ooohhh….I was nervous about this one…

I have seen many a dance Hallmark movie, and let’s be honest, they are never that remarkable. I love the idea behind them….as dance, when it is good, can be so very entertaining and romantic…

Well…..Mr. Will Kemp. Thank you for leading our Lacey in this wonderment of Christmas dance and joy. Our girl, LC, playing the recently dumped, Avery, she needed it! Whew! What a rough way to start Christmas being dumped weeks before your wedding!

Whoever is in charge of these Hallmark Christmas movies this year is NAILING IT! I love that they are utilizing all these actors true talents!

So here’s how I’m going to break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I was leery at first….I mean, if you do have great dancers, the chemistry is on point. When you watch a couple dancing, if they are good…it’s like acing, right? They want you to believe in the story they are telling. All this to say….I loved Roman & Avery together on and OFF the dance floor. I had to deduct a heart only because…girl was just about to get married (and even though, her EX was the Douchey-est of Douches), it felt a little rushed. I’m a total romantic though, so when he tells her to look at him instead of to the left……I was all in!
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ So much AMAZING Dancing! I loved that Roman and Avery came from very different families and backgrounds…..very different career paths/goals…..opposites attract! NICKY!!!! (I’m saving him for below) The fact that this girl just started dancing…and after 10 lessons was able to fill in as his partner in the end was a bit of a stretch for me
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ NICKY!!!!! this kid. I wasn’t aware of who he was, but I knew he had to be somebody. He’s adorable…witty…and can DANCE EVERYONE’S SOCKS OFF! So, obvi, I looked him up. You might have heard of a couple little shows like “So you Think You Can Dance?” and “Dancing with the Stars”….yeah, he’s killed it on those. Woah, JT Church, I love ya, little man! Also, I gotta shout out to Avery’s friend, Molly! What a sweetheart! Brings a Christmas tree over to decorate to cheer her girl up…and gets her dressed and out of the house when she’s bummed…..SOLID BFF. And, DoucheBag David. he obivously played his part well, cuz I did NOT like him at all!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Have you ever heard such a heart-warming explanation of nesting dolls? LOVED that! The dancing made me smile the whole movie through…but Avery, when she turned on the waterworks,….I felt it. I mean, your wedding got a big fat “pin” put into it 3 weeks before it was suppose to happen….girl, never apologize for crying. You deserve a good sob fest. What made me tear up, though? The scene when Roman tells her to look left…._{little protest}….look to the left….._{silent crying}…..I couldn’t handle it 😦

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ David! This might be one of the rare Hallmark films where our “other man” was actually HORRIBLE. Like, mean and nasty. I clutched my pearls when he confronted Roman. However, it did make it a lot easier to believe she could move on so quickly. 😉 ONE MORE THING! Hallmark. YOU CANNOT KISS, BOW, and END MOVIE. GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE, please and thank you!

21/25 Loved it! I want to watch again with my hubby….maybe we will finally schedule those ballroom dance lessons we keep saying we want to take!

Kudos to Hallmark on another great ensemble cast flick!

This movie flew under my radar for so many reasons….mostly, I’m sure, as it was stuck in the middle of the Thanksgiving week marathon of movies. So, I was more surprised than anything at just how much I enjoyed it.

Did you notice the difference? An ALL adult cast? No cute children to pull at the heart strings? No rescue dogs?

You know what? They didn’t need them! Such a great job of Christmas and family nostalgia mix with all sorts of crazy shenanigans. This one was super fun!

So here’s how I’m going to break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I know the “leads” are suppose Lucy (Bethany Joy Lenz) & Jake (Victor Webster), so let’s go with them. It took me awhile to get into them. They were suuuuuper cute once the movie got going. I loved her very forward approach in every aspect of her life…(can we say Oldest child?) Their make up at the end was painfully off-key but it made it that much sweeter when they just simply said I’m sorry. (more of a long -term-relationship apology than one just starting though)
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Hilarious. I loved this whole concept! The over the top acting by all the family members, the relationships between the siblings, the family stories, the memories of mom….oh my heart!
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Now, I chatted up Lucy & Jake above…..but we also had brother Will & wife Suzanne (SUUUPER ADORABLE and fun), Dad Ted…and guest Beth (SO SWEET) BUT my favorites have to be Grandma & Grandpa! I had a super fun and crazy grandma so seeing these characters made me so happy! Oh, one more: Chef Francesca! I loved her storyline too….finding her passion in the culinary arts…..also tied to her mama! So GooD!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Obviously FEELS were flying all over the place for me! Things I haven’t mentioned: the old video of Mama…..the Sassafras Candy Canes….the early kiss….Christmas morning present opening ( I LOVE GIFTS! They are my love language) But the moment that sealed the deal for me and brought real tears was Lucy’s toast, “To those who are gone, To those who are here, To those who are on they way….” yep….just cried again typing it.

