Take Me Back for Christmas

Forget the worn out storyline. Of course it is just that. Take it as the Hallmark movie that it is and appreciate the talented cast. I say well done to all of them. Corey Sevier's role was meant to be less than the female leads'. That's the chosen storyline. But I didn't find that there was any less chemistry between them than you'd expect. It was cute, sometimes funny and, yes, a little silly/ unrealistic at times. It is a fantasy Christmas movie. And a made for tv romcom.

Nice scenery, great costuming and lovely relationship between mother and daughter. I wasn't really familiar with Vanessa Lengies (female lead) but she carried the show and was the spark that brought all the characters to life. A lot of depth in her performance. I liked her even when the script put her in a few silly/uncomfortable situations. And Corey Sevier never disappoints, always handles his roles well.

I'd definitely watch this again.

I have watched a million Hallmark movies and this one is really a step above the rest, almost completely due to the acting job of Vanessa Lengies who was brilliant in this movie. Since you know that the main characters are already in love from the beginning of the movie, you wonder how they are going to make a been-done-many-times-before Hallmark plot feel fresh. But Vanessa does it! Really, really worth watching. Corey Sevier always does a decent job, but Vanessa steals the show, perfectly nailing every emotion in every scene and making the fantasy plot seem absolutely plausible. I also loved that there were some other plot lines going on, especially the mother-daughter one; Paula Boudreau was AMAZING in the role as the mother, by the way. I will be keeping this movie on DVR and watching again!

Christmas aside (it was a minor part of the story and actually could have been Thanksgiving or no holiday at all), this is a sentimental story about balancing family, friends, work, and personal ideals.

Our protagonist has a lot going on: work, husband, mother, and house--as well as fear.

I love the genre of going back in time or into an alternate dimension. It's always fun to see the individual in flux while getting familiar with the new setting into which they have been magically placed.

Self-discovery is always interesting to me and I found the ways of the protagonist's learning in this film to be unique--we're talking tear-jerker potential.

Endings and new beginnings. Love and loss and love. A romcom happy ending.

This movie is very much centered on the heroine, Renée. Both of the leads were charismatic, and I appreciated that the elf wasn't an old white guy.

The heroine was a bit of a wimp in the workplace, in both scenarios. That seems especially unfortunate in the fantasy, where she is supposed to be an über-successful businesswoman.

For much of the movie, this very fact frustrated me. However, I think it was necessary in order for the ending to have all the emotional resonance that it did.

Several recent Hallmark movies have been, shall we say, cluttered with multiple couples and several subplots. This script does not have that issue; since we always follow Renée, the plot is very unified.

This is one of those "my life sucks and I wish it was different and then instantly I wake up and it is!" movies, which could have felt stale or derivative...but somehow feels fresh and that is in large part thanks to it's lead played by Vanessa Lengies. She was fantastic! At first I thought her reactions to waking up in her new life were campy and over the top...but I am not so sure I wouldn't freak out if I woke up a ceo in New York, with my deceased mom alive, having a chic haircut, amazingly stylish wardrobe and apartment...in fact I just might have passed out seeing the closet alone! I have total wardrobe envy still!

Renee has a rough day in her real life and wakes up in her dream life...only it's not as she and her husband aren't together. Can she figure it all out before it is too late?

I really liked that there were no real villains in this film, I loved that they picked an actress who could really have been her mom (Paula Boudreau) and I appreciated that from beginning to end she loved her husband Aaron (Corey Sevier). But what really makes this film is Vanessa Lengies as Renée. The adorable elf Cici, played by Kimberly-Ann Thuong, was a nice touch and added to the holiday theme. The sets and wardrobe were amazing and deserve a note, as does just the right touch of holiday decorations...even in her corporate office there is a tasteful blue, white, and silver Christmas tree. I love the fun that she had with her opportunity in this new life. I also really appreciate her idea to save her company and what she does with her last moments with her mom. The end is precious. I wouldn't change a thing.

This was a totally delightful entry in the Hallmark Holiday vault and I highly recommend it to my fellow romantics and independent women out there.