Christmas Sail

Emma Oliver and Terry O'Quinn. They are the pillars of this real nice film about lost, old love story becoming a new one, a boat and Christmas. And, sure, a contest.

Not remarkable but charming crafted, explaining the loneliness after deuil period, the motherhood in energetic style, the friendship and the kicks to risk for help the loved one.

So, a sort of different Hallmark. And the same destination with few ways little different.

The good point - gentle, maybe superficial but not in bad sense, of delicate realities from every day, from many lives. And this recipes , sensitive, touching, with few drops of wisdom just works. This is the virtue of this clever portrait of a grandfather and his grandaughter colaboration.

Cute movie but I've seen better from Hallmark clearly the other boats in the parade were prettier and the movie had wrong lead actors. I agree Hallmark has lost it's Christmas stuff.

I was 20 minutes into this movie when it occurred to me that the probable love interest had not put forth an appearance yet. Um. Could it possibly be the dumpy ethnic guy?! I continued to watch in mild disbelief when that remote possibility proved to be the case. And I loved it!

Katee Sackhoff receives word that her estranged and closed off father has hurt his arm saving a little kid from a killer Christmas Tree. She decides to spend Christmas helping him out with perhaps a dim hope that she can repair her relationship with her adorable little daughter's grandfather in the "house where Christmas goes to die." I liked all of the actors in this. Katee won me over with her gummy smile and actually even became more and more appealing as the movie progressed. Terry Quinn was great of course. He was affecting in conveying his grief over his wife's death which happened at Christmas time (of course), his scroogey behavior, and his touching opening up with his daughter by way of his delightful granddaughter. The young actress, Emma Oliver, was so natural in her portrayal. What a talent! And so pretty.

They compete in the parade of Christmas decorated boats in order to win the $25,000 prize needed to save financially challenged grandpa 's home ("My wife took care of all of that" but apparently he managed to pay the electricity bill?) But what ever. Also "whatever" to how a 25,000 prize is more that a drop in the bucket to a house that is worth more than a half million dollars.

Katie and her childhood friend who went from dumpy to cuddly, in my mind, as the movie progressed, confess their love which commenced for both of them in high school to each others mutual shock. It was very romantic in my opinion. She says she has to go home to her regular life and he has to stay with his mother. Both reasons are totally bogus, by the way. But they don't get all tragic about it, which is refreshing.

The boat parade occurs and the special surprise piece de resistance for our boat wows everyone, including me-I teared up. They win. Happy ending. I would have liked more closure to the romance with the steps forward mapped out for the lovable couple, but hope is strong. All in all, this was well worth watching, I liked it, and it was well done.

Christmas On The Lake (2021) -

I really liked the leading man Luke, played by Patrick Sabongui. I felt he was a nice character that I wanted to succeed in love, which made this film easy to watch.

But Terry O'Quinn was outstanding in his role of the disillusioned widower, Dennis. I liked how he slowly melted and came around because of his interactions with his Granddaughter and I liked his vulnerability, because I could really feel his sadness. The whole thing actually got me quite emotional if I'm honest and mostly thanks to Terry.

I really bought the relationship between the two leads and I wanted them to get together.

And I was glad that they didn't make up some crap argument for them to fall out over and just played it simple, with practicalities getting in the way of things instead of some ridiculous misunderstanding or overheard comment.

It had lots of seasonal fun and a different take on the usual themes, with a pleasant romance and heart that has sometimes been missing.

6/10.

I thought this was one of the better Countdown to Christmas movies in recent years. The acting all around is good, including the scene-stealing kid. The plot was okay (not sure they really needed the sailing prize aspect of it; in fact story would have been better without it). One of these days Hallmark will let its characters do a full kiss instead of one of those where they plaster their lips together and try not to move. But an entertaining watch with a real emotional scene at the end. Well worth the effort.