Where Are You, Christmas?

First of all, don't expect strict realism from this movie; it's more of a fantasy.

Once you accept that, I think it's really well done. There are a few sketchy and unexplained parts, such as how an app can grant a wish and erase the memory of Christmas from the entire world, but as I said, it's a fantasy. Lyndsy Fonseca, I think, was a great choice for this movie and I felt a great deal of sympathy and affinity for her character. When she first meets up with her romantic interest (Hunter), you can tell he is quite taken by her. And I can understand why.

I was impressed with the merging of color and black-and-white portions in the scenes, and I think it added a great deal to the film. It was also interesting to see how the normally good-hearted characters could be so easily portrayed as not so pleasant with the change in circumstances, particularly the father. The ending could probably have been written a little better, but overall it was an enjoyable movie and I'd probably watch it again.

This movie was, obviously, planned with great ambitions and its theme is perfect for Christmas. Addy, played by Lyndsy Fonseca, has lost proper balance in her life, focusing on material goals, and forgotten her Christmas spirit. Back to her hometown, once the epitome of Christmas yuletide, she finds her family and friends struggling with real life constraints that mar the seasonal joy. She wishes a life without Christmas and wakes up in a black and white world. The story leads us to understand that only finding real joy and love can bring (back) color to a drab life. In this production, the huge metaphor is carried far, perhaps too far. Situations are somewhat overblown and characters feel stereotyped, a bit empty. The love connection of Andy with the somber town mechanic, played by Michael Rady, is poorly developed and unconvincing, with minimal chemistry between the two. Essentially, the movie fails in the attempt to create the magic that could have resulted from the premises, with a more insightful script.

The wonderful metaphor of gray vs color life could have been a winning point, if it had not been stolen, and not so well played, from the successful 1998 movie 'Pleasantville'. In summary, I feel this film is watchable, family-friendly, great on intent, yet weakened by a less than inspired execution. Accepted that real sentiments and emotions provide color to our life, where are the colors in this movie?

I have to confess, I am a big component of no Christmas until after Thanksgiving (and my husband and I are huge fans of Christmas music...so there is a big restraint not fa la la la-ing early). So, I have been resistant to watching Christmas movies when we haven't even celebrated Halloween yet...but I allowed a few to creep up on our to watch list and I have to say Hallmark is actually succeeding in getting me in the mood. My toes were dragging, but they have lifted my spirits and put a smile on my pumpkin spice chai latte self.

I really enjoyed this new twist on a Hallmark holiday romance. I don't know how they did the mixed black and white and color...but it was a fun concept and definitely one I hadn't seen before (the closest thing to it that I have seen visually is WandaVision).

The premise is busy achiever Addy comes home to her Christmas obsessed home town of Red Lake Falls only because her brother is going to propose to his girlfriend...otherwise she usually skips it and goes to a tropical island. She had been selling Christmas commercially and this year has just launched a Santa app for your phone. All these years Christmas has lost it's true meaning for Addy and in a moment she wishes Christmas away...only to have that work everyone and everything (including Addy) are black and white. No one, not even her very Christmas-centric father, knows or remembers what Christmas is. In fact they not only thing Addy is crazy, but that she is s trouble maker for bringing it up!

It starts with the local mechanic Hunter, who is a bit of a hermit, but slowly Addy brings color and Christmas back to Red Lake Falls.

"You got caught up in your stress and made a mistake."

Coming together and pitching in...that is what Christmas is about. I was initially concerned when they started to say that Christmas was about forgiving and healing what's inside you...but they brought it back to coming together, pitching in and family, which I really appreciated.

"It's like one of those Christmas movies...now we just need someone to fall in love and kiss"-mayor.

Trapped in the town of Red Lake Falls and unable to leave. I can't believe Addy doesn't figure out the answer sooner. I appreciated that it could poke a little fun of the genre itself and have some good current messages.

"Sometime speeding through life is a way of keeping people at arms distance."-dad

The life you want to or the life you are supposed to.

The message I appreciated the most though was one of ditching the phone and enjoying the moment.

Best line... "I have never, Kiss scared someone out of town."-Hunter

This is a recommendation to anyone who enjoys a good Christmas movie, especially the hallmark romance variety. Have patience through the beginning...you will enjoy it in the end.

I love Lyndsy Fonseca and have since her turn in Nikita. It's great to see her doing another Christmas movie, and this one is good. It feels oddly similar to Next Stop, Christmas back in 2021. But it doesn't take away from this being a good movie and her giving a good performance. The whole cast is good, and the setting has that small-town Christmas charm these movies love to showcase.

The message of finding your Christmas spirit, which is so prevalent in Christmas movies, is handled very well. It doesn't seem too forced or outrageous, and the whole premise seems very grounded in the hustle and bustle of today.

This one is a keeper and worth watching,

Very rare to enjoy a new holiday movie,that Hallmark has put out over the years.. With that said,was it perfect? No! Was full of clichés,including taking a concept done from Pleasantville.

However actually nice it wasn't about saving a business,festivals or usual themed topics.

Was cast ok,feel another lead actress might of did better.

Didn't even recognize Julie Warner,until double checking who the mom was played by.

Acting overall was decent enough,as well the cinematography.. Some color adjustments despite the black & white parts felt dull in vibrancy,so that may of helped it feel more magical.

Music didn't overwhelm the conversations,but could be toned a bit.

As mentioned rare to enjoy newer movies,have only liked a handful in years because Hallmark mass produces cookie cutter productions.

Worth checking out,as its something different.. Well,for Hallmark anyway.