Christmas in Toyland

It was great to see Jesse Hutch back on Hallmark-and with Vanessa Lengies (loved her on NBC's American Dreams series). They had a great chemistry together and the movie was very heartwarming and Christmas-y. Hallmark ended Christmas in July on a high note with this movie.

If you've watched as many of this kind of movie as I have, so many things are familiar. This story has a lot of those plot lines, but there are tiny surprises here and there in how they are delivered.

You also get to know the most prolific actors. Jesse Hutch I know and he's not my favorite, but I can't knock him too much either. Vanessa Lengies - I didn't realize how well I knew her. She hasn't impressed me in the past.

So it was a surprise to me how much I got into this movie. Vanessa Lengies played a Charlie that I was really rooting for. Her chemistry with Hutch was quite good. I wanted to watch them together endlessly. There were a lot of good lines that helped and the actors' timing was good. Usually a kid like Emma adds a great touch, but in this case they didn't take advantage of that angle as much as they could have.

Another review commented on how fast lines were delivered too quickly and I noticed that once or twice.

Something happens at the end of the party at 1 hour 36 minutes (commercial runtime) which makes absolutely no sense, but then it was necessary for the story to progress the way it did.

Jesse Hutch and Vanessa Lengies worked well together they had good chemistry the movie was basically a remake of another movie I've seen on another Network but it was family-oriented and cute Vanessa's voice got a little annoying I just watched it because I love Jesse Hutch.

7.5 stars.

Within the first 15 minutes we get a taste of two very charming and lovable leads. They do take a bit more time to warm up to each other. He is skeptical of her, because she is a corporate lackey, and a nerdy number cruncher. He soon learns she is a total sweetheart with an honest heart.

As time progresses, we really like Charlie and Grant. She is a data analyst whom he so nimbly disarms and molds into a person who can take risks and follow her dreams. She takes a small step into his world, and it's a strangely cynical place. He's almost lost in an age that no longer exists, where the spirit of Christmas, joy, peace, and goodness flourish. He wrestles with a dichotomy, balancing between reality and some place where he is able to take his ideals with him, because that's the world he has crafted for himself. And yet, he is simply a toy store manager. You will see what I mean, if you will just take the time to watch this.

No, this is not a fairy tale, but when he is helping kids, and selling toys to their families, he transports them to a magical place where his optimism is larger than life.

I was enraptured by this film, not totally sure why. It has an ambience of good tidings, and possibilities. The acting was wonderful, shared equally amongst all of the cast. Each of them brought a unique and fresh perspective. And I will say again, the acting was on a higher level than most Hallmark films. I don't know, maybe I was drinking the cool-aid today. You tell me. Watch it, rate it, disagree, whatever.

Please don't miss this movie based on the current average of 6.4. I truly hope the rating increases, and so next time I read my review, I expect to see at least a 6.8. Farewell my fellow Hallmarkians.

Loved the premise. Loved me some Jesse.

But: Many of the actors spoke too quickly, inaudible to more "senior" ears--and even the close captioning could not keep up (with typos to boot!).