Every Time a Bell Rings

There were two main reasons for seeing 'Every Time a Bell Rings'. One was for the cast, which is a very talented one indeed. Actually have liked Erin Cahill in some of her other films, have always liked Wes Brown and Ali Liebert is watchable more often than she isn't. The other was the premise, which was a very cute one, one of the most mature ones of the 2021 Hallmark films and had real potential to be very heartfelt. As said in some other recent reviews, 2021 was a variable year for Hallmark and their Chrustmas output but some of their films were good and more.

'Every Time a Bell Rings' had potential to be one of those films, but ended up being something of a missed opportunity. It is not terrible and does a good number of things very well, but it would have been a much better film and executed its premise to full potential if it tried to do less and focused more on a few of the subplots. All the subplots featured in 'Every Time a Bell Rings' had a lot of potential, but too many don't quite come off. As far as 2021's Hallmark films go, this is middling.

Am going to begin with the good things. Cahill, Liebert and Brittany Ishibashi are very good, particularly radiant and quite moving Libert. The chemistry between the three is strong too. Almost all the performances in fact are well above average, though their material did vary. Did like the idea of the story structure, it was interesting to not have just one big plot and another subplot but to have other ones.

Some come off well, especially the scavenger hunt (wish there was more of it) and the biological parent story did start off well and had some heart. It is attractively made, beautiful scenery, and the soundtrack isn't too constant or melodramatic. Had no problem with the diversity or the same sex couple, and really fail to understand why it has been such an issue for some regular Hallmark viewers as of late.

Do wish that the story was more focused and more fleshed out. It tried to cram in far too much, and a few of the subplots are given short shrift. Especially the incredibly underwritten and practically sidelined romances. Also didn't find some of the attitudes and reactions, like how indifferent the biological mother was which was a waste of a subplot that started with such promise and the sisters' over the top reaction to what was considered a betrayal. As a consequence, the structure felt rushed but because too much of the content was underdeveloped the film felt bland and uneventful.

Furthermore, a lot of the dialogue is cheesy and overwrought and the characters could have been fleshed out more, they sounded like real people on paper but some behaviours didn't ring true for them to be relatable. The ending is very anti-climactic, needed more time to unfold and the too little that is resolved is done so too quickly and too easily. The complete waste of Brown was unforgivable, have always liked him but here he is very bland in a role that gives him absolutely nothing to work with and came over as pointless.

Overall, watchable but it was good potential not fully lived up to. 5/10.

A distinct lack of Christmastime snow and a very diverse and engaging cast highlight 'Every Time a Bell Rings', which tells the story of three adopted sisters who were close as kids but have drifted apart in the intervening years reconnecting over Christmas in Natchez, Mississippi the year after their dad died.

One of their childhood Christmas highlights was a Christmas scavenger hunt organised by their dad, and a final one is set up for the three sisters, which they must solve whilst dealing with relationship and familial issues. Erin Cahill, Ali Leibert and Brittany Ishibashi are well cast as the sisters, with Hallmark favourite Wes Brown also on board.

A heartfelt and touching story about family reconnecting for the holidays. What more could you want at this time of year?

I liked that they filmed in Natchez, Mississippi. I wanted more Wes Brown because he's great. The sisters singing was not well done. So tired of what seems to be "token" gay couples.

The entire movie was a downer. Nothing but stress, tension, complaints and negativity. The very last two minutes of fake happiness can't make up for the rest. Why they even had Wes Brown as a "love interest" is a mystery because he was barely on screen and the relationship made no sense and seemed doomed, anyway. Hallmark is losing viewers left and right and yet another poorly written script isn't going to change that downward momentum.

While I appreciate the diversity, it was kind of boring. I did not like that the Asian daughter Betrayed her husband by "temporarily " denying him a family when she agreed to a family when they were married. She will never be "ready" and will continue to be a workaholic. Sad. Erin Cahill is not for me. So far she has never been appealing to me in her roles. Ali Liebert's charmingly expressive face wasn't. Enough said. I liked the idea of 3 sisters' stories instead of concentrating on one couple but two of the three had problematic messages (her sisters feel like Erin seeking out her biological parent was a betrayal.) and the other one was empty and boring. Dee Wallace has aged very gracefully.