This Time Each Year

If you're looking for a funny romcom, this movie is not going to be it. In fact, there's very little rom and com in it. But if you're looking for something more real and less like the usual holiday fare Hallmark serves up this time of year, give this one a try. I had to watch this twice to appreciate all of the nuanced performances of every actor, especially the two leads.

Niall Matter and Alison Sweeney portray Kevin and Lauren, a couple who are at the one-year point of a marital separation and it's the holidays. Early on it is revealed why they're separated, and I'll leave it at that. They coparent a young son; and Lauren has just found out that her mom, who isn't aware of the separation, will be making a last-minute visit. Kevin and Lauren scramble to appear like a united family, but their tension and uncertainty are palpable. They also attend therapy sessions. Do they end up together? Watch and find out.

The nuanced, but palpable tension throughout by the family members also gives this movie realism. Alison Sweeney plays uneasy beautifully, and this surprisingly turned out to be one of my favorite performances of Niall Matter. In their capable hands, I found myself genuinely rooting for the couple as they navigated through uncharted, awkward waters. This one won't give you the warm fuzzies, but all the performances are solid and that's what I appreciated most about it.

Personally I want the fantasy for the holidays. And what is an "occupancy license"? Is this something they have in other states, because we do not have them here in Washington State.

And the Christmas Carol being the "original OG".... I think Dickens is turning over in his grave.

A single child couple separate after Christmas last year, only Lauren still hasn't told her mother about it. So, when Lauren's mom shows up for Christmas she asks Kevin and her son Charlie to pretend that they are still one big happy family.

The couple got themselves into financial trouble and are now on the verge of selling Lauren's dream home. Kevin list his license, it's never explained why...drinking and driving? Kevin looses his job at the bar, where he was working for extra money, the two were in couple's counseling. Lauren has a childhood hangup about her mom calling her "little miss mess".

What I did really like is the family dynamics in Kevin's family...between his parents, his sibling and the family as a whole. It was really healthy to see how they treated each other and everyone they interacted with.

I still love both Allison Sweeney and Niall Matters...but I think they are both in better romances.

I kept "recognizing" Allison Sweeney from other HM favs, especially the Hannah Swenson series, but, no, I had to be wrong, right? The lead actress didn't look like herself (Allison) at all. Am I the only one to notice this? I'm still looking for the date it was filmed.

Not the usual HM fare, for sure, but the cast was top notch. I loved seeing the actress who plays one of my favorite characters on The Rookie. If you think I'm really old school - you'd be so right. I'm re-watching "The Snow Bride" for the millionth time time right now, and my favorite Christmas HM movie is "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" with the Fonz!

6.6 stars.

This was almost a great movie, but missed the mark on every level. We are left with a sub par story that could've been wonderful. There are so many little pieces missing that it's unfortunate, because the acting is great. The characters are endearing, the two adult brothers with their horseplay and man jokes, the cute little boy, fun grandparents...

Everything is great about this movie except the execution. It's slow throughout, the dialogue stalls, the romance is forced and depressing, although that's probably by design. Everyone seems so forlorn it's difficult to be excited about this film.

The story is about a man and a woman who are separated, their marriage is on the rocks. Both sides of the family are patient as they try to mend their relationship. Things are difficult and it seems like it's not going to work out. But as with all Hallmark movies, it works out in the end. But it was too sad for me and I had difficulty getting through this painstakingly painful narrative.

This movie was just too off kilter for me to really care much about it. First of all, how old was this couple supposed to be? Going by the dated Christmas cards at the beginning showing their engagement and the pregnancy, it is clear that they were supposed to be in their mid 30s at the most. This is a case of Hallmark straining credibility by shoehorning actors in their late 40s into scripts meant for younger actors. I thought Hallmark had gotten over that. I mean are you telling me that an adult family man in his 40s still hasn't finished his degree and whose chosen career is a bartender? An alcoholic bartender? Bad enough for a 35 year old. When he said he "lost his licence" I assumed he meant his medical license or teaching license, or contracting license. But his driver's license? They just couldn't bear to confirm that he was arrested for drinking and driving? Or that a professional business manager would buy a house without reading the contract and getting it inspected first? And it's so messed up they can't even live in it and are paying rent and a mortgage? Or she could be so mentally damaged by being called "Miss Mess" when she was a kid? I was expecting her mother to be a cruel old harridan. But she could not have been nicer or more supportive of her 35 (or 45?) year old daughter.

I love both Alison Sweeney and Niall Matter but Hallmark did them no favors by miscasting them in these roles.