Love at the Christmas Table

I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 (C H R I S T M A S ) MOVIES AND SPECIALS.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN!

For thirty years, Sam and Katherine have spent Christmas Eve at the Children's Table. When Sam learns she is moving away, he has one night to tell her he loves her.

I was hesitant to watch this film. I saw 2-3 episodes of "The Wonder Years" and hated every minute of it. To this day when I see Fred Savage has directed or is in a film I avoid it.

Well this film does not have Fred Savages but it has his former co- star Danica McKellar. Thank God. If he was I might not of discovered this film.

Now this story is so cute and entertaining, It captures "Christmas" perfectly!

When Samn (Dustin Milligan) realizes that his best friend (Danica McKellar) since childhood is the woman that he loves you can't help but to smile!

This film does work because the entire cast is believable in the part they play. The film is never boring. You root for love in this. You might even shed a few happy tears along the way.

Not to be missed.

I'm not actually writing a review. I love this movie. It's like a better version of a Hallmark holiday movie.

But someone in a review from 2019 said it wasn't believable that Sam quit his newspaper job to become a logger. That's because it's not. He quit to become a BLOGGER, with a B. He decided to get a remote writing job. (My last job was as a remote blogger - often now referred to as a content marketer - ghost writing blogs for SaaS companies.) Anyway I find that part very believable because I worked in journalism and left to do marketing writing in 2013 because journalism pays terribly and marketing pays pretty well in comparison.

I've watched a lot of Christmas movies and this is one actually watch again. Good actors and story line!

This is one of the most unique Christmas romance stories I have seen. Things happen near and at the end that I sure didn't see coming. The entire movie is refreshing. The entire movie is a continuing flashback that takes place on several Christmas eves spanning most of the main characters' lives.

Sometimes the story doesn't advance a lot, but it is still entertaining with witty dialogue and other things. One of those is a beautiful dance sequence that is not so much about talented dancers as it is about the beauty and the romance of the dance which includes many of the cast.

Danica McKellar is known for Wonder Years but also for Christmas movies. This is possibly her best. The romance between her character, Kat, and Dustin Milligan's Sam is tangible. Supporting performances are also good.

I had a hard time with the timeline because I couldn't understand why two people so in love would have gone so long. I especially can't see how 5 years could have elapsed (as mentioned when Kat first sees Sam) and still led to what follows. An attempt is made to explain at least the former about 3/4ths of the way through the movie but I think the movie would have made a lot more sense if that had been plainer earlier on. Nevertheless, I don't deduct for that because the story is otherwise so charming and unique.

While I don't see Hallmark's signature on this, it fits their nature perfectly. For some people this will be too sappy and idealistic, but that's what these movies are and this one is done so well.

How did the young girl manage to play a track on an LP at 78rpm, on an antique phonograph using a steel needle in a diaphragm on a tone arm?

What happened to Terrie and the Carlas? They could have had a hit with that record.

The cardboard house? It'd have taken days to make that. Where did Sam find the time?

Still one o f my favourite Christmas films.