Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas

Lawyer Sarah Thomas (Lacey Chabert) has been continuing her late mother's work saving her Brooklyn neighbors from evictions. She gets a complimentary invitation to a winter resort run by manager Ben (Stephen Huszar). She's surprised that her office didn't make the reservation. There's a mystery gift giver and there are other recipients.

I like the idea of the mystery gift giver. Once Sarah realizes that, I want her to go full Nancy Drew on the mystery. It's a mystery. It's Christmas. It's romance. It's Hallmark combining all the big hits. I like this concept but I want it to be better. I want it to be more than a Hallmark movie or the best Hallmark movie ever. It should be only about Sarah and Ben joining forces, going around investigating the recipients, alleviating what pains them, and falling in love. At last, it is what it is. There is nothing to hate except maybe the lost opportunity. There is a super sweet reveal. It's a soft gooey Christmas cookie.

Hallmark have varied massively when it comes to their Christmas films, but have been pleasantly surprised by some of those from 2020, considering that any films were even made during these circumstances that year by them was something of a miracle. Other than Hallmark completest sake and that they have done some good and more Christmas films and films in general, my main reason for watching this was the always worth watching Lacey Chabert (one of the most popular Hallmark actresses for good reason).

'Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas' impressed me on the whole. It is not quite one of the very best 2020 Hallmark films, Christmas and overall, it is in the better end. 'Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas' is flawed in terms of story (then again that is not uncommon for Hallmark, but this time it's relatively different reasons than most), but the performances and atmosphere in particular more than made up for any misgivings. It is certainly in my mind a good representation of what Chabert's appeal is.

It isn't perfect by all means. The ending agreed is much too rushed and reliant on too neat coincidence and while being usually a non-fan of open-ended endings, this is agreed a case of it being a better way to end if included.

Did think too that it is a bit of a slow starter and some of the dialogue has degrees of awkwardness.

However, a lot works very well. Chabert is her usual perky, charming self and Stephen Huszar is a subtly easy going leading man. Their chemistry is understated but natural and genuine, which is more than good enough for me when watching a Hallmark film (as long as there is some form of chemistry that makes me happy). Lini Evans is solid support and it was interesting seeing Peter Kelamis in a non-voice acting role.

Furthermore, the film pleases visually, lovely festive locations attractively and never drably or garishly shot. The music isn't as intrusive as it tends to be with Hallmark while the direction gets the job done well. The script doesn't get too cheesy or sentimental and does have a more natural flow when it becomes more settled. The story is not too heavy while taking itself seriously and is both warm-hearted and has a light touch when necessary, the gentle charm and sincere sweetness more than ideal. The mystery element while not innovative is intriguing and investable, the twist did surprise.

Overall, solidly executed effort. 7/10.

A mystery that isn't so easily discovered or explained until the happy ending that takes place at the Snowfall Inn. Five (5) guests all get a free Christmas vacation under somewhat false pretenses at a cozy place called the Snowfall Inn, A young lawyer named Sarah Thomas (Lacey Chabert) who takes it upon herself to wrap up some still opened cases that were the responsibility of her late mom, is one of the five (5) invited guests and she just can't help herself to try and figure out who is their mysterious benefactor who paid for their rooms.

A special treat for Mrs. Shullivan and I was one of the five (5) invited guests is the fantastic R&B singer and actor Leon. He has such a distinct and memorable voice that the movie is well worth watching just to hear him sing even one Christmas song.

It wouldn't be a Hallmark Christmas film if there was not a romance blossoming and so the producers wanted a guarantee so of course they signed the Queen of hallmark Christmas movies and that would be Lacey Chabert who has appeared in dozens of these similar movies over the past decade or so. Her love interest in this latest romance is the smooth talking and handsome actor Stephen Huszar who plays the Snowfall Inn's owner named Ben.

The five (5) guests backgrounds are gradually explained as to how they each received their free invitation to the Snowfall Inn and Ben agrees to assist the pretty young lawyer Sarah in deciphering who their Secret Santa is/was.

It's a nice little story with some heartwarming scenes and the mellow voice of R&B singer Leon is a huge bonus. I give it a 7 out of 10 IMDB rating.

This was another romantic mystery movie put together by Hallmark. The snowfall inn was purchased by a former finance guy, Ben, after a bad breakup trying to recreate the happiness he experienced as a child at the inn. Sarah arrives at the end after receiving the stay as a gift...Sarah is a lawyer who lost her mom this last year and somewhere along the way lost the plans that she had made with her mom to share a practice. Sarah soon discovers that there are other guests at the inn who also received gift stays from the same mysterious benefactor. The other beneficiaries are a newly divorced dad with his teen daughter who he is struggling to connect with, a traveling musician who is newly widowed and lost the inspiration to perform, a newly divorced school teacher, and a salesman.

Each of these stories is looking for something this Christmas and they all discover that they all have a link to a single past Christmas at the Snowflake Inn.

The mystery of who brought this cast of characters together was the best part of this movie.

I absolutely love this tear-jerker holiday movie. It's a celebration of love, family, friends, and the spirit of the holidays. The acting is phenomenal - Leon and Lacey Chabert give stellar performances. There is a real tangible emotion to their characters. Vienna Leacock plays a teen going through the difficulties of parent's divorcing and her growth as a character is heartwarming. Lini Evans plays the sweet and lovable Karen. The mystery reveal is so touching. Overall, this movie was fantastic and I continue to watch it over and over.