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!

What a FUN concept!

When I first saw the synopsis of this movie, it did not have me excited at all….(ok, aside from Tyler Hynes…which makes me excited at the mere thought) Hallmark did a Scavenger hunt themed movie last year, so I thought I knew what to expect. Well, it was SO MUCH BETTER than what I imagined.

Side Bar: Mallory Jansen, I am sorry I had no idea who you were before this moment. I don’t watch too much syndicated TV these days. Wow! It’s almost painful how beautiful you are….and somehow, you exponentially got more pretty throughout the entire movie. How is that possible?

Aside from the TWO Gorgeous People on my screen having adorable chemistry…the making of a virtual scavenger hunt was way more enjoyable to watch than even being on it!

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Aiden started off a little too harsh I felt. Normally Tyler Hynes plays the snarky role really well…but for some reason, it felt a little too much in the beginning especially since there really didn’t seem to be a reason for it. He was such a sweetheart to his family, and it’s not like he didn’t like Christmas. I didn’t get it…. That being said, when things started to thaw….Aiden & Jennifer were adorbs! All the clues and dates were so clever. And Jennifer, my guuurl, you found your GUMPTION at just the right time! WOWOWOWOW! Kiss that Handsome Man! You go girl!
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ As I said up top, the Scavenger Hunt plot had me wondering if we were going to have a redo of 2019….but it wasn’t…and I LOVED IT! The only thing I can’t wrap my head around is how in the world did a whole room full of people get all those activities/dates accomplished in one day!?!?!? I’m going to totally look past it though, because, I 100% want this done in a city near me! Mama & Daddy need a CHRISTMAS DATE!
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️ There wasn’t any HUGE stand outs here. I really felt like Aiden’s niece and sister were more there for his character development…and Jennifer’s grandma & roommate were there for hers. Is that weird of me to say? I did love seeing Aiden with his niece and sister. I also love seeing him standing alone on a rooftop in a light snow…..so take that for what you will 😉
FEELS❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ um….I can’t put anything here besides that kiss. My jaw literally dropped.
HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I enjoyed that there wasn’t really a misunderstanding between the two leads. The “Obstacle” had nothing to do with their relationship at all, but we still felt her hurting heart. Aiden was upfront and honest about the job…and I was worried at the end with the way their boss delivered the news that there was going to be a misunderstanding there…but nope: just a clue!

23/25 ❤️ LOVED this one! So many Fun Christmas Date ideas too! Besides, I’ll watch anything with Tyler Hynes more than once 😉

Hallmark writers must have finally listened to their audience survey exec in the marketing department….

I have to say, I’m surprised and delighted by the change up of featuring a separated married couple as the leads.

Nicki DeLoach was amazing, as we all knew she would be. Benjamin Ayres, sir, you surprised me. Well done! Everything about the relationship struggle was relatable to me as a old married woman.

I really did liked it.

However….I think why this relationship scenario isn’t written for Hallmark movies very often is: it doesn’t have the butterflies of new love. The rush of emotions are completely different. So while being so heartfelt and real…the warm and fuzzies are there for a little bit, but then the pain is also there. (especially if you can relate to this love story in real life) I guess, I like to watch movies to escape from real life for a bit. No??? Just me????

AHHH!! This movie cranked on my heart! The ending scenes were perfection and made me cry. Benjamin & Nicki and the tears…. So, obviously, they did GOOD! But, man, that’s not usually how I want my Hallmark Christmas Feels!

Also, I know it’s Hallmark and I love ’em to death….but people married for 10 years….without a real engagment ring, and then you get one and propose for a SECOND time…and YOU LET AN INTERRUPTION NEGATE a KISS IN THAT MOMENT?!?!?! I felt personally betrayed.

And, also. They are married. Have been for a LONG TIME. That mistletoe should have been in the bedroom. period. There, I said it.

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Mr. & Mrs. Cranberry Lane. I felt it. They are obviously still in love with each other the whole movie…I think they played the awkwardness fairly well, but again, we could have done with less of the “near miss” kisses. I just didn’t feel like that made sense. AAHHH!!! The proposal. COME ON! It was so good…with the ring and the tears…and the hands….
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Loved everything about this story. Married couple. Building a Cranberry Empire together, but finding their passion in different parts of the business. Ultimately, love is choosing each other every day. It is hard. It is work. I loved seeing this story being told! I loved all the nods to the trends of DIY, TV shows, Farmer’s Market, Farm Tour Experiences….Basically everything I LOVE!
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Grandma needs to move in with me with her spunky, sassy little attitude! She reminded me so much of my Grandma Flo! Made me smile every time she opened her mouth. Pamela Franks was the best cross between Martha Stewart and Oprah (did you see the arm movements???) I loved that she played a larger role towards the end and may even find some more HAPPY herself. 🙂
FEELS❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Gabe & Dawn really grabbed at the heart strings. I feel like I’ve talked about this a lot already….but I think many-a-Hallmark viewer relates to this storyline more than others. The Christmas decorations and the Cranberry Festival Market, though….they really have me itching to get out my Christmas decor and deck my own halls with Cranberry everything!
HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Again, the whole concept was a surprise. Good for you, Hallmark!

22/25 ❤️ I agree with this assessment wholeheartedly…but I just don’t know if I’d watch it again. It was so sweet. You gotta watch it at least once!