzzies, but all the performances are solid and that's what I appreciated most about it.
The Christmas Charade (2024)
Oh, What Fun!
The Christmas Charade was pure fun and breezy joy from beginning to end. Rachel Skarsten (Whitney) brings a big dose of brains, beauty and comedic skills to this gem of a movie (pun intended), and Corey Sevier (Josh) hits it out of the park again as both actor and director.
The quick synopsis is: Librarian Whitney is on her way to meet a blind date at a restaurant. FBI agent Josh is headed to the same restaurant to meet a fellow operative who'll be posing as his date, and their assignment is to meet and gather info from a couple who are suspected art thieves at said restaurant. A date mixup ensues (the fellow operative is delayed by overzealous carolers) and Whitney is mistaken for Josh's date and quickly becomes involved in the covert operation, which involves a pricey Christmas necklace.
I loved the spy theme of the story, complete with Bond-esque music and not the usual cutesy background stuff played in most Hallmark caper movies. It's always fun to see Jayne Eastwood (The Santa Clause), and the rest of the supporting cast is great! This is a holiday must-see, so don't miss it.
'Twas the Date Before Christmas (2024)
Heart, Hilarity & Well Cast
I really enjoyed 'Twas The Date Before Christmas for its well thought out storyline, talented topnotch leads and excellent supporting cast.
Jessie (Amy Groening) and Bryan (Robert Buckley) meet via a dating app. She's been nursing a broken heart for a year and is looking for a date to bring to her family's wacky, over-the-top Christmas party, and he is encouraged by his close friends to get back into the dating pool. After they work out the logistics of their first date with some cute texting banter, we soon see them on their way to her mom's house for the big event, where Bryan meets her boisterous, loving family and is introduced to a 23-year-old tradition called the Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics. They partake in all the events as a couple, while keeping the fact that this is actually their first date a secret. Is their secret eventually uncovered? Maybe. And is there a plot twist that somehow connects Bryan to someone in the family? Maybe. Am I going to ruin it for you? No.
Robert Buckley (charming and likable as ever) elevates every show/movie he's in, and wasn't it about time that Hallmark finally promoted the warm and witty Amy Groening to top billing?! Both give performances with real heart, and their chemistry is easy and palpable. I had high hopes for this particular movie, and it rose to the occasion in spades. Very much worth the watch, and I highly recommend it.
Autumn at Apple Hill (2024)
Worth The Watch
In my opinion, Autumn at Apple Hill is enjoyable from beginning to end and is worth the watch.
Elise (Erin Cahill) has inherited a hometown inn from her grandparents (of course, because who doesn't own an inn in these movies?!), but is limited in funds and is too stuck in her antiquated ways to keep it afloat and relevant. In short, the place is breaking down, bookings have plummeted and it's losing money fast. Enter guest Luke (Wes Brown), a former local who's now a hard-charging hotel titan forced to take a vacay from the family business by his mother (portrayed by Paula Boudreau). As you can guess, Elise and Luke learn a lot about the inn and themselves as the story progresses. Does the inn ultimately get saved? Watch and find out.
I always remember Erin Cahill for one of my favorite Hallmark Xmas movies (Sleigh Bells Ring), and she remains a very watchable lead. Wes Brown never disappoints and together they have very good chemistry. The rest of the cast is just as enjoyable, especially main supporting players Boudreau, Sarah Luby and Adam Hurtig. This is a very good movie to watch as you decorate the house for Halloween or if you're in the mood for an entertaining fall rom-com. I highly recommend it.
Blind Date Book Club (2024)
Good Chemistry, Good Story, Well Cast
Nantucket bookstore owner Meg (the charming Erin Krakow) is at a crossroads of sorts on whether to continue running the store, a dream of her deceased mother that has been financially supported by Meg's aunt, who is her mother's sister. Best-selling author Graham (the equally charming Robert Buckley) is also at a crossroads of sorts, yearning to stretch his talents as an author from the teen coming-of-age genre to the historical romance genre. He's, in fact, written such a romance novel under a pseudonym, but it got a lukewarm response from his agent, so he decides it's time to take a short break to regroup. Meg and Graham meet cute at the docks of Nantucket when a tourist mistakes them for a couple. Eventually, he finds his way to the bookstore and it's then that their journeys unfold separately and together.
