A '90s Christmas

When I saw a 90s Christmas movie coming to Hallmark, I was all in. I graduated in 98, and that decade is everything, especially music-wise.

This movie was not even close to what i thought it would be. Lucy was not likable at all. She treated her family and friends poorly. And really didn't learn any lessons until the movie's last five minutes. It was vexing.

Lucy knew she treated those people poorly but didn't really try to remedy that. I get the death of a father. It sucks, and everyone grieves differently, but isolating her mom and sister was rough to watch.

The chemistry between her and her ex was lacking. Overall, the storyline wasn't strong, and it is not worth a rewatch.

The look of all the 90s "kids" really took me out of the story. Not only Lucy and Matt but also the sister and best friend look like they're at least in their mid-twenties. None of these people look like they should be playing teens OR 40+ year olds. I had fully expected different actors when we jumped back 25 years(!!) in time. One really has to wonder why it was done this way, because it's baffling and utterly distracting.

I'm not even getting into time travel paradoxes here, because for something that had the 90s as a hook, it was quite sloppy on that end as well.

The premise wasn't bad but the result is.

My partner and I love the 90s and so were really excited to watch a ridiculous Christmas movie about traveling back in time, however, this has NOTHING to do with the 90s. It's almost as if no one in the movie actually lived through them. The clothing was just modern Christmas. The makeup was 2024. There was one 90s song and that was it. If someone didn't explicitly tell you this was 1999, you would never, ever know it. Also, to go from supposedly 44 to 19-years-old all she did was remove her fake glasses (yes, they legitimately had no lenses). I was ready for a trip down memory lane and they absolutely did not deliver.

've always been fascinated by the idea of time travel. More specifically going back in time and changing decisions you made. Or possibly correcting mistakes or enjoying moments that you know you'll never get again. In A '90s Christmas we get to see that scenario play out for successful lawyer Lucy (Eva Bourne).

In present day, Lucy earns a long-sought after partner position at her law firm, but has no one to celebrate with. Luckily Grace (Katherine Barrell), a magical time-travel angel/old time uber driver, shows up to transport her back 25 years when she made some critical decisions that shaped her life.

Of course, she returns to struggling with her decisions about boy-next-door Matt (Chandler Massey). Their relationship is the A storyline. But we're treated to several others, too. I'll point out just one. Sister Alexa (Alex Hook from The Way Home), is working through coming out to her mom. Lucy, of course, knows Alexa is gay and gives her great advice to help her deal with any struggles that will come her way in the future. This sort of side story isn't one we see a lot on Hallmark and I really appreciate the inclusivity.

The 90s references are funny, but consist mostly of Lucy mentioning things from the present day that her 1990s family wouldn't understand. Pinterest board, anyone? I would have liked to see more 90s cliches, but the Y2k and Windows 95 references were on point.

I chucked at how easily Lucy believed she time traveled. Lucy believed Grace's story really fast. Ok, I guess I time traveled ... moving on. Sure, we didn't need to belabor the point, but a little bit of skepticism would be expected. Newspapers and familiar dogs did the trick though.

Let's be real, every Hallmark Christmas movie ends with a kiss at the end, when the two people declare their love for eachother. We aren't expecting to be surprised. Most of the time it's not exactly earned. We just need that kiss to complete the story. But, dang it, this one was different. It takes you on a lifetime journey that feels real and emotional. Yeah, I got a little lump in my throat. This movie earned that kiss and that ending.

Props to Writer Ryan Peckinpaugh and Director Marni Banack for bringing that scene to us.

Finally, I'm concerned about Chandler Massey's time travel/alternate reality experience. He was the understanding boyfriend in the wonderful Next Stop, Christmas. He watched someone time travel in that one, but didn't get to himself. In fact, he had to wait around for a long time to find out if his girlfriend was full of baloney about time travel. And in A Tale of Two Christmases, he's one corner of an alternate reality love triangle-ironically with Katherine Barrell again. So my question is this: when does Chandler get to time travel?! Or is he destined to observe, but never partake? How very sad indeed.

Cast Kudos: I have to go with Eva Bourne on this one. Super fun. To play herself at 44 and 19, and be modestly believable is commendable. Losing the glasses and gaining bangs helped things along.

Measuring Christmas Magic: Full magic. I mean, we time-traveled, right? This wasn't a regular movie disguised as a Christmas movie either. It's a solid Christmas story that could only really be told this way as a holiday tale.

Alternative Movie Titles: It should have been anything but '90s Christmas. The title made it seem as though the 90s was a much bigger part of the movie. How about these alternatives: Going back to Christmas; The Christmas Do Over; 19 at Christmas.

I like Hallmark movies, and I even like the cheesy Hallmark movies. This was, however, SO bad that after it's over I'm angry. The idea for the movie was good, but it did not remotely deliver - hence the frustration. The writing, acting, casting, costumes & makeup, even the sets - no real thought to the eras they're in, how to make it believable, or why we should care. The mom was good (I actually could believe she was grieving) and the ride share driver/spirit? Angel? Was likable. One star for each. But dear god, the rest of it was unwatchable.

For good time travel Christmas movies watch: Journey Back to Christmas, Kristin's Christmas Past, A Shoe Addict's Christmas, A Timeless Christmas, and one for Hanukkah - Round and Round. They're good! And I'll still be waiting for a good time travel '90s centered movie.