Crashing Through the Snow

For a made for TV Christmas rom-com that didn't even come out on Christmas this was pretty great. There are many shortcomings due to the way it is produced but despite all that, it is much better than it has any right to be. An awkward family gathering and a romance around it is not a new concept but the family dynamics that are kind of entirely new with the exes prospectively going for siblings while thinking about their kids have been dealt with nicely. Amy Acker was so charming that even some of the over the top moments became much more believable. I wish this was an actual Hollywood production with a few cast changes which would've really made this a great Christmas rom-com.

This is a more mature Hallmark movie, it still has "cocoa" and "traditions", but it's more modern and real. Jeff and Maggie are a divorced couple, that's the new reality and Jeff has a girlfriend Kate and Maggie has a developing relationship with Sam, Kate's brother. That parallels life, even though Hallmark would like all marriages to be "forever" they aren't, people get divorced and remarry. Amy Acker and Warren Christie the two leads have chemistry and the story is good and believable.

Hallmark has missed so many opportunities for hits, like the 2016 film "The Pumpkin Pie Wars" with Eric Aragon and Julie Gonzalo. They could have had spin offs from that movie, but they missed it. They have had competition from Lifetime, UP, Paramount and others ,which means their "formulaic" model isn't a trade secret any longer. Hallmark has to up their game and produce a higher quality product.

As someone else pointed out, people often complain about Hallmark movies being all the same. I don't think that's fair, even though they do tend to follow a basic formula (there's only so many ways to tell a feel good love story). But this is not a typical Hallmark cookie cutter movie. The problems of divorced couples are rarely featured in Hallmark movies (former spouses tend to be conveniently dead). And there were some authentic well acted moments in the movie. That said, as a divorced father, I think it's wildly wildly wildly implausible that a divorced mother would ever agree to spend Christmas (and the days leading up to it) with her ex husband's girlfriend and her family, in their home, in another state (or that the ex and his girlfriend would suggest it- and pick that time to...). That kind of fantasy may work for Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, but not for the other 99.5% of us. Then again, with all the secret prince, amnesia, magical Santa, time travel stories, Hallmark is not exactly devoted to plausibility.

I like Amy Acker, Brooke Nevin, and Warren Christie, and there was good chemistry between Acker and Christie. But the ex husband Jeff was horribly miscast (not his fault). I don't see him being with either Acker or Nevin and I didn't see any chemistry between him and Nevin.

But kudos to Hallmark for trying something different and including a divorce plot line with both parents being around (instead of the convenient "my ex is out of the country on business" plot line). It was unrealistic, especially for those of us who had the opposite of an amicable divorce, but there's a lot to be said for promoting a post divorce life that puts the needs of the kids first. But that's easier to say then do.

Very nice to see a realistic scenario with divorced parents and dealing with the holidays. They are way too nice to each other (must be the Christmas magic), but it makes the movie sweet. Really enjoyed it.

Don't let the title put you off. From the title, one would think that 'Crashing Through the Snow' could be very cheesy and corny. Did remind myself though that there are many Hallmark films with unappealing, corny titles, but actually the content of the film itself is more mature than it sounds. This did sound interesting and different, and with it being one of the better reviewed 2021 Hallmark films of an inconsistent year expectations were raised.

Those expectations were met on the whole. 'Crashing Through the Snow' did something different, which was really appreciated in a year where there was a good deal of tired executions of tired formulas, and did it very well a vast majority of the time. As far as the 2021 Hallmark films go, 'Crashing Through the Snow' is one of the best by quite some way, along with 'A New Year's Resolution' and 'As Luck Would Have It' (that one surprised me).

Will begin with the not so good. The ex-boyfriend character could have been better incorporated in the story perhaps, the role is a bit of a stretch in the context of the situation and is played a little too seriously.

Also thought that the final quarter was on the too rushed and tidy side.

However, 'Crashing Through the Snow' is near-uniformly well acted, especially Amy Acker and Brooke Nevin as the most real characters and Acker and Warren Christie work well together. The characters mostly don't come over as excessively over the top, there is awkwardness but it fits with the tone, and they are not dull either. The dramas and conflicts feel realistic and relatable and don't come over as too sentimental or forced.

It looks good and the music at least fits and sounds appealing. The script is funny and light-hearted while also having a serious edge when needed without going overboard in that. The story doesn't come over as formulaic, structurally it's unique for the 2021 Hallmark films with very little typical or recycled about it (by Hallmark standards that is). It is warm-hearted and has a liveliness, without going overkill. There is some awkwardness but the conflicts and situation called for that. It is also heart-warming and never mean-spirited.

Overall, a surprising winner and much better than the title suggests. A title that doesn't do it justice. 8/10.