Well, this was unexpected.

When I see my girl, Alison Sweeney, front and center on the cover of a movie poster, I am expecting sassy and spunky and feisty and fun to be had….this is not what Open By Christmas delivered.

Also, I’m not quite sure that this movie didn’t belong in the Miracles of Christmas line up over on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries….it was much more serious and heartfelt than a rom-com in my book.

A story of a long lost Christmas Card love note mystery…..that I ended up not even caring about at all…. hmmmm

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️The last 5 minutes of this movie is what put Nicky & Derrick on the heart map…but juuuust barely. Listen, my love for Sami Alison runs so so so deep. _{(remember our first born daughter is named Samantha….not a coincidence)} But, she has STRENGTHS and I felt like they just weren’t used in this paring. I also enjoy Brenden Elliot….but, you see…..I just couldn’t believe this Nicky character being so down her luck in love…and the two of them together just didn’t spark for me. I actually think their acting was spot on to the characters they were playing, but if you don’t use Alison’s spunk, I just feel like you are wasting this girls’ talented…..then they had to go and CRY in the final scene and give us a real kiss. I mean, where were those two all movie????

STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️There were so many interesting things going on here! I know the main plot was about the found Christmas card love note….but I was 100% more invested in Simone’s life. I know it’s because I’m a mom….and a wife….so I totally related to her worries about her son growing up/pulling away/becoming more independent. I think about that a lot. Makes me so sad. Ugh. See? I also loved the way they told the story of Simone and Miriam. It was so honest and touching how they came to understand each other. This movie really had two fully separate storylines running parallel throughout. I loved Nicky Simone’s friendship…true and life long. Really different concept!

SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️As I said…Simone was so much more a part of this movie than a supporting cast member…feel like she should have been on the poster too! Simone and Miriam nailed their roles. Even when they started getting along and understanding one another, I love that Miriam didn’t totally change her personality….still reserved and quietly judgy 😉 I loved the Jeremy/Anthony relationship and story too. This was all so very different from many-a-Hallmark movie.

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️What got me is how I felt the feels in all the parts I wasn’t expecting to. I come into these movies wanting the love story….I didn’t get what I wanted from this one, but I still got some BIG feels in other parts of the story. ALL the mom feels for Simone…ugh, why do our babies have to grow up?!?!?! I absolutely LOVED the surprise Jeremy was able to pull of for Simone. I knew that was coming and STILL got excited like I was getting a new house! Obviously, the last scene between Nicky & Derrick was so touching. Man, they didn’t have to bottle that all up until the very end though!

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(what made this different from typical Hallmark movies)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️This whole cast and movie surprised me. Especially since I didn’t even find myself caring about the main characters as much as I thought I would. It wasn’t kitschy or cheesy at all….so honestly, the big surprise for me is that it was billed as a rom-com.

NEW (ungraded) CATEGORY no hearts given, but I feel like some of the “traditions” or decor in these movies NEED a little spotlight. I mean…

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?!?!

1. My Christmas gift-giving game is weak. Can you imagine gifting someone a whole darn house….completely furnished? Decorated for Christmas? With a big party? WOW!
2. I would totally make my 15 year old get that pic with Santa. Lay off Miriam, Nicky, Jeremy, and anyone else that stands in my way. Traditions are traditions, yo.

22/25 I didn’t get what I came for, but I ended up leaving with a heartfelt story just the same. It was a solid Hallmark heart grabber for me….just not the fiery love story I expected.

I loved the first Mrs. Miracle adaptation back in 2009 with James Van Der Beek & the absolute treasure Doris Roberts as Madame Merkle. Oh, what a joy that woman was! New installments or sequels are always hard to rate without bias….but I will do my very best.

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Ugh. Will & Angie made me cry right along side of them. This pairing was so so SO good together. It’s hard to compare long standing couple’s chemistry against the majority of Hallmark movies where new love is portrayed….but the struggles and triumphs of an established married husband and wife can hit you right in the heart if done well….and Kaitlyn Doubleday & Steve Lund got this ALL RIGHT! My heart is still wrenched, but the fact that they got their miracle(s) capped off the most beautiful love story in the end!

STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Oh my goodness! I would say I can’t imagine the amount of families and couples that watched this story unfold with tears flowing as it mirrored their own journey to parenthood….but I can….because I know many of them personally and love them like crazy. I cannot speak first hand to going through the foster and adoption system, so I won’t claim to be an expert…but I know having this story told so beautifully grabbed my heart and didn’t let go. In addition to that, the love and care given to Nana was just too sweet for words. Loving our family in every generation is so very important. In contrast, the strained relationship Angie had with her father…and it’s mending. 5 hearts all around!

SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️I’m not sure if you can consider Gloria a supporting cast member since the whole darn movie is named after her, but I’m going to talk about her here anyway. Caroline Rhea was a fabulous Mrs. Miracle. Was she Doris Roberts? No….who could be? But, she brought her own flair to the role, and I still loved her…even if it was a different feel. Here’s what I thought was so poignant: what I felt was missing from the void of Doris Roberts’ Mrs. Miracle ….was filled with the Sweetness of Paula Shaw as Nana. She reminded me so much of my late grandmother and made me smile….from her stubbornness to her scheming. 🙂

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️AND this is when I want to break my own rules and add more hearts! I feel like I’ve talked about FEELS in every category. This whole movie had me feeling. My heart clenched. Tears poured down my cheeks. SO MANY FEELS! This is what Hallmark movies are made of, my friends. The saddest of sads….and the joy-est of joys.

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(what made this different from typical Hallmark movies)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Tackling such heart-aching REAL topics of infertility, fostering, adoption, elder care, strained family relationships due to grief…..they did it all with such grace and care. I was so moved by it all.

NEW (ungraded) CATEGORY no hearts given, but I feel like some of the “traditions” or decor in these movies NEED a little spotlight. I mean…

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?!?!

1. I have to talk about the cabinet boughs. Like, every single kitchen cabinet had one. I still can’t decide if I love it or hate it.
2. I really need an angel to tell me and my husband to go out on a date and then put up all our outdoor Christmas Lights.

25/25 I just can’t think of a reason to dock this movie for anything. My heart was in my throat the entire time. I don’t think I can take watching it again….but that’s just because it was so well done, and I don’t want to cry that much.

Alright, so the movie poster alone had me excited for this one….

add to that the concept of time travel with Christopher Lloyd & Lea Thompson as a part of the story had my Back to the Future-80s baby-heart all aflutter….
AND an added extra dose of Days of Our Lives Will Horton to the mix….

I actually tempered my joy when I sat down to watch. I felt like I wasn’t going to be a very objective reviewer for you guys.

but, Y’ALL. THIS WAS SO GOOD! I know you will agree with me on this!

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

CHEMISTRY (between the leads) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ WOW! First of all, Chandler Massey & Lyndsy Fonseca. WELCOME TO HALLMARK! (_{Will, did your mom, Sami, get you this gig?} 😉 ) I loved every single second of Ben & Angie on my screen. Ben was so cute and funny and so in love with this girl. Angie really was such a lost soul in so many aspects of her life that her being unaware was actually believable! My only complaint is I wanted MORE MORE MORE of them in the new present. GAH! but, the frosty jewelry box…Ben as Santa…the two of them together at the ball… “My heart’s always been somewhere else”. BEN! WE KNOW! We all know! Now, I normally don’t add the “other” part of the love triangle in here, but our boy, Tyler Grant, sportscaster extraordinaire….he was in so much of this movie, I am making an exception. He also nailed his role….but I HAVE TO ASK THIS: Did any of you think that physically….he and Angie (or I guess I should say Lyndsy Fonseca & Eric Freeman, the actors themselves) LOOKED like they could be related???? I could not get past this in my brain. They looked like twins, or at least siblings…. Yes? No? Am I crazy?

STORYLINE❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ (overall plot of the movie) LOVED IT ALL! I really do enjoy a good time travel movie….and this was a clever spin on it being only 10 years difference. I loved that we were brought into every aspect of Angie’s life. Her relationship with her sister and in turn, her sister’s family’s struggles….her parent’s relationship….her own relationships and work/life balance. It amazed me how they fit all of this into a normal Hallmark movie time frame! Just goes to show how a well written/acted/directed script can make a brilliant movie. And, yes, I am still talking about a Hallmark movie…..but I almost felt like I was watching a feature film. That good.

SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️ YES TO THE WHOLE CAST! All of you, take a bow. Christopher Lloyd as the Train Conductor weaved this whole plot together …loved his words of wisdom and his smiles and winks and all the things! Mom & Dad and their story…Sister/BIL and their story, plus could little Henrik BE ANY CUTER??? Aunt Myrt! One Life to Live Queen! I fell in love with you all!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️ This ties right in with the supporting cast…Every storyline just spoke to my heart. Mom & Dad struggling to figure out life after the kids grow up….Peter & Kristin’s heartbreak with infertility and feeling alone and helpless….the sisters and their disconnected relationship…..Ben’s life long love for his best friend…and oh my goodness…..running after that train!!!! AHHH!!!! I just couldn’t with the thought of those 10 years. I mean, even after the conclusion of the movie, I was pondering how everything changed and shook out….when did they get together for real??? Can we get a sequel that fills in the 10 year gap for us??? Please!!!! Also, I laughed out loud at may of Chandler & Lyndsy’s lines/interactions. Bring these two back!

HALLMARK SURPRISE ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I knew it was gong to be a time travel movie….I wasn’t prepared for how they went about it. Popping in and out of the train into different times and places. This was so unique! But mostly, the way it all ended had my jaw on the floor. I can’t believe he didn’t catch the train…..and then everything was perfect…and different….and fixed…and magical….and left me wanting more! Well done!

NEW (ungraded) CATEGORY no hearts given, but I feel like some of the “traditions” or decor in these movies NEED a little spotlight. I mean…

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?!?!

1. Did you wonder why they kept showing the outside of the families house? All decorated and lit up? I was like, yes, I know I need to up my Christmas Lights game….I know……but then, and I almost missed it…..the GINORMOUS Gingerbread house replica????? Whaaaaa?????? So amazing.
2. I just need a Christmas Ball in my life. that’s all.

24/25 AMAZING!!!! I think I missed certain things, and honestly it was just so adorable. I originally had it at 25/25 but I had to take one heart off off because the end just wasn’t enough for me. Next Stop, watching this movie again!

Take me to Casillas Panadería and make me my own gingerbread miracle!

First of all, I am a HUGE Christmas cookie cutout fanatic….not only do I love eating them, one of my favorite family traditions is cutting them out, baking them, and decorating them with the kids. It’s something that my mom did with us and now something we love doing with our kiddos. Now, while the sugar cookie is usually the medium for this…..we also do gingerbread because I LOVE THEM! So, call me impartial, but somehow that concept endeared me to this movie right from the start.

Tío Luis and his adorably smitten nephew, Alejandro, were pretty sweet icing on the cookie too 😉

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

CHEMISTRY (between the leads) ❤️❤️❤️❤️I’m not sure Alex and Maya could have been any cuter if they tried. I loved learning about their past flirtations as teenagers and how miscommunication and silly games they played made it hard for them to be honest with each other. Then, in stark contrast….just how straight forward they were with each other in the present. The line delivery of Alex of, “I wanna kiss you.” and Maya’s reply in kind….. SO SO GOOD! We all wanted it too!!! And maybe this is saying something about me, but I loved him being so jealous the whole movie with Jacques. It wasn’t rude or mean….he just really wanted Maya to himself. The ONLY thing that is holding back that 5th heart was the ending scene. Just TOO many words….it felt awkward, when up until that point, it was so natural……

STORYLINE❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ (overall plot of the movie) Gingerbread cut-out cookies that, when made with love, make miracles!!!! Come on! How good is that??? I loved this whole movie concept. Aside from the cookies, it was so inspiring watching all the characters find their true passions and follow their dreams….regardless of what was expected of them or what pressures they felt from others. I loved seeing Mexican culture and language portrayed in the Christmas setting—especially Las Posadas procession and explanation. I had never heard of that before! What a amazing way to celebrate and illustrate the true meaning of Christmas!

SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️Both of the families were so sweet and loving. It was a nice change of pace to not have arguments or divides within the families. Even the love triangle was truly amicable…….everyone just really worked well together. Tio Luis and Alex had such a great relationship, and so did Maya and her sister and their parents…..two happy Hallmarkie families! Gosh, this feels redundant……but I don’t know what else to say….they were just all so nice.

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️Jon Ecker as Alex really nailed it. From first talking to Maya on the phone to the ending scene, we never doubted where his heart was at. Merritt Patterson also was as sweet as can be, and I love that she knew what she wanted and followed her heart. BIG feels for Alex and Maya finding their way back to each other….and BIG BIG feels for Las Posadas. Baby Jesus IS CHRISTMAS for me!

