When you get Luke McFarlane and Merritt Patterson to star in your Hallmark movie, I can imagine you expect great things.

I don’t know if I expected GREAT things from this pairing, but I certainly expected more than we got. I was 100% more invested in the secondary characters’, Sam and Sarah’s, relationship than I was in the leads…so at least there’s that!

I’m not a dump on everything kinda gal….so let’s find some positives, shall we? Hallmark really dove into the Music this past weekend! Two movies themed around music….this one being instrumental (which also isn’t my jam). BUT, I loved the quartet! (and although Merritt Patterson doesn’t play piano for real….Luke McFarlane really is playing that Cello) Super cool to have the actors be able to showcase their gifts like that!

Let’s just get to it.

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️ Margot and Jackson. I didn’t buy it for a second. I hesitate to even give this one heart, which pains me, but there it is. Even the ending scene seemed forced and awkward. 😦
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️ A world famous pianist trying to find her passion…I get it….it seemed like she found it within her family though, so maybe that’s why the love story faded into the background? I don’t know. I tried.
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️ Best part of the whole film: Sam and Sarah. Get this couple a movie! How cute were they?!?!
FEELS❤️ I liked the idea of a Christmas Concert dinner. That would be a beautiful celebration to attend with family.
HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️ I was surprised there was not much I liked about this movie. Also, DO NOT waste Jesse Hutch as a side character (Chateau PR guy) He’s leading man material! (See “Let It Snow” 2013 & “Harvest Moon” 2015)

8/25 ❤️ Next.

CHRISTMAS NOSTALGIA!!!!

From the opening credits with the vintage home videos….to the ending scenes, if this movie didn’t take you back in time to Christmas past…you might have been sleeping.

Now, it’s my duty to say, once again….Andrew Walker cannot ever make a bad Hallmark movie in my eyes. He’s my fav. So, I will apologize if my bias shines through, but I guess you’ll have to live with that since it’s my review and I can fawn if I want to. Highlights of his character, Nate: his LOVE of sugary drinks with the all sprinkles and the way he looks at Meg. SWOON!

Oh, yeah, the other lead: Alicia Witt. She ain’t too bad herself. 😉 Honestly, when I see Alicia is starring in a Hallmark movie, I always expect fun, quirky, and playful…so this movie really did surprise me with how very heartfelt it was. And girl can sing! (which I knew from other Hallmark flicks) I was nervous after her first song…but the Concert Performance was beautiful! For those of you who don’t know, those are HER original songs! That woman is MULTI-TALENTED, and I LOVE HER!

SIDE BAR REAL QUICK on Nostalgia: John Black! What in the world?!?! Any Days of Our Lives fans out there? I would lie and say I almost didn’t recognize him with the white hair and without the squinty, serious stare…but, John, I’d know you anywhere!

Back to this movie: I love the feel of Old Time Shops….we have so many in our state of Wisconsin (even right in my hometown of Oshkosh) I truly miss the way that 2020 has taken some of that joy away 😦 That’s why I love that at least we can watch it on Hallmark and dream of the day we can experience it all again in person!

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Nate & Meg were SUPER adorable throughout this whole movie. THE PIANO LESSON SCENE. My Heart. They were so good together…but I couldn’t give them all 5 hearts. 😦 Nate brought it every time. Meg still had moments when I just wasn’t feeling it….gurl, it’s Andrew Walker, swoon a little more, please (also one of my brothers (Nate) is married to a Megan…so that was fun)
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Loved it all. The whole theme of Saving of Christmas Tree Lane, the Music, the Family businesses, both leads shining in their respective careers. Every second of it was well thought out and flowed. It had my Christmas heart the whole way through.
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Both families were played very well. JOHN BLACK, HOLLA! I don’t even remember his character’s name…and I don’t care. 😉 Nate’s dad was a tough cookie until the very end, though. Man, that was frustrating! Loved all the shop owners and friends coming together and helping with professional AND personal troubles. 2 special mentions yet: Kelly and her beautiful voice…and MABEL! The flipping cutest name for the cutest little peanut!
FEELS❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I’ve talked already so much about the leads chemistry, the Christmas shops, the music…so a couple more things that NEED to be said: THAT BLUE DRESS. Girl, WORE THAT DRESS! Nate said it best, “WOW!” also can we take a moment to remember the piano lesson scene…… 🙂
HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️ This really did follow the norm of the Hallmark Movie equations as far as plot and conflict. I would have killed for a kiss by the piano or after one of their many “dates”…..my biggest surprise was something I should have expected. THE GAS LAMPS! I was too focused on the rest of the goings on that when they lit up, my heart exploded right along with Meg’s! Alicia Witt kills a surprise reaction every time!

21/25 ❤️ I wouldn’t turn this one off if it was on again. It would be a great movie to watch while Christmas shopping from your favorite local shops on-line 😉

P.S. Question for you Readers: In what world do we drink HOT COCOA WITH A STRAW???? That seems like a Burnt Mouth waiting to happen…..