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ The execution of the ensemble cast in this movie was one of the best of seen in Hallmark. Each couple/family member held their own arc…..AND kept me engaged and interested! Love them all!

24/25 Family Nostaglia FOR THE WIN! It would be a fun one to watch with family

WOW.

Is it the highest praise to say….this was so good I forgot I was watching the Hallmark Channel?

I LOVE LOVE Hallmark, but the level of predictability and cheese is usually a given. Maybe it was the writing…or maybe it was the acting….but this movie was TOP NOTCH….

SO I WAS FLOORED to find out: the lead actors WERE the writers of this movie! Honestly, I didn’t know this little nugget of information until the Hallmark commercial mid-movie when they revealed the behind the scenes clip!

There must be something about acting out your own movie….perhaps the characters mean so much more?….Kimberley Susted & Paul Campbell! TAKE A BOW! I’m equal parts impressed, entertained, and thrilled with your Christmas by Starlight!

So here’s how I’m going to break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ William & Annie. oh my heart. Annie is just hilarious. I could totally see us being BFFs. I love that she always put Mr. William Holt in his place. These two were so fun to watch their layers melt away. You know the chemistry is on point when just watching him look at her is almost better than a kiss…but that last “swoop” I felt lifted off my feet too!
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ A-freaking-dorable. I thought to myself when watching I was getting “The Proposal” vibe….and also “Two Weeks Notice”vibe……so , then, maybe it’s just Kimberley giving me Sandra Bullock vibes. I’M ON BOARD either way! The main plot of saving the diner really was a familiar story, but everything else they brought along for the ride with their relationship and playfulness made it fun to watch anyway!
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Annie’s parents were so sweet and supportive of her…and when dad delivered his heartfelt speech about family…memories…and walls….I legit cried. I loved the Ted the client and his doggo love! Lyle was the best assistant ever…so glad he got a real title finally!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I giggled out loud…by myself more times than I could count! On the other hand, I felt the Annie standing on the front porch declaring she would just take care of things on her own. I don’t know how many times I’ve been that woman standing in a ridiculous holiday outfit trying to just GET.STUFF.DONE. ;)….uh, did that just get too personal?……let’s see, movie feels: already talked about daddy already……but the skating….the toy store surprise….the snow globe….so so so GOOD!

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ It was kind of powerful when William had to sit in his guilt in the middle of that diner. My heart clenched. Was it a surprise that she heard every word??? (no….he was projecting like he knew she was behind the wall…..maybe that was intentional?) But…..my favorite part of the whole scene? Her response. It wasn’t eloquent…and it was a lot of words…all to end in “I would be sad.” perfectly simple.

24/25 This one is on my tippy top of the list this year. If I don’t ever watch it again, I will be sad.

P.S. Kimberley & Paul are SUPER sweet in Wedding Every Weekend too

This movie got me all sorts of confused.

When it was first announced, it was titled, “A Christmas Tree Grows in Brooklyn”…which gave me a whole different expectation of setting and vibe….well, it’s “set” in Brooklyn….just Brooklyn, COLORADO. Which is no big deal….except for the main plot of the whole movie doesn’t make a lick of sense.

First things first: Rochelle Aytes. This woman is gorgeous…..like, she doesn’t even seem real. I would almost be mad about it, but she brought so much joy and fun to Erin that I couldn’t.

I have so many feelings about this story….and I’m not sure if I’m crazy or what, but how in the world can you NOT find another large Christmas tree……IN COLORADO….aside from someone’s front yard? And, in what world can a mayor simply commandeer said tree???? IS IT the same world that a mayor’s assistant can invoke mayoral power to cut this citizen’s tree down behind everyone’s back and not get fired?

Let’s discuss

So here’s how I’m going to break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️ Erin carried this one, y’all. Kevin, my friend, have you seen this woman? Not only is she STUNNING. She’s smart, funny, playful….she is AMAZING with your daughter! She saved your freaking tree…and you almost left her high and dry. Ugh. I so wanted to be into the 1st _aggressive kiss….but it just didn’t translate for me
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️Please re-read the TREE rant above. So. many. questions. I did love the firefighter story, the adoption story, AND Erin finding her true passion in teaching…but that TREE. I can’t with it.
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️Little Claire really did get her Christmas EXCITEMENT level up to 10! Her grandparents were UBER Sweet. Neil and their almost date was pretty funny. Erin’s parents were fine. (obviously I wasn’t that into this one)

FEELS ❤️❤️ I will say…the scene at the fire house when Kevin reaches over Erin….I knew what was coming but it still got my heart pumping a little quicker….and Also, just Erin’s Christmas Excitement throughout this whole movie made me happy….

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️Single, adoptive dad. Adorably Sweet! This whole tree debacle. Was this a satire? I’m confused.

10/25 I will not be re-watching. I’m obviously still struggling with this tree.