Christmas at the Plaza

Elizabeth Henstridge seems to have no life at all in this movie, making me wonder that she is only saved in Agents of Shield by the presence of so many other actors.

The film isn't helped by having the same tired "girl left on her own by clueless boyfriend" cliche.

Was this movie conceived only to get The Plaza to write a big check as a placement sponsor? Seems like it. The writers sure didn't seem to be able to get past that.

I like this holiday movie. Instead of the two main characters bickering and fighting at the beginning of the movie, they are connected immediately. I found the chemistry between the two actors very real. I love the background story with the missing tree topper and the story behind it.

Notwithstanding the oft-mentioned thrown in reference to Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece "North By Northwest" (1959), the movie's nod is clearly to such pieces as "Grand Hotel" (1932) and "Week-end at the Waldorf" (1945) in which the buildings almost take on the form of real characters. Although in unassuming Hallmark territory, that aspect gives this entry a refreshing change of pace, aided by the casting of a newcomer to these proceedings (Elizabeth Henstridge, in a sweetly unaffected performance) paired with a solid and likeable regular (Ryan Paevey). A good one to re-watch.

Come on everyone, this is a Hallmark Movie, not an Academy Award contender for Best Picture.

Hallmark does more than 20 movies alone for Christmas. They are usually shot in Canada, shot quickly, with a minimal budget and any "stars" are ones who are no longer in their prime, such as Bruce Davidson and Julia Duffy in this movie. This one they spent a bit more since it was shot in NYC.

It's funny on here when they ask if there's spoilers in the reviews. They all have the same plot and story line. Boy and Girl meet, the fall in love without realizing it, one of them is already in a relationship, they both make incorrect assumptions, about 2/3s of the way through the movie they say they can't be together/it won't work out/etc and in the end they realize their mistakes and live happily ever after.

Come on, they aren't too realistic in the first place. The day Jessica and Nick go to the Christmas store, they took his van, yet walked 10 blocks down 5th Ave by Rockefeller Center to see the tree and skaters,walked another 7 blocks south to Bryant Park, then walked down to the east Village to the store and then go back to the Plaza to talk to Reggie? Yet Jessica still had the time to go home to change into her dress for dinner with Dennis at 6, stop by and see her friend at work (in bright sunlight), get to Dennis on time, leave there, go to the Plaza afterwards and then go with Nick to his parent's house for the party? I'm exhausted just thinking about that day!

These are cutsie, holiday movies that are supposed to make you smile, not big blockbuster award contenders,

This is a lovely story. I like the historical interest tied in with Christmas as well as the blossoming romance. I'm not sure that she was totally fair to her boyfriend or that she was the most likeable person either, but he. . . He was beautiful, a deep voice and a gorgeous smile and face, probably with a body that rocks too.

Also, Bruce Davison is slowly becoming very popular with me. He works his arse off to be in all these films and I did like his characters arc in this one.

It's a charming story, with history and with traditional family values at Christmas, what's not to like?