Der Klang der Weihnacht

Full disclosure. I fell asleep in the middle of this movie, but in my defense, I was in bed with this on at the time. Never the less, I wanted to log my review in order to compliment Micah Kalisch as the formidable teen daughter, the cheerful wholesome Lindy Booth, the ruthless boss, Damon Runyan, and even the guy that played the hero. I found him strangely appealing. The acting was outstanding. I'm going to go back and look at the middle. If I change my review, I'll let you know. But great casting and good acting can over-ride a lot of other flaws.

It is one of Halmark films more than nice or sweet or charming or predictable or boring. First - for the secondary actors. Not less - for the family portrait. And, sure, for a final real seductive, touching in high measure. A Nice film about a father, his daughter, her piano teacher and a victory of a father against the interests of his son. So, just good job, beautiful in details.

I like this movie. Maybe I don't love it, but I like it a lot. You have your opinions, and I respect those opinions. Here are mine:

LINDY BOOTH(Lizzie) and ROBIN DUNNE(Brad) are very believable, even with Mr. Dunne's wife, FARRAH AVIVA, around(she plays Meg).

I like that even if there are lots of bit players like the students, teachers, audiences and others, there are only few characters. When I was still studying I didn't get it when a mentor said I had too many characters for a movie. He doesn't think I am writing an epic so maybe I should lessen the characters or the people watching would lose interest.

No role is too big or small. All these people are worth remembering:

Micah Kalisch as Abigail Evans (Brad's lovely, talented and wise daughter) Kim Roberts as Samantha Washington(the founder/directress of the school and apparently Lizzie's best friend) Jennifer Gibson as Cynthia Brooks (Brad's good friend/colleague...she has a big crush on Brad, but he is too dense to notice) Farrah Aviva as Meg("psychic" personal assistant) Derek McGrath as Earl McKinley (I didn't recognize him here...as usual, he never disappoints...or at the very least, he never disappoints me) Damon Runyan as Travis McKinley (this guy can be evil or a very kind and charismatic man...here, he's a businessman who wants to keep earning big bucks...or a modern day Scrooge) Dale Whibley as Jordan Crawford (one of the scholars of the Music School)

How often have we as viewers or members of the audience relate to someone or some people in a movie, a sitcom, or whatever else? A lot. I am not talking plagiarism or anything similar to that. It's a total stranger or a bunch of strangers writing something like your life like they have a hidden camera or a bug placed in your soon...or someone injected a microchip or something.

I am exaggerating of course.

There were complaints about this being predictable or the same old story. Maybe.

It's just that a lot of people get the same type of problem each day, it's what you do with your problem that makes a world of a difference. It's how you deal with your day to day living.

Yes, this TV movie is formulaic, and from the start you would already guess who is related to a certain character, it doesn't matter. It's a type of movie that you want to be predictable or else you would feel sad in the end. It's a Christmas movie, and it has achieved its goal to make me smile, at the very least.

Merry July Christmas to you all.

This movie is somehow different from all the other typical Hallmark movies. We know the conflict between the main characters from the beginning and not in the last 15 minutes, which is a good change.

The plot is believable. Both main and supporting cast were amazing as well. The dynamic between the leads is nice, no chemistry to die for, but it works. I'm also glad there was no exaggerated drama throughout the whole movie, it makes it more enjoyable.

Before I watched it, I hesitated a lot whether to do it or not. I do not regret it at all. This is indeed a lovely Christmas movie to enjoy during the holidays.

Robin Dunne & Lindy Booth who play a young widower and a music teacher who tutors his teenage daughter - both do well with the usual HM clichéd script. They give fresh & well-meaning performances into their roles. Robin especially does well as an executive ,whose company has bought the Music School and want to turn it into offices. Do they save the school ? Does the Christmas concert go well ? Does Boy get Girl ? Do we care ? .........well, yes we do. It's an above-average Hallmark Christmas movie - so put your feet up & relax !