What I like most about this movie is that it's just as much about the heroine's journey as it is about the hero's story and I found myself just as interested in their separate storylines as I was in their potential romance. The supporting cast is great and provides believable, tangible support; namely, Meg's friend and bookstore employee Alice, who has dreams of becoming an author herself; Graham's sister, who is his cheerleader just as much as he is hers; and Graham's agent, who is also his good friend. The two leads have naturally good chemistry with each other and everyone else. This one is interesting and worth the watch, in my opinion.
Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas (2023)
More Good Than Great, But Overall Decent
While this may not be the very best in the "Time For..." series, I still found it enjoyable and thought the storyline was interesting enough. Shenae Grimes portrays Carly, a young woman who takes on a short stint as a church's choir director and is tasked with getting the choir into top performance shape in time for Christmas service. Unbeknownst to her, she has ties to the pastor of the church and his wife, which they are already aware of. The actors who portray said pastor and wife did a very good job of conveying hesitancy, care and compassion all at the same time. Grimes and Chris Carmack (Matthew) have decent chemistry together, though not off the charts, but honestly, that didn't matter much to me since their relationship isn't the heart of the story.
What I enjoyed most about this movie was the musical aspect. Shenae Grimes has a very good singing voice, as does Chris Carmack, though his singing isn't featured much here. It was really nice seeing American Idol finalist Grace Leer in the role of Matthew's sister, Riley, who's new to the choir. She has a lovely voice that's featured in the end. Overall, a good effort by all and I'd recommend it.
Christmas on Cherry Lane (2023)
Hallmark Movie With A This Is Us Vibe
I really enjoyed this movie and appreciate how Hallmark upped its game in terms of telling the stories of different families who share something special in common. Basically, things center around 7 Cherry Lane, a house called home to three different families spanning over five decades. Though each family's storyline is separate from the others, there are people and details of each storyline that are interwoven with the others, creating a vibe that's similar to This Is Us.
The families are young marrieds Lizzie and John, who are awaiting the birth of their first child; this takes place in the '70s. Then there's Regina, a forties-ish widow with two young-adult children, who's ready to move on with her life in the 90s era. Lastly, there's Mike and Zain, ready and hoping to welcome a child into their family in the present day. I don't want to give any more details because this movie is best enjoyed by discovering who's tied to who, how and when by the viewer. Wonderful cast of actors who had excellent chemistry with each other! Highly recommended watch.
Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up (2023)
I Wanted to Like It, But...
I was hoping to enjoy this movie as much as Haul Out The Holly, but unfortunately I didn't. What made the first one funny, quirky and sort of charming was the easy chemistry of the cast. Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Stephen Tobolowsky, Melissa Peterman, Ellen Travolta, etc., all returned, which was great, but the addition of three new neighbors (a family who's made it big via a reality TV Xmas decoration contest, which sets up the premise of this movie) made me want to get in my car and drive away from Evergreen Lane. It wasn't the actors; it was the way they were written, over the top, self-absorbed and annoying. There was nothing endearing about any of the newbies and there needed to be in order for this movie to be semi-enjoyable, at least in my opinion.
Hallmark just might be able to redeem itself next year if it comes up with another sequel to this, one with much better dialogue and a return to the fun, whimsical feeling the first one brought. In contrast, I wasn't expecting too much from Holiday Road, another 2023 Hallmark holiday offering, but it's one of the best TV holiday movies this year. Skip HOTH: Lit Up and watch that one instead.
The Santa Summit (2023)
Very Enjoyable!
