Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas

Amnesia stories usually provide rich material for a nice story, and this one is no exception. Jessy Schram, a favorite of mine, plays a young woman who gets dunked in a river after being bumped by a car. We next see her in the local hospital near the Canadian border with amnesia. Her luggage has been lost. The only clue to who she is is an ad for a Christmas Tree lighting in Charleston, SC that she left behind at a local diner. It has a handwritten message on the back saying "Please Come" and signed "Mark".

"Jane Doe" is an immediate hit at the hospital due to her friendly, spirited, and outgoing nature. Jessy conveys all of that with the underlying vulnerability that she is so good at. She makes a friendly connection with a nice nurse, Paul, who offers to drive her to Charleston as it on his way to his family's home. It is almost immediately apparent that Paul is hiding some secret pain as he is very conflicted about going home. Jessy and Brendan are perfectly cast and their performances are spot on. I like that they made Paul a nurse instead of a doctor, thus making sense when he drives her in an old dilapidated car which conveniently breaks down on the way. A doctor would have flown.

On their road trip, they have a positive impact on all of the people they meet along the way. Including Alison Sweeney in a brief cameo appearance! This is a real thing this year. This is the third movie I have seen in which other Hallmark stars appear briefly in another movie not their own. I think it's really cool. And very smart given the competition other networks are giving them for the attention of Christmas movie viewing public.

The movie keeps you engaged at all times what with the mystery behind Paul's sadness and conflicted feelings going home and Jessy's real identity. Jessy starts having flashbacks which hint that she may be married and have a child! Why would she leave a husband and child? Is she a bad person? Is he a bad person? It won't be a spoiler to reassure you that she is not a bad person and her future lies with the nice and attractive Paul.

Jessy Schram at her best. She has an effect on people.

Take the first "Time for You to Come Home for Christmas" movie and subtract about half the snow and add amnesia and of course Jessy Schram. Actually all the female leads in this franchise have been appealing ladies, but Jessy always seems to be so upbeat and this role is perfect for her. Brendan Penny does his job well and the two have great chemistry.

Like the first one, this is another road trip with stops along the way and some obstacles. There is some mystery even beyond the amnesia and both parts unfold in pieces.

Like the others, this story is touching and the actors do a fine job. There's a scene with Allison Sweeney reprising her character from two years ago where she gives Jane some cookies.

Yes, this is another Hallmark movie where the lead character (Jane) has amnesia, but there is another story here, and that's what makes this movie different. Just why is her nurse (Paul) at the hospital, who is obviously smitten with her, afraid to go home for Christmas. Together, they go on a road trip to discover just who Jane is and to come to grips with Paul's anxiety.

Their stories unfold in a manner that keeps you intrigued throughout. This movie is very well-written and the performances by Jessy Schram as Jane and Brendan Penny as Paul are outstanding, some of the best and natural acting that Hallmark has to offer. From the get go, Penny plays Paul with an underlying sense of sadness that always seems to be there no matter how happy he appears to be. And Schram gives subtle hints of the thoughtful and caring, but independent young woman she must be. These are two complex performances by a couple of excellent actors. Along the way, there are some scenes, particularly those between Jane and sister, played nicely by Tanya Champoux, that are very well done. Never before in a Hallmark movie have you seen two sisters argue as fiercely as this, but they do in real life and that's the type of thing that's makes this movie so special. Of course, it all gets resolved in the end, but it's how you get there that is very satisfying and rather unique.

Somehow, Christmas movies with amnesiac heroines seem to work, at Hallmark. The idea may be trite, but is developed credibly, again. Schram and Penny are quite good, acting with empathy and restrain. The story is simple and gentle. Just right in the Holiday spirit. Should you not be looking to be blown by shocking drama, you are encouraged to watch it and dwell in warm feelings, while resting cozily on your comfy couch.

'Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas', the fourth installment of Hallmark's 'Time for' Christmas series, is a slow-paced, yet engaging movie. The story is warm and heartfelt. Some mystery keeps you intrigued and engaged throughout. The acting is impressive. And, of course, there is just enough festive cheer and holiday spirit. The story follows Jane (played by Jessy Schram), aka Rebecca, who is in an accident on an icy road in Maine ten days before Christmas. She wakes up in the hospital with amnesia. The only clue we have of Jane Doe's identity is a newspaper clipping of a Christmas festival in Charleston with a cryptic note stating, 'Please come', signed 'Mark'. In an attempt to regain her memories, Jane decides to go to the festival to meet Mark, accepting a cross-country car ride from her devoted nurse, Paul (played by Brendan Penny), who happens to be heading in the same direction to spend Christmas with his family in North Carolina. And so, their journey begins, as we watch the two help each other through their crises while bonding and discovering feelings they have for each other along the way. The story is well-written. The writers do a great job of weaving together Jane and Paul's individual stories (and backstories) in a way that develops the romance between the two, which I found appealing. The dialogue felt real, and I found myself connecting emotionally with Jane and Paul's stories. The use of mystery by the writers is cleverly done in a way that keeps you intrigued throughout their journey. What makes this work on-screen, of course, is the acting. Both Schram and Penny have brilliant performances. They portray their characters in a way that allows the viewer to see and identify with the emotional complexities of their stories/journeys. Simply put: they both have convincing performances in roles that are somewhat emotionally complex. The chemistry was also great to watch on-screen. You could feel it develop and grow as the story unfolded, which was one of the appealing elements of the movie. All in all, 'Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas' is a lovely story with some remarkable acting performances. It is a nice new addition to this year's Miracles of Christmas movie lineup. I highly recommend it.