HALLMARK SURPRISE ❤️❤️❤️❤️Las Posadas not only being mentioned, but explained and acted out…en Español with subtitles! Me gusta mut mucho! I was also shocked at Alex being to kind and generous in regards to Jacques….I mean, he made him a cookie! and one more for my Hallmark heart: the red briefcase! I did not see that coming!

NEW (ungraded) CATEGORY no hearts given, but I feel like some of the “traditions” or decor in these movies NEED a little spotlight. I mean…

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?!?!

1. GINGERBREAD OBSTACLE COURSE???? Where has this been all my life? I was like, how is this going to work?? and now it’s on the agenda for my Christmas Day shenanigans!
2. I said it 3 times up top….but I’ll say it again: Las Posadas is a tradition I can get behind! I love it so much

19/25 Super Sweet! I loved Jon & Merritt in this one! I would watch this one again, I think. Plus, I gotta prep for my own gingerbread obstacle course!

How in the world are you going to make me enjoy a Christmas movie with sailboats in it?!?

Don’t we need snow and ice and cold???

This Wisconsin girl was not sure about this movie right from the start….but I must say, I was most pleasantly surprised!

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

CHEMISTRY (between the leads) ❤️❤️I really loved Luke. He was amazingly natural and fun to watch. Liz, however, hmmmm…..there was just something off there. There were moments that this character did shine through in a very genuine light, but I just felt like she was trying too hard at Happy. Over smiling…Over skipping….just over acting…..Does that make sense? Toward the end of the movie, though, when Luke & Liz are at the ball talking (as long as you could look past whatever that kiss was) and onward….the chemistry was amazing! It took almost the entire movie to get me there, but I sailed in by the end. Patrick Sabongui made me hang in there….the scene where Luke remembered everything about Liz was adorable….and the pay off at the end was worth it!

STORYLINE (overall plot of the movie) ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Sailboats at Christmas….was not thinking I was going to be on board……but they got me! I absolutely loved the heartfelt story of Liz and her Dad trying to navigate the grief of losing their wife/mother. It was so realistic and moving to watch them mend their hearts together, especially the fact that it was his granddaughter that melted his. I wish we would have had MORE of the parade…..did we only see 2 boats lit up? Or did I fall asleep? hmm…..

SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️All of these hearts are given to Terry O’Quinn. I loved that guy. Maybe I just have a special place in my heart for the crotchety old men of the world (Love you Dad)…but he played Dennis so well. It hurt my heart watching him be sad and closed off….and made it all the more sweet as he opened back up. Seriously, he just reminded me so much of my dad…super big heart just doesn’t know how to express it, and comes off harsh because of it…..especially when it comes to his own children. Even his relationship with Luke reminded me of my father’s and husband’s relationship….geez, who wrote this story????

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️ I’m a picture fanatic. So, the scenes when they look back at old photographs and remember the past got me right in the heart….double time when it was in memory of their mom…..QUADRUPLE TIME in the big Parade Reveal at the end! What in the world?!?!? I went from a “meh” feeling to crying in the closing parade scene with that Slideshow….Also, I already mentioned my love for Terry O’Quinn above, so basically any scene he in too….special mention: him and Liz in the dark at the foot of the Christmas tree–such a touching moment from both of them.

HALLMARK SURPRISE ❤️❤️❤️ Sailboat Slideshow. And did you notice that neither Luke or Liz changed anything about their lives to decide to be together? I found it so odd that the “conflict” turned out not to be resolved—just realized that it didn’t matter in the first place….Little twist there…..oh, and how long did it take you to realize that Liz and Luke weren’t brother and sister? Probably not as long as me….LOL! The opening scene was confusing….

NEW (ungraded) CATEGORY no hearts given, but I feel like some of the “traditions” or decor in these movies NEED a little spotlight. I mean…

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?!?!

1. I’ve mentioned many times, but the Boat Parade at Christmas would be kind of amazing to watch….probably with more boats though….
2. Love the “Saving Christmas” scavenger hunt to collect food/goods for people in need! What a fun and thoughtful idea!

16/25 Much MUCH better than expected out of the gate. Not on my movie watch again list, but I have one more person to add to my I’d watch them again list.