For some reason, I expected this movie to be kind of silly and wondered if it would be worth the time watching. Maybe it was the title. I'm glad I did because so far, it's one of Hallmark's more cheerful and fun holiday movies this year, in my opinion. Jordin, Ava and Stella are school teachers and best friends who decide to partake in an event called, you guessed it, The Santa Summit, a big party where everyone dresses up as Santa and spends the day eating, drinking, dancing, judging a gingerbread house contest, etc.
Early on at the event, Jordin (Hunter King) loses her wallet, which is retrieved by Liam (Ben Hollingsworth) and he gives it back to her. They spend the next few minutes quickly bonding, a very cute meet-cute. But before they know it, they somehow get separated without finding out each other's names or seeing each other's faces under the beards they wear as part of the Santa costume.
Most of the movie surrounds whether they will find each other. But rather than spend all the time on them, Hallmark spread the joy by adding two other actresses in lead roles with their own stories, played by two ladies who are usually supporting players. It was really nice seeing Amy Groening (very adept at comedy) and Stephanie Sy (she can sang!) in these roles, and they played them perfectly. Much like Hallmark's fall offering of Field Day, these three ladies had very believable chemistry and it was fun watching them enjoy themselves, support and encourage each other and evolve as much as one can in at a one-day event. Very enjoyable holiday movie that's sure to put a smile on your face!
Christmas Island (2023)
Enjoyable To Watch & Good Cast
I'm always on board for an Andrew Walker holiday romcom (My Christmas Family Tree) and this one doesn't disappoint. Kate (Rachel Skarsten) is a pilot who's just been given a shot at her dream job, piloting a wealthy family to Switzerland. Poor weather requires them to make an unexpected stop at a Nova Scotia town called Christmas Island, where air traffic controller Oliver (Walker) and his father, sister and nephew reside. It is here that we find out more about what everyone's deal is.
What I enjoyed most was that it wasn't strictly the usual plot line of will they or won't they. Sure, there was that, but the secondary storylines of the wealthy couple (Jefferson Brown and Kate Drummond), their two children and Oliver's family were just as interesting, to me. It was great seeing Good Witch's Peter MacNeil and Virgin River's Lauren Hammersley in supporting roles. This movie was a really good ensemble effort, which I think Hallmark does well and should do more often. The storylines were interesting and the cast was very good. Highly recommended.
Never Been Chris'd (2023)
Very Disappointing
Normally Hallmark movies with Janel Parrish and Tyler Hynes are very good to excellent, but I can't say the same about this one, though it wasn't their fault. The storyline was very ill conceived and sophomoric, as many reviewers already stated. Naomi (Parrish), Chris (Hynes) and Liz (Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes) are high school classmates, and Naomi and Liz have remained close friends and business partners and both had a crush on Chris back in the day. Fast forward to present day, a high school reunion is about to take place and both of the women find themselves in a quandary over their feelings for Chris. I felt embarrassed for the actors because they were too old for a juvenile storyline like this. One thing I found sort of interesting was the storyline regarding both women's relationships with their moms. Beyond that, I did not enjoy this movie at all.
If you're looking for a fun class-reunion type of movie, I suggest Christmas Class Reunion with Aimee Teegarden and Tanner Novlan. The storyline is much more well conceived, the characters are better written and it's much more enjoyable. If you're looking for a really good holiday movie featuring Janel Parrish, watch Holly & Ivy because it's very well written, well acted and very touching. And if you're looking for a fun holiday movie featuring Tyler Hynes, watch An Unexpected Christmas.
Joyeux Noel (2023)
Worth Watching for the Location
For the lovely location and scenery alone, this movie is worth watching. A good amount of it was filmed in France, which really adds an authentic feel to it. I'm a big fan of Jaicy Elliott ("A Southern Family Christmas") and Brant Daugherty ("#Xmas") and they didn't disappoint.
Their characters, Lea and Mark, are reporters working for the same paper who are sent to France to dig deeper into the origins of a painting of which the artist is unknown. The Christmas marketplace serves as a third character of sorts, for it is there that the main story takes shape.
