This movie is one of the better ones from this year's Hallmark Christmas haul, with its strong point being its charming message of the joy of reuniting a family. The cast is strong, and lead lady Jessy Schram is likeable and sweet, as she has been in other Hallmark films as well.
The plot, an employee seeking to bring her boss' sons to her for Christmas, is adorable, but could've been better thought out. The movie is devised as something of a road trip to move the plot along, including plane and train rides, yet at no point is the audience treated to comedic travel moments, which was a truly squandered opportunity to bond the characters and make the viewers laugh a little. The family traditions the characters drop in on during their drive--Christmas tree lots, snowman relays, and even stopping by main character Maggie's family home--are sweet and necessary to the movie, but would've been enriched with also seeing the moments in between.
And despite being great actors in their own right, the two leads had absolutely no chemistry together. The romance of the movie felt rushed and forced, completely unnatural. As a matter of fact, I believe the entire movie would be better without the romance at all, focusing its time and energy instead on the wholesome feeling of a family being together for Christmas again after many years spent apart during the holidays.
The movie does pose a few absurd questions that take away slightly from the plot--why are these holiday segments being shot so dangerously close to the day they need to be aired? How is one cameraman truly the only crew necessary for this venture, and how is his one camera his only necessary equipment? Why is a professional woman likened to Martha Stewart in her fame and creativity such a novice in front of the camera when under a bit of pressure? And how believable is it really that a son chose to stay away from home for years during Christmas because of a grudge he holds that his brother didn't let him embarrass himself on TV years ago, especially when much better, more understandable logic was at the ready, such as the son not being ready to spend Christmas at home after losing his father? Regardless, these nitpicks are small enough that they can be overlooked in the spirit of the good acting, beautiful scenery, and intriguing plotline. By the end of the movie, it truly is satisfying to watch Julia be reunited with her family, which makes the entire film worth watching.
The plot, an employee seeking to bring her boss' sons to her for Christmas, is adorable, but could've been better thought out. The movie is devised as something of a road trip to move the plot along, including plane and train rides, yet at no point is the audience treated to comedic travel moments, which was a truly squandered opportunity to bond the characters and make the viewers laugh a little. The family traditions the characters drop in on during their drive--Christmas tree lots, snowman relays, and even stopping by main character Maggie's family home--are sweet and necessary to the movie, but would've been enriched with also seeing the moments in between.
And despite being great actors in their own right, the two leads had absolutely no chemistry together. The romance of the movie felt rushed and forced, completely unnatural. As a matter of fact, I believe the entire movie would be better without the romance at all, focusing its time and energy instead on the wholesome feeling of a family being together for Christmas again after many years spent apart during the holidays.
The movie does pose a few absurd questions that take away slightly from the plot--why are these holiday segments being shot so dangerously close to the day they need to be aired? How is one cameraman truly the only crew necessary for this venture, and how is his one camera his only necessary equipment? Why is a professional woman likened to Martha Stewart in her fame and creativity such a novice in front of the camera when under a bit of pressure? And how believable is it really that a son chose to stay away from home for years during Christmas because of a grudge he holds that his brother didn't let him embarrass himself on TV years ago, especially when much better, more understandable logic was at the ready, such as the son not being ready to spend Christmas at home after losing his father? Regardless, these nitpicks are small enough that they can be overlooked in the spirit of the good acting, beautiful scenery, and intriguing plotline. By the end of the movie, it truly is satisfying to watch Julia be reunited with her family, which makes the entire film worth watching.