I really like this movie, I watch it over and over.
The leads Jessy Schram as Maggie Baker and Chad Michael Murray as Danny Wise (first born, second adopted) were outstanding, great chemistry. Both are becoming Hallmark favorites of mine.
RE: First born second adopted comment, the Wise brothers were all adopted and when introducing themselves to new people they often add their birth and adoption order, it seems to be a brother thing that they do.
Teryl Rothery as Julia Wise shines, a very good actress who adds much to the HM movies she is in.
I am quickly becoming a fan of Cardi Wong as Derek Wise, (third born, third adopted) I have seen him in supporting roles in several HM movies and he is always a valuable addition to the cast. By the way Cardi was nominated for a Leo award in 2019 for Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Televison Movie,he didn't win but by golly he was nominated. Kudos Cardi. I told you he was good,
Jeff Gonek as David Wise (second born, first adopted) was an unfamiliar actor to me, but he did a great job.
The Plot - Julia Wise has a cooking show, very Martha Stewartish, without the jail time. Every year she does a Christmas special aired on Christmas Eve, this year they are going live thanks to producer Maggie Baker, but the network wants something more traditional. Enter Danny Wise, Julia's son, who was producer on her show the first two years. Danny and Maggie embark on a cross country trip LA to Vermont, (planes, trains, automobiles and sleigh) stopping at various Chistmas activities along the way. A Christmas Tree Farm, snowman making relay (you knew that HM had to get snowmen in there), Maggie's family Christmas white elephant gift exchange and David Wise's Annual Puppy Party., along with Maggie's secret agenda to collect all three of Julia's Wise men to surprise their mother for Christmas. Christmas is about being with family and loved ones. And also giving to others, they meet a young couple, named Marissa and Joey, going to Vermont, who purchased the last ticket on the train but there are two of them and she is pregnant. (Very Mary and Josephish, in case you missed the references) Derek gives them his ticket for the train. Plus along way Maggie and Danny grow to have more respect for each other's instincts and work and fall in love.
There's a very nice scene where they kiss behind camera which Julia sees as she is explaining how to cook a goose and a heart touching scene with Derek playing his Dad's ukelele while Maggie sings "Have Yourself a Merry LIttle Christmas". (Yep, Derek and David show up just in time for the show, so Julia gets her Christmas wish, all her Wise men home for Christmas.
My only complaint: '.
Why, why, why do the Hallmark hairdressers insist on styling the females hair to look like they used a curling iron on it then just let the curls droop into clumps. It looks like they were too lazy to actually style it after using the curling iron. It's really not a good look on anybody.
My advice - watch this movie, I hope you love it as much as I did.
The leads Jessy Schram as Maggie Baker and Chad Michael Murray as Danny Wise (first born, second adopted) were outstanding, great chemistry. Both are becoming Hallmark favorites of mine.
RE: First born second adopted comment, the Wise brothers were all adopted and when introducing themselves to new people they often add their birth and adoption order, it seems to be a brother thing that they do.
Teryl Rothery as Julia Wise shines, a very good actress who adds much to the HM movies she is in.
I am quickly becoming a fan of Cardi Wong as Derek Wise, (third born, third adopted) I have seen him in supporting roles in several HM movies and he is always a valuable addition to the cast. By the way Cardi was nominated for a Leo award in 2019 for Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Televison Movie,he didn't win but by golly he was nominated. Kudos Cardi. I told you he was good,
Jeff Gonek as David Wise (second born, first adopted) was an unfamiliar actor to me, but he did a great job.
The Plot - Julia Wise has a cooking show, very Martha Stewartish, without the jail time. Every year she does a Christmas special aired on Christmas Eve, this year they are going live thanks to producer Maggie Baker, but the network wants something more traditional. Enter Danny Wise, Julia's son, who was producer on her show the first two years. Danny and Maggie embark on a cross country trip LA to Vermont, (planes, trains, automobiles and sleigh) stopping at various Chistmas activities along the way. A Christmas Tree Farm, snowman making relay (you knew that HM had to get snowmen in there), Maggie's family Christmas white elephant gift exchange and David Wise's Annual Puppy Party., along with Maggie's secret agenda to collect all three of Julia's Wise men to surprise their mother for Christmas. Christmas is about being with family and loved ones. And also giving to others, they meet a young couple, named Marissa and Joey, going to Vermont, who purchased the last ticket on the train but there are two of them and she is pregnant. (Very Mary and Josephish, in case you missed the references) Derek gives them his ticket for the train. Plus along way Maggie and Danny grow to have more respect for each other's instincts and work and fall in love.
There's a very nice scene where they kiss behind camera which Julia sees as she is explaining how to cook a goose and a heart touching scene with Derek playing his Dad's ukelele while Maggie sings "Have Yourself a Merry LIttle Christmas". (Yep, Derek and David show up just in time for the show, so Julia gets her Christmas wish, all her Wise men home for Christmas.
My only complaint: '.
Why, why, why do the Hallmark hairdressers insist on styling the females hair to look like they used a curling iron on it then just let the curls droop into clumps. It looks like they were too lazy to actually style it after using the curling iron. It's really not a good look on anybody.
My advice - watch this movie, I hope you love it as much as I did.