I wasn’t even planning on watching this movie…but let me tell you, I am SO GLAD I DID!

I’m not sure if the Hallmark Execs are Celebrating Classical Music this 2020 season, or what is going on. Maybe it’s just how these movies fell….but this is the 3rd movie that heavily features music. (and there are more coming) I will be honest and say I’m not a classic movie buff….I’m hardly even a fan. That is why, I just wasn’t excited about this film.

Well, string-me-up-a-violin-and-call-me-crazy (that’s a saying, right?) THIS WAS AMAZING! I would hope anyone watching Lucia Micarelli can appreciate her ridiculous talent. She’s mesmerizing to watch slay the violin. If you’re curious (like I was) look up her filmography on imdb. You’ve most DEFINITELY heard her play before! What I wasn’t expecting was her natural acting ability and chemistry with Michael Rady.

Now, I need to come clean with myself here. Michael Rady is my Hallmark “sleeper” Hunk. Meaning, I always forget how much I love him in these movies until I’m watching another movie with him in it that I LOVE. Why do I keep forgetting this??? Trust Rady. Trust Rady. Trust Rady. There. Maybe that will help.

There is so much happening in The Christmas Bow….and normally, that’s really hard for Hallmark to pull off. They hit every mark on this one!

As Kate so eloquently said, “More is More.”

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Patrick & Kate. I could not love you two more! Patrick is so smitten…and he plays this so so well. Can we take a moment of silence…and close our eyes…..and remember when the “close my eyes” scene played out? Yes, I re-played that scene more than once. No, I am not ashamed. WOW! Everything about that dialogue and kiss had me.on.the.floor. And, also, can I just say how you CAN have a “conflict” without a huge misunderstanding? THANK YOU FOR THIS! Honest and open the whole time. LOOOOOVE!!!!!
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Oh my goodness. There were multiple stories intertwined in this…and they ALL CRUSHED IT! Kate’s hand rehab…..Patrick’s dream job?….Patrick’s mom, Tess, and her health struggles & successes…Grandpa Joe & his late wife….little wingman Gavin…..ok, MAIN PLOT: nailed it. Lucia obviously knew how to convey her passion for music across the screen….and what would it be like if that was threatened. Kate and Patrick’s love story was so natural and beautiful. I would give it 8 hearts if I could.
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Was there a bad actor in this whole bunch? Nope. Not a One. First of all, little wingman, Gavin, and Patrick were SUPER ADORABLE. That “joke” never got old. I looked into Patrick’s mother, Tess…and you can read more of Joy Perry’s casting call news here. She really does have CMT. How amazing to be able to bring awareness and represent others! Grandpa Joe was so sweet and I just wanted to jump through the screen and hug him! (and that was before the heart-wrenching flashback) Again. I need MORE hearts!!!!!
HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ This whole movie was a surprise! Kate & Patrick being honest about their feelings, but you still knew their internal conflict was probably the biggest surprise. The early kiss is always my favorite surprise, though….and that one. Was. Epic.

25/25 ❤️ I’ve already watched this more than once. LOL! Would certainly give it 30/25 if I could.

I’m KICKING MYSELF I did not included this in my Hallmark Christmas Movie Showdown Bracket. Trust Rady. Trust Rady. Trust Rady.

Oh my HEART!!!!!!

My favorite thing about watching a movie like this one….just when I think it couldn’t get any better, it JUST KEPT GETTING BETTER!!!!

The storyline of the children and their parents made my heart brace for the worst possible feels….and let me be honest, the little reminders of their parents throughout the movie most definitely made me tear up. But the JOY! The Christmas JOY and LOVE and FUN that Max & Jessica brought to them…..AHHHH!!!!! Every minute was adorable!

Max. Can Carlo Marks just smile at us forever? Oh man. [insert all the heart eyes emojis]

Jessica + Max + 3 adorable kiddos= Hallmark Christmas PERFECTION!

Special HOLIDAY Tradition shoutout to the All Natural/Edible Christmas decorating in the backyard! I LOOOOVE this idea and may have to steal it!

