Snowed-Inn Christmas

Yes...if you are sick of the glut of banal Hallmark style romance movies that come out at this time of year that use Christmas as a setting to try to suck viewers in to watching them, you will be very pleasantly surprised with this one. True, it is a romance movie, but it is also one of the rare ones that sews Christmas magic into the fabric of the film. I'm one of those people who feels that it's not the time of the year that makes a movie a "Christmas"movie. Other that White Christmas (the exception) I want to see Christmas magic...fantasy, escapism, wonderment. That for me is what makes a Christmas movie special. This movie has it all...romance, fantasy, wonder, great settings and I love "Rudolph"...what a classic. Joy Lenz is a refreshing beauty in this one and the Winters bring a nice piece of tradition to the film. If there's one newer movie to watch this holiday season, make it this one. I highly recomment

With Bethany Joy Lenz and Andrew Walker taking the lead, how can it not be at least good? The popular duo play 2 journalist colleagues sent to Aspen to compete for top spot at their magazine. They both are "off" Christmas. Andrew, because he can't bear to go home to his lovely family since his Dad died. Bethany, because her boyfriend just dumped her after looking forward to spending it with him and his family. They get stranded in Santa Claus, Indiana, at a B & B run by Mr. And Mrs. Winter with both trying to find a Christmas story there that will save their jobs. Rivalry leads to mutual appreciation, liking, then love, even though they are so different from each other.

Andrew's character seems a little sneaky at first. But when he finds out Bethany was an unadopted orphan who made up her happy Christmas tradition stories, he takes her to his nearby home so she can have the family Christmas she has always dreamed of. It was sweet and touching and embodied the true spirit of Christmas.

Bethany realizes right away that there is something magical and mysterious going on with the B & B and the Winters. The fantasy is handled with wonder and without silliness thanks to Belinda Montgomery and John B. Lowe who play the couple and the excellent script. When she finds a photograph of the Winters dated 1842...Well. I will say no more, but she knows she has her story. If only she can find a certificate designating the Inn as a property of historical significance that will prevent it's demolition. Yes, there is that going on as well.

The only quibble I had was when bad boyfriend showed up, she took way too long to dump him. The actors all shine in this one, with a special shout out to Tasha Scott, a former Tyler Perry stand-out, who made the small part of their boss entertaining and special. The last short scene with "The Winters" is worth a an extra star all by itself.

While I think this movie has a terrible title and also I do not like the subplot about the owners of the inn and their connection to the real life Santa Claus, this move works much better than the standard Christmas fare. In large part, as has been noted this is due to the main actors who are both very good actors (and actually will someone give Andrew Walker a non lifetime / Hallmark movie? He has earned it). Bethany Joy Lenz and Walker play fellow reporters at an online magazine. As you do, they live in their own little work world hardly even knowing each other until they are pitted against each other at Christmas, tasked with writing a story or losing a job. Both are determined to win but get diverted from their original location to the small town of Santa Claus Indiana. While there they get to know each other they fall in love. Without giving too much away these stories typically do not have enough plot to establish a real feeling relationship but this did and the actors sold it pretty well. There is one sour note right at the very end but still the vast majority of the move is worth it.

A carefully crafted script, brought to life by the perfectly convincing performances of Joy Lenz and Andrew Walker. Joy Lenz is the buttoned-up perfectionist and Andrew Walker is perfectly placed to unbutton her.

Yes these Christmas stories are a dime a dozen. Yes these churned out movies can be crushingly boring and laughable. Because of the two lead characters, however, Snowed-In Christmas transcends. Walker and Lenz have great chemistry and timing. He is especially charming and more believable as a romantic male lead than a lot of these made for TV movies. They hooked me right in to the predictable story line. The emphasis on simple nuclear family experiences and togetherness becoming treasured and meaningful traditions is heartwarming and rare. Yep, I loved the movie.