The thing I didn't quite buy was Elliott's character was a bit too naive and Daugherty's character was a bit too jaded. I really enjoy them as actors, but I would've preferred the focus be less on a jaded reporter vs. A newbie and more on just two coworkers on equal footing who see and approach things differently. But that didn't ruin it for me much at all. The young actress who I believe plays the daughter of the innkeeper was a delight and I can't say enough about the beautiful location. In my opinion, this movie is worth recording.
Christmas by Design (2023)
Very Enjoyable Rom-Com
It's always nice to see Rebecca Dalton as the lead. She's more than capable, always delivers and doesn't over- or under-act, as a few of Hallmark's leading ladies sometimes do.
The sneak-peek commercials of this movie didn't show me much in terms of an original plot line, but the writers did a good job, and Dalton and Jonathan Keltz were engaging leads who had pretty good chemistry. A few of the small details of the storyline weren't tied up as cleanly as I would've liked (it would've been nice to see Charlotte's dad's truck restored, which is not a spoiler in any way), but overall I bought the storyline and found myself totally rooting for Charlotte.
The actors portraying Charlotte's family members were believable. Her cute kid nephew was refreshingly rambunctious and acted like how kids do in real life, which was a nice departure from the usual total obedience seen in kids in these movies.
I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this movie and I would recommend watching it.
An Unexpected Christmas (2021)
Fun and Entertaining
Nobody does television romcom comedies like Joy Lenz. She has a real ease about her and is sharp and funny. In this particular movie, she is a master at the frenetic babble and has you rooting for her character right out the gate. I love the premise of this movie and the whole idea of a mixup that comes about so naturally in the beginning scenes. Tyler Hynes is also very adept at comedy and he paired very well with Lenz. The supporting cast deserves a lot of credit too because they all really added to the enjoyment and the believability of the movie's premise. If you're looking for a funny, touching quality holiday romantic comedy with top notch acting, this one is for you!
Field Day (2023)
Feel Good Fall Movie
You pretty much can never go wrong with a movie or show that Rachel Boston stars in. She's top notch and always delivers. The addition of two other leading ladies (Shannon Chan-Kent and Carmel Amit) makes this movie a real treat. Their characters' back stories made sense and fit with the plot, and all three of them more than held their own as a group and individually.
By the end of the movie, their very palpable chemistry had me rooting for their common cause (to save Field Day), as well as their friendship. Benjamin Ayers is one of my favorites and an added bonus for me.
I'd love to see a sequel to this just for the leads alone, no matter what the storyline is. When some lead actors left for GAC, I wasn't at all worried because Hallmark has a very deep bench and needs to tap into it more often. This movie proves that. I really enjoyed seeing Amit in a lead role and Chan-Kent was perfectly cast. Well done!
Wings: A Tale of Two Sister Cities (1996)
One of My Favorite Episodes
Steven Weber is at his comedic best in this episode. If you love the character of Brian, this episode is a must-see. Courtesy of Casey's job with the Nantucket Board of Tourism, the island is tasked with hosting its sister city, Kirinan, and the gang gathers at the airport to welcome the King and his flirtatious Queen Fala (guest stars Ray Birk and Jocelyn Seagrave), who has taken a liking to Brian.
As Brian and the Queen become more involved, hilarity ensues. Everyone gets some laughs in this episode and it's well worth watching if you haven't seen it. One of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite sitcoms.
3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost (2023)
Enjoyable and Well Cast
You usually can never go wrong when a Hallmark movie stars a real-life couple and this one is no exception. I'm a big fan of both Julie Gonzalo and Chris McNally and, as usual, their chemistry is palpable and enjoyable in this movie. The storyline centers around a historical mansion. The main characters were once engaged and a wickedly fun and friendly ghost tries to help them find their way back to each other. Madeleine Arthur is perfectly cast as said ghost and equally drives the storyline with wonderful expression and comedic skill. Kudos to Hallmark for casting her.