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Max & Jessica WIN my Hallmark Heart! These two were amazing together! I loved that he has been crushing on her since day one. I love that we got to see their relationship with each other and the kids develop so naturally. The little hand holdings we got all along the way were so sweet….and the moment we all waited for in the driveway! COME ON! It was perfect. THE ONLY SINGLE THING I didn’t buy: Jessica’s line of “I never thought of Max that way” half way through the movie when she’s talking to her friend…….Jessica, nobody is buying that. You crazy, girl. Everybody and their mother has thought of Max like that 😉
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ This story was beautifully and wonderfully written and acted. What a heart-wrenching life these children and adults lived to bring them all together like this. I loved that the kids were such a big part of all of it. One of my favorite scenes was just them talking over Hot Chocolate and letting them give the adults advice. Kids are so smart! The way that everything played out in the end not only personally but professionally was SO GOOD! Jessica’s line about the 21st century was THE BEST and great reminder that Hallmark likes to poke fun of itself too 😉
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Up top the 3 kids were awesome….but I almost feel like they were the leads too, so how great is that?!?!? I loved me some Mrs. Brooks though. She knew her Max very well! Uncle Charles even redeemed himself at the end…and it’s a good thing, cuz I really did not like him for awhile there.
FEELS❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I couldn’t STOP feeling the feels this whole movie! Every time the thought of Jessica blew past Max, this man was HEAD OVER HEELS for her. He played that so well! Their love for each other, their love for the kiddos…WARM FUZZIES EVERY SECOND! The reminders of the parents….the puzzle piece….the lists….the hand holding….the words they didn’t say….the words they DID say! ALL OF IT!
HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ The ending was shockingly not as predictable as I thought it would be. The way that everything fell apart and then eventually all worked out was actually believable and really smart! SO SO GOOD! But also surprising: HOW MUCH HOT CHOCOLATE CAN ONE CONSUME?!?!?! Maybe that’s why the little one is having bad dreams??? She’s hopped up on ALL THAT SUGAR! 😉

25/25 ❤️ A PERFECT HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIE. Would watch again and again, and AGAIN!

That’s a Mouthful of a Title!

I was super excited for this one. Ashley Williams is one of my FAVORITE Hallmark leading ladies. I love that she’s so chipper and goofy. She has great comedic timing…and I don’t know what it is about her, but she just makes me happy.

I have never heard of this odd saying of “Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater” ….so I don’t know if that’s actually a thing…if it is, it’s dumb. #1 Christmas Sweaters are amazing: the cheesier, the better. #2 The fact the Ashley’s character thinks this…..is probably the 1st reason why this movie didn’t sit right with me. She’s normally the over-the-top positive ball of Christmas CHEER….I want that Ashley on my screen. I mean, she loved Christmas, but having her be sad about not being with her daughter was too sad. (this could, again, be hitting too close to my heart as a child that had to spilt holidays between my parents houses)

I wanted to love this one so much. Something about it was just a bit off for me. You mean to tell me of ALL the “UGLY” Christmas Sweaters in all the world at your fingertips….you want me to believe that her light bulb Dress was the WORST thing she could find?

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️ Maggie & Lucas…I’m giving you 3 hearts SOLEY based on the sleigh ride and that last scene where Maggie declares she “loves this sweater” Those 2 moments felt like entirely different characters than you played the whole rest of the movie. If that couple would have been shown more, y’all would have been adorable.
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Taking out a Man with a Christmas tree was a pretty great start….plus, I loved the Military families storyline woven into this. It was cute and pulled at a whole separate set of heartstrings. Hallmark is really going to all inclusive this year….showcasing lots of different family dynamics. The divorced parents sharing custody (of course in a very happy Hallmark way 😉 )
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️ Little Man Reed was the cutest! All the other supporting cast kind of faded into the background….except for the very serious Colonel who thawed just enough to make Maggie smile very BIG in the end!
FEELS❤️❤️❤️ I wanted SO MUCH MORE from this pairing! Ashley & Niall should have been gold. Maybe it was just me, but something was missing. The video surprise at the party got more feels from me than anything else.
HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️ The biggest surprise for me was Maggie’s abrupt anger during the “misunderstanding” It seemed far too harsh. And also, I do NOT like Ashley Williams being sad or angry. It hurts my heart too much.

