Christmas in Evergreen

Ever seen a dancing class recital? The group is dancing away but there is always the kid who is simply doing steps. Sometimes you can see her mentally counting the step-ball-changes before the turn. It looks like dancing but it's missing what makes dancing, dancing.

For me, watching this movie, Ashley Williams is that kid and it ruins the movie for me. Overacting to the hilt, that jack-o-lantern smile, everything too big, too much, overdone. Natural is not in her acting tool box, she acts like a pre-teen in her school play. It's distracting and pulls me right out of the movie. It's a problem b/c she plays the lead and is on camera a LOT, so if watching an actor substitute big-eyed ear-to-ear smiles (sometimes at inappropriate moments) for actually getting into a role annoys you, you might want to plug in It's a Wonderful Life and enjoy the great acting that turns a Christmas movie into a Christmas classic.

The other actors are ok in their roles, and the plot is typical Christmas romance with the usual angels in the snow, tree decorating, bearded old guy dispensing holiday wisdom, etc. etc. The movie is predictable, of course, but that's what Hallmark movies do: guarantee the happy ending.

I love Christmas movies, and for me this one is fair to middling. If you enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies, you'll like this one as it follows their holiday pattern. Teddy Sears (Ryan) and Holly Robinson Peete (Michelle) were bright spots in this movie

...like many other Hallmark films. Christmas, love, a lovely village, a single father and a succesful pretender, a decisions and the magic changing everything. And, sure, as a real good point, Santa. The virtue of film- it is...comfortable. Real , just real comfortable. Because all is familiar and predictable. And because it gives not a pledge or demonstration or lesson but a simple story . Nothing complicated. Only just nice. And, after a lot of sweet films about same theme, a so honest film and its snow globe are not bad attractions.

Turn down the fake snow machine a little. Ashley Williams has an amazing smile...that's about it. She never wears anything sexier than an old sweater. There is no feel of chemistry in this movie. That being said it is a nice movie. Everyone seemed to try real hard and it is worth a viewing, but it's missing a lot of things. It sort of feels like a religious cult's first attempt at a Christmas movie. Can one have too much Lynda Boyd? No.

To all the sceptics out there.... don't watch them if you are bored of them or they are too "predictable"... My girlfriend and I , loved everyone single one of them shown on the hallmark channel this year, mainly because they are all the same "cheesy" movies ... It is a beautiful way to get away from the greed that has become the "holiday season" and it's a nice way to come home everyday and watch the ideal Christmas to a small town ... yes I get that the actors are cast in a bunch of similar movies , but that's not just because they are being paid less to film in Canada , it's because they love the idea of "Christmas" ... it's a time for miracles and a time for reconciliations and a time for forgiveness... it's not just a bunch of presents under the tree, it's that SPECIAL feeling that the season brings... and we both LOVE IT!! thank you

As I sat down in 2021 to watch the 2017 Christmas movie titled "Christmas in Evergreen" I must admit that I wasn't harboring much of any expectations to it. Why? Well, the movie's cover/poster sort of had that archetypical Christmas cheesy feel to it. So I figured I would be in for one of those run-of-the-mill Christmas romance movies that come a dime a dozen each year. But still, I opted to sit down and watch what writer Rick Garman and director Alex Zamm had to offer.

And as it turned out, then "Christmas in Evergreen" was actually a rather wholesome and entertaining Christmas movie. Sure, it had that sappy romantic element to it, but it wasn't really the main focal point of the movie. So I will say that "Christmas in Evergreen" had something for just about everyone in the audience. I, personally, was genuinely entertained by the story told here.

They had managed to put together a good ensemble of actors and actresses for the movie, with the lead roles belonging to Ashley Williams and Teddy Sears. I will say that the lead performers carried the movie quite well and they were rather nicely cast for the movie. "Christmas in Evergreen" also has the likes of Holly Robinson Peete and Barbara Niven on the cast list.

If you enjoy Christmas movies, then "Christmas in Evergreen" is certainly an enjoyable movie, and it definitely surprised me. So this is a Christmas movie that I can warmly recommend.

My rating of "Christmas in Evergreen" lands on a seven out of ten stars.