Our Holiday Story

Every year there are dozens of cookie cutter cable Christmas movies. Some are okay and some are rehashed cliches. The movie broke all the cookie cutters and sent cliches off to die. Love it.

We get a story of one romance inside the story of the "current day" romance. However, the "romance inside the romance" is the REAL story, and the story with all the depth.

Two people keep meeting and circumstances keep them from ever closing the deal on exactly who each other is.

However, it turns out that the man is organizing a Christmas festival, and the woman determines the budget for the festival and they communicate only remotely about the festival, but are always at odds. But when they meet in person, their relationship is magic.

The story is funny and moving, both, and the suspense about when they'll both know the truth carries the movie. Another plus, the acting is spot on.

Highly recommended.

I really liked the premise and the acting of both Nikki Deloach (Nell) and Warren Christie (Dave). What I didn't care for was the divorced storyline where the exes are still friends doing things together including Christmas parties?!? Why did they get married and why aren't they still married? That added a whole creepy element to the story for me.

A daughter plans to bring her boyfriend home to meet her family for Christmas...only her train is delayed and the boyfriend ends up alone at her parent's house with them for days. While there he asks her dad and step-mom how they met...which is a holiday story that starts and stops, but is ultimately entertaining.

Ultimately loved the premise and the actors, but I think maybe people who can relate to divorce etc. Might enjoy this film more than I did. Life is rough enough and I enjoy hallmark for the fantasy.

When you already know the ending of the A story, the movie needs to do a good job of showcasing the journey, since the destination is already set. Our Holiday Story brings us on this journey, but the stakes are low and does only a passable job at entertaining along the way.

The A story is the retelling of how Dave (Warren Christie) and Nell (Nikki DeLoach) met 8 years earlier. When we first meet them they are together, married and parents. They are asked to retell this mild tale by the boyfriend of Dave's daughter, who missed a train, forcing her boyfriend to meet the dad and step mom alone.

If the story focused on their nearly decade old romance alone, we'd be in for a snoozefest, but never fear, the B story is here! Johanna (Sydney Scotia) and the aforementioned boyfriend Chris (Gavin Langelo) are having trouble (sorta) expressing their very strong and lasting love for eachother, because you know . . . When you really love someone in that mutual way, the real trouble is saying it . . . Right?

Throw in a job title of comptroller, a Christmas festival, lots of talk of fruit cake and ugly sweaters, missed trains, dead phone batteries, and missed opportunities- oh, and constantly lying and you have the makings of a low stakes, albeit sweet movie.

Cast Kudos: 9 stars for Sydney Scotia. She plays 16 and 24 (I think), well and differently. She's just a joy to watch in this movie because she's so happy with a great smile, but then things go south and you can feel that too.

Alternative titles: A Christmas of Missed Chances; How a Comptroller stole Christmas; Meet the Christmas Parents.

I watch a lot of Hallmark/GA Family movies (a secret hobby) and they have a certain grading criteria and expectation for me apart from other genres. My 9/10 is purely for this niche and shouldn't be compared to mainstream and blockbuster films. This movie has relatable characters with better than average acting on the whole and a likable plot that deviates from the traditional "script." Sure, there is no shortage of miscommunication as the main antagonist, but I think that the flashback storytelling is compelling. There is no weird love triangle or an ex trying to get back into the picture by stirring things up. It is an enjoyable, lighthearted hallmark movie that also packs plenty of real emotional moments that tugs on the heart. Definitely deserves a watch. Hoping for more releases like this- good start to the season!

7.9 stars.

I was a bit skeptical at first, but the story requires a well developed back story to deliver full effect. Once the background is clarified, the film takes on a whole new meaning and becomes quite entertaining and well rounded.

There are four fully developed characters. I was impressed they were able to develop all of them the way they did. The young man is the least developed of the four however, they found ways to bring out his personality, and it was genius. The young woman is a bit more developed, and then the mom and dad are basically the main characters.

What seems very strange to me, is watching the evolution of two major Hallmark actors, becoming "older". In other words, this was the first transition for them to become middle-aged characters. I find it a bit unnerving, because I've been watching 15 years of them portraying adults in their thirties and early forties, but this is a transition into older adults with adult children. It feels weird mainly because it reminds me of my own age and how these two actors, younger than myself, are not so young anymore. I digress.

Wonderful story. It's really great at the end. Adorable and vulnerable characters. It doesn't get much better than this.