16/25 ❤️ Love me some Ashley Williams….but I would re-watch any of her other movies before this one again.

I had to mentally and emotionally prepare myself for this one.

In case you don’t know me personally, I feel like I need to preface this review with a little background on me. A few years ago I lost one of my brothers very unexpectedly (unknown causes) followed by mother (due to cancer) within a year of each other. So, grief triggers are very real. Although those waves do come fewer and farther in between now, holidays, tv shows, movies, and music are still very jolting at times.

I guess, you’re probably wondering why I even watched this movie. Well, normally, I absolutely would do my best to avoid it. (Hello, “This is Us”, which I haven’t even side eyed since 2016) However, since I am hosting my 2nd annual Hallmark Christmas Movie Showdown Bracket, I put on my big girl sweatpants, poured myself a drink, grabbed a full bock of tissues, and packed up all my baggage to ride this Hallmark train.

This was not exactly what I expected.

In a good way though…..kind of.

I was confused as to how they would run the serious storyline parallel to the a romantic one. From what I saw….it seems the writers were too?

GOTTA SPEND A MOMENT TO CAPS LOCK THIS:

WE FINALLY HAVE A WISCONSIN MOVIE! HOLLA CHIPPEWA FALLS! THEY EVEN PRONOUNCED IT RIGHT! ALSO, UW-MADISON!!!!! GO BADGERS!!! ON WISCONSIN!!!!

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️ Listen, give me Jeremy Jordan any day. He was great. The chemistry between him and Janel was great. However, if you’re going to have a falling in love story along-side an adoption/instant family story….let Adam and Melody have a few kisses BEFORE they commit to a life long family, would ya? I’ll give you a hint scene: in her house, she’s seducing him with book quotes….you know what I’m talking about . [insert kiss here] Really, there just wasn’t enough time in this movie to have them be that into it! (I would’ve FREAKED too, Adam) Glad we had a timehop at the end….but wasn’t enough for me.
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️TOO MUCH. just too much. The whole storyline with Holly & Ivy, their mama, Nina, and Melody would have been an AMAZING Hallmark Hall of Fame flick. They would have shown more. Yes, there would have been more tears, but it would have landed better. Save Jeremy Jordan for a MUSICAL. I was so sad there was no singing. _{(obviously that wouldn’t have worked in this one)} Aside from what it was missing….I LOVED the librarian dream story, the book mobile….made me miss taking our kiddos to the library as our local one does all that fun stuff too! Ugh, 2020.
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Holly and Ivy. The sweetest little girls. I’m glad we didn’t have to see all the horrible hard parts, and they got the happiest ending we could have prayed for with the circumstances…..I’m going to also chat about Marisol Nichols here…I know that she could have really made us bawl, but I don’t think that’s the Hallmark Christmas Movie way. Maybe she was trying to show us how strong she was? I almost felt she treated Melody as her child too (not so much her friend) and that’s why she didn’t show too much emotion? Not sure. My mom did that too. I didn’t like then either. 😦
FEELS❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I could probably give this one 6 hearts. There were so many feels for me….(but, you know, most of them were pre-packaged) All the obvious feels you can imagine….but I have to talk about those elves….and the gift. I LOST all my chill when Nina gave her that gift. It completely took me by surprise, and I bawled like a baby.
HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ This whole movie was a surprise for me. It brought some real life to the Hallmark screen. Holidays aren’t all sunshine and roses for everyone. (even when they seem to be glowing on the outside) Melody made the best of hers…and her choice to take in and love those girls because of it…well, now I’m crying again.

21/25 ❤️ This was a beautiful thought of a movie. I probably filled in the gaps with my own life experiences though. Will I watch it again? no. don’t be crazy.

Now, if Janel Parrish & Jeremy Jordan want to make another movie together….SIGN ME UP FOR THAT ONE!