Unter dem Mistelzweig

I'm beginning to realize that sometimes the films you were least expecting to enjoy actually turn out to be some of the best films yet. The Mistletoe Inn was a really good film. The setting and atmosphere of the movie was great, but sometimes I forget it was a Christmas movie since there were times It didn't feel much like Christmas, but instead it simply felt like more like a Winterfest film that would air at the start of the new year. I loved all the characters mainly the main couple, Kim and Zeke and Kim's new friend, Samantha. The chemistry Kim and Zeke shared was excellent and I loved their unique personalities. Fun and Quirky. It was quite different than anything I've seen before. They were a lot of fun to watch and I really enjoyed Kim's friendship with Samantha.

This film truly was the perfect example of helping one to come out of their comfort zone and try new things. Kim was rather a little overly sensitive when the film began, but by the end she became a much stronger character I am proud to have watched. However, I do wish her ex-boyfriend could've gotten a better punishment after how he treated Kim and sabotaged her and though I'm happy she proved herself to him, I think it could've been better. I also enjoyed Samantha's little quest of trying to uncover the identity of the mystery romance writer of the movie and although the scenes were short and brief, it was still fun and intriguing. This film had a lot of positive qualities I really enjoyed along with a little twist I wasn't expecting nor did I see coming.

Overall, this was an enjoyable festive winter movie to watch and hopefully it'll feel more like a Christmas film during the actual season.

I may be biased because for me, Alicia Witt is the queen of Hallmark Christmas movies. I loved her in this for several reasons. She does Awe and Wonder really well. She also does the weird facial expression really well. And she is great here with David Alpay. Even in the traditional early movie I-hate-you phase they had chemistry.

This story had what was, to me at least, an original concept and a great one too. It was about a man and a woman who meet at a writers' workshop. There was also a little mystery going on as to whether one of the workshop attendees was the famous romance novelist incognito. The story had one more element that is always dear to me. Kim had a true and loyal friend who went the extra mile for her. Lucie Guest was great as Samantha.

While tweeting during the movie, some real writers were chiming in that parts of the plot were hitting home for them.

I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 (C H R I S T M A S ) MOVIES AND SPECIALS.

BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY " C H R I S T M A S " MOVIES AS I CAN.

In this film when aspiring romance novelist Kim Rossi is unceremoniously dumped by her soon-to-be-published romance novelist boyfriend, Garth, Kim takes stock and decides to take a leap. She signs up for a romance writing retreat at a quaint Vermont Inn shortly before Christmas, where a top romance novelist is scheduled to attend. Shortly after arriving, she crosses paths with Zeke, whom she initially finds to be intrusive and, naturally, ends up being her assignment partner. Worse yet, her ex-boyfriend, Garth, is also at the retreat.

I want to point out that I always look forward to any Hallmark film that Alicia Witt is in. Two of my favorite Hallmark Christmas Movies she is in. Sadly this film will not join that list.

The one major problem with this film is that it plays it too safe and it is very predictable.

Some of the locations are pretty but that is not enough to warrant future additional viewings.

I generally enjoy Alicia Witt, but contrary to the previous review I find her affectations in this film both annoying and juvenile. I don't know if it's just getting old or just this movie. By the end, both leading characters are over working their jaws. It took much away from the film for me.

I've watched several movies/TV Shows with Alicia Witt. She is a good actress. Her love interest in the film was quite good too. Her ex- boyfriend was very one dimensional, but his part was terribly written. It's ironic that a film about romance writing would be so horribly written. I would rate the writing a 2 out of 10. Weak, with one- dimensional characters and really poor dialog and phony situations (even for a Hallmark romance movie).

It's too bad the two stars didn't have better material to work with.

On a side note, I wish they would quit filming these things in the summer. Is it so difficult to film them one winter and present them the next?