The Christmas Ornament

So many things to like about this understated holiday movie:

1. It's sweet without being sappy, a real relief to see a Hallmark holiday romance where the story is not over the top mushy and crowded with cliché.

2. the actors look and dress like real people, and their houses are closer to normal family homes than Hollywood-scale sets. A little crowded, a little dusty, with short sight-lines.

3. Kellie Martin (who plays Kathy, the widow running her late husband's dream shop) has a face that's lived a life and felt sorrow. She's not touched up to look like a typical young TV widow who has never actually wept or frowned (except beautifully). She moves flawlessly between strong and vulnerable, sadness and humour, tidy and a bit of a mess. She looks and sounds REAL.

4. Cameron Mathison as Tim is cute, in a harmlessly rugged kind of way. A former soap opera actor, he is muted and believable in his character and, unlike so many romantic-movie leads, marked but not terribly traumatized by his past life experiences. He doesn't need to be redeemed through the love of a good woman. There's a bit of believable tension and confusion, both internal and (as expected) external, about an old love affair. He behaves like a nice man, someone you would want to meet or have as a neighbour.

5. The secondary characters seem like real people with their own lives, not the story kind who live their whole lives in service of their cooler or more troubled friend. They never distract from the simple, touching story at the heart of the movie. Jewel Staite is great as Kathy's best friend Jenna, warm and cute and concerned, but clearly has her own life. There's good, credible friend-chemistry between the two, a level of comfort and non-competition that many women wish for and never find.

6. It made me want to go skating again (and eat Christmas cookies, but that I do anyway).

Anyway, without being a great classic in the making, this is a very nice way to spend an evening in the holiday TV season, with ordinary people working through ordinary situations. I know that sounds dull, but if you're tired of the kitcsch and hype of the usual TV fare, this is a nice change of pace that maintains the seasonal glow.

Personally I think it's always a good thing when you recognize the leads of the movie, that gives me hope that the movie will be of good quality!

Kellie Martin and Cameron Mathison headline this movie about a widow that is going to attempt to skip Christmas as it brings up too many memories of her late husband. Jewel Staite from Serenity/Firefly also stars as the best friend.

Kathy's plan to skip all things Christmas doesn't go as she plans after she meets local Christmas tree seller, Tim. Is Kathy ready to make new memories and room in her heart?

Cute, warm and funny. worth a view.

This is a great film. Kathy plans to avoid any holiday traditions that bring back memories of her late husband until she receives an ornament from a handsome shop owner. To move on from her loss, Kathy works for a balance between her memories and finding a future.

I am sure this film was conceived so that Hallmark could sell the Christmas Ornament that is featured in this film but they did make an amazing film to help sell it!

There is not anything I would change in the film. This film is so special that it made we want to bake cookies and open a Christmas Tree Lot.

If you love Romance then watch!

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY REVIEWED ONE FILM. THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.

Put "The Christmas Ornament" on your must watch list! In this film a recently young widowed is facing her first Christmas without her husband. Cameron Mathison plays a man who owns a Christmas Tree lot and the two of course fall in love.

What is believable about this film is that is shows no matter how old you are you never lose the nervousness you have when you "Like someone" and hope they like you. What was perfect about this was the two leads do not start off as adversary's. I love the fact that each one is a "Little Gun Shy" and is afraid of being hurt.

Most adults over 30 will "fully understand" and can relate to both of these people. My favorite moment in the film happens when they turn on the Snow Machine on the Christmas Tree lot. Try not to smile when you hear the man say "I Love Christmas". It is a magical moment

The Christmas Ornament is a Hallmark made-for-TV Christmas-themed movie - sentimental and largely predictable. In 2013, Hallmark seems to be making a push to produce better quality movies, and they are having some success. The Christmas Ornament has better dialog, acting and cinematography than the usual Hallmark fare and even had a small plot twist in the end that my wife and I did not see coming!

This film is almost completely a two actor movie. A haggard looking Kellie Martin plays Kathy, a recently widowed woman (without children) who isn't celebrating the Christmas season because she is still grieving for her dead husband. She meets Tim, played by Cameron Mathison,who is a successful and gorgeous businessman who loves Christmas and sells Christmas trees. However, the film rises above this incredibly cheesy premise. Kellie Martin delivers a fine acting performance and is believable as a struggling, sad woman who slowly allows herself to stumble up on happiness. I enjoyed this movie and will enjoy watching it again.