A Nutcracker Christmas

The first temptation is to criticize it. without mercy. for flaws, for sugar exces, for the story who is not only predictable but ...fake. but the ballet moments are good motif for be lenient. because, in essence, it is only a Hallmark film. not the best, not the worse. with a nice pretext and a not credible plot but that is not the great sin. maybe, the performances are not the most inspired . but the film works. and it is not surprise - the love stories are useful heart for each film of genre.

It would take a lot to dislodge in my memory the Anne Bancroft/Shirley MacLaine portrayal of how the passion to dance opened a grand story line about deep wounds and profound regrets--life altering critical decisions. Turning Point had an indefinable sharpness and very raw edge to every part of the story line, including sub-plots. A Nutcracker Christmas doesn't even begin to shadow a remake, if that was even subliminally intended. BUT, it's almost as difficult to conceive that Hallmark would actually have the foresight to mount a production of this type. It's not quite as predictable--oh, there's still the boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl in the end--but it just didn't seem as saccharin to me as most of all other Hallmark movies. It would certainly be nice if they could branch out and come up with story lines set in other disciplines of the arts. Find some better script writers who knew what they were doing and then casting appropriately. Also, it was disappointingly lacking in the actual on-stage dancing. I'm reminded of Clare Peller's line: "Where's the Beef"? Except in this case it should be "Where's the dancing?"

What can be said is Hallmark produces quality movies. I am new to the Hallmark Christmas movies and holidays in general, but most are very good.

This movie is no exception and I dare say exceptional. It's about love; love of dance and specifically ballet. The story revolves around two people who are torn by a tragedy and lose themselves, lose hope and lose each other. Through events, they meet 8 years later but can they come together and succeed where they once failed? Is a second chance at ballet, a second chance at love possible, and will they take that chance again? We know this is a Christmas movie, but it is excellent and well acted. It has dance scenes and well choreographed moves, at least to the untrained eye. I must give this movie a 10 out of 10. The characters are well played and the story in engaging. MUST SEE and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

This fairly straight drama, with an element of romance, sees Amy Acker's career as a ballet dancer cut short through a family tragedy, only for her niece's similar gifts to bring her unexpectedly back into the world of ballet and to an old acquaintance. It's clear who are the actors hired to dance and the dancers hired to act, but it just about holds up thanks to an impassioned turn from Acker, if you can get past the niece's cute/grating (delete as applicable) voice.

Amy Acker as Lily and Sascha Radetsky as Mark play ballet dancers and former flames that are reunited years later when Lily's niece is cast as Clara in a production of The Nutcracker that Mark is directing. Lily long ago left the ballet world and Mark after the death of her sister. Will they reunite, will the ballet go on? A delightful movie answers all of that and more. Worth a watch!