A Cozy Christmas Inn

Typical Hallmark movie and holiday premise. What was most refreshing was recognizing a local Huntsville, UT business standing in for the Inn. What was even better was seeing real snow (as far as the eye can see and not just in the immediate view of camera), real snow accumulation (and not phony blankets of some white material laid down on sidewalks, shrubs and stairsm etc,), real snowfall (not the Hollywood 'snow' flakes descending from above; I mean really, what does southern Cali know about real snow?) and must admit Sweetin is growing better at the adult roles she plays. 4 star movie that got and extra star for filming during winter and not in summer pretending to be winter.

Andy Holliday, the character, was introduced in 2014 in Christmas Under Wraps, a Candace Cameron Bure vehicle. In that movie, she came to the town of Garland as a doctor, fell in love with Andy, and decided to stay.

Here a reference is made to that movie, as Andy tells his old/new love interest he had a romance with a doctor who was offered a grant and decided to leave. Jodie Sweetin as Erika is supposed to be a girlfriend he had BEFORE that when living in Seattle. Now she's in town to buy his struggling inn for her boss, and he's struggling with the decision to give up on all the work he put into it even though he's broke and in debt.

I wondered if they decided to "stick it to" Bure since she left Hallmark for a contract with GAF. LOL

The movie was enjoyable enough, but the out-of-town developer going after the local inn (or other business) is a very tired trope by now, and some of the scenes here seemed a bit over the top. Worth a watch but not a rewatch to my taste.

This could be just another movie based on one of the more common tropes in Christmas movies. Junior executive, Erika, is dangled a promotion if she can close a deal that involves a former boyfriend. Andy. Meanwhile, the Andy's business isn't doing so well. But that's only all there is to it If you didn't watch the earlier movie, Christmas Under Wraps. This is a sequel of sorts. Candace Cameron Bure's Dr. Lauren Brunell, who was well on her way to having an HEA with Andy at the end of that one now appears to be out of the picture with Andy. The explanation which comes later seems to contradict the CUW story.

Andy and his father are both played by the original actors. And there is still a "family business" that does shipping which a viewer of CUW will understand, wink, wink. If you haven't seen CUW, it would be fun the watch that first.

Erika is subjected to some of the same gags and mysteries as in the earlier movie, but it is still kind of fun to watch her cope. Throw in the rekindling relationship between Andy and Erika. The main tension in this movie is the sale of the inn which is Andy's dream. Erika is obsessed with the parallel to Gift of the Magi. The story gets bound up in it and I think a little too much.

Jodie Sweetin and David O'Donnell have good chemistry. Sweetin does a nice job with this role. The dialogue is decent and so is the acting.

If you're gonna do a sequel to a romance (Christmas Under Wraps), then don't throw away the previous romance like a broken toaster! Apparently, Lauren quickly forgot her own story arc, and took a fellowship at a hospital in the big city. And the guy sold his plane -- a crucial means of transportation between the remote town and the outside world -- to become the innkeeper in a town that's rarely visited.

If Hallmark really wanted to return to Garland, they should have gone the Evergreen route by introducing new characters to have a romance. Instead, David O'Donnell just trades in one Full House sister for another.

Did it actually snow,during the making if this film? Because the differences when snow fell was noticeable,from getting on actors & surrounding areas.. Honestly they fail otherwise at making snow look decent,with their white blankets & so forth.

Far as the movie was rather bland,wasn't horrible but nothing special.. They could of used a whole new cast,as this was a lame sequel.

Liked the Inn and the cafe,but rest was old stock video & basically a zoom call.. Which was odd,since dad & son lived in"Thats Garland For You!" Plus he visited mom too.

So did Hallmark save money bringing dad on location,by making it look like he lived at his company(during the busy season?🙄)Really different versus 2014 version,when he got harped on about his health.

Anyway dad really offered nothing(new)to storyline,didn't interact with anyone relevant(in-person)like his kid or wife so his role was handled cheaply.

Hardly any towns people were around,everything was within walking distance as usual.. They briefly showed the town,but was stock footage so does that count?

Clichéd storyline,but expected with Hallmark.

Guess can say was cast ok,acting passable & cinematography decent.

Not a movie to watch,again.. Unlike Christmas Under Wraps.