Christmas Keepsake

Great American seems to, thus far, passed the Hallmark Channel on new movies for 2023. They've improved the story lines and are employing better or more seasoned supporting cast. Wholesome entertainment with happy endings; a welcome respite from world news. This is a nice story with solid acting and ultimately, redemption. A dutiful daughter who still hurts though many years have passed. A new stranger welcomed to a new homeland, in time for Christmas. His daughter in need of family...the set up for a blessed Christmas. Nice scenery and an abundance of Christmas cookies makes for good viewing.

Christmas Keepsake is a romantic Christmas movie about an Australian father who lost his wife. He relocates to the United States with his daughter to try and give her a wonderful American Christmas. His daughter finds a time capsule buried in their backyard. The time capsule leads to new relationships and new traditions. Sounds great...but unfortunately does not deliver.

I had a very hard time making it through this movie. I am a huge fan of Christmas movies, however, this one did not resonate with me or my wife. I gave it three stars and my wife said it was a two star movie.

We could not put a finger on why we did not like this movie. It just seemed to be missing something. It felt rushed and just thrown together. The actors were likable and did a good job acting. As I mentioned before it was just missing something.

Another quality film from GAC Family, ironically starring Australia's Daniel Lissing - actually using his Aussie accent for a change, just like he's in 'Crownies', or something! - who was once something approaching a Hallmark poster boy for his role on When Calls the Heart.

In Christmas Keepsake he plays Tom, an Australian (not much prep work needed there!) who moves to a wintry small town in America with his daughter, Grace (played by Ellie Stewart, also an Australian).

When Grace finds a time capsule buried in their backyard, it connects them with Elizabeth (Jillian Murray, not an Australian!), who is grieving a loss just as Tom is.

If you've seen only even one of these movies, you probably don't need me to tell you what happens eventually...

This was a pleasant film about second chances and new Christmas beginnings.

It was a nice enough movie and I liked all the actors but right from the get go it bothered me how little they did to make finding the time capsule real. Supposedly, one young girl hid it in (I think a neighbors) back yard and years later another young girl, who had just moved into the house, found it under a few inches of snow. It wasn't even buried. So, all the people who had lived in that house over the years never saw it? Also, it was a tin. That would have been rusted out in a year. Even the papers inside the tin looked brand new. It just seems no effort was put into making any of this believable.

I really liked Christmas Keepsake. I watched it a couple times last year and have seen it a few more times this year. The thing I like most about this movie is the dad/daughter relationship. There was a genuine warmth there. I enjoy Daniel Lissing's acting. Gracie was good too. I didn't think Elizabeth and Tom had much chemistry. I felt like they were more like friends. The mom was trying too hard to get them together. I've seen Jillian Murray in other movies and I don't think she is a particularly great actress. She's pretty so she gets the parts. I liked the idea of the time capsule. It gave Gracie and Tom more dad/daughter time.