The only reason I rated this 9 stars is because the supporting characters could've been better utilized and the writing could've used a bit more detail and polish. Otherwise, I would recommend this movie because the feel of it is different than what you usually see on the Hallmark channel and in a good way.
Notes of Autumn (2023)
Chemistry in Spades
Notes of Autumn is well worth watching, for the dual main "will they or won't they" storylines to the casting to the strong element of music. I usually give any Hallmark movie a chance when Luke MacFarlane and Ashley Williams are in it, but add Marcus Rosner and Peter Porte in and you've got yourself a darn good party. And how genius it was to cast Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith in minor, but meaningful, humorous roles. Those two together elevate any show/movie they're in.
The storylines were well written and delightfully acted and that also goes for everyone in the supporting cast. This particular ensemble worked really well together and all the pairings had a very believable, easy chemistry. Hallmark would be wise to continue tapping into the ensemble format because this movie proves it can do it very well and the possibilities are endless. If you're looking for an interesting, fun fall romcom, look no further. For me, it was like opening up a box of chocolates and finding all good pieces. Very enjoyable!
Never Too Late to Celebrate (2023)
Well Done
I enjoyed Never Too Late to Celebrate very much. While many TV romcom movies are formulaic and have a "been there, done that" quality to them, this one was different. The main storyline was well conceived, kept my interest and the secondary storylines added genuine interest, so that was another plus.
What I enjoyed most was the interaction and performances of the two leads, married couple Alexa and Carlos PenaVega, who were tasked with keeping their obvious chemistry more understated and both did a terrific job of naturally portraying their characters' sincerity in relation to each other. Carlos has a wonderful singing voice and Alexa emotes so beautifully that you really feel it. Together they are gold.
Props also go out to the supporting cast members, from Camila's mom and best friend to Javi's family. Not all supporting casts gel as well as this one does, so credit has to be given to them because their chemistry together helped drive the storylines. Well done and I will watch it again.
Making Waves (2023)
Well Cast & Good Storyline
I really enjoyed this particular Hallmark movie because it was very well cast (both major and minor roles) and its storylines were more complete, more well thought out and detailed than some others. I also liked that it didn't center just around the main couple and that the supporting cast and side stories added real interest.
Corey Cott's wonderful singing was a really nice bonus and I wish both he and Holland Rodan were in more of the channel's movies. They portrayed their characters in very believable ways. I liked how the storylines came with some spoken and unspoken baggage right from the start; it kept me guessing and interested throughout and also made the outcomes less predictable. I will watch this one again and highly recommend it.
My Southern Family Christmas (2022)
One of Hallmark's Best
I'm so glad that My Southern Family Christmas made it on Hallmark's Christmas in July schedule because it's one of their best holiday offerings ever. From the well-conceived storyline to the wonderful acting, you can't get much better than this one. Jaicy Elliot is such a natural. Her emotions are palpable, but not overdone and you really feel for her character. If you enjoyed her in Romance in Style, this movie will have you liking her even more. She's perfectly cast. Moira Kelly, Bruce Campbell and Ryan Rottman are also very well cast. Their characters are interesting in their own right, provide emotional depth and really help move the story along in a believable way. Hallmark really should cast Rottman as a lead more often. If you're looking for a solid TV movie with a solid storyline and solid performances all around, this is a must watch.
Take Me Back for Christmas (2023)
Truly One of Hallmark's Best
There's so much to love about this particular Hallmark movie. I was pleasantly surprised how much I genuinely enjoyed it. The story is very well written and well thought out, which cannot be said for many TV romcom movies. The acting is topnotch as well. Vanessa Lengies and Corey Sevier are perfectly matched and pull off their roles with aplomb and then some. Their easy chemistry and comedic skills are particularly notable. Kudos to Kate Pragnell for crafting such a terrific script and to Sevier for his directing skills as well. Lengies really shines and connects, with Sevier, with the actress who portrays her mom (Paula Boudreau) and with the audience. This one is worth watching over again for its message and all-around enjoyability. It won't be a surprise to me if it ends up being one of Hallmark's most successful movies of 2023.