CranberriAppl

Why do Lifetime and Hallmark think we want to see characters like Scarlett? Arrogant, snobby, with a failing business, but we're supposed to root for the person who can't grasp that others are affected by her stubbornness and refusal to change? Enough. Not only is she a bland, off-putting character, but the story is weak. Even with Christmas movies being predictable 99% of the time, if a lead wasn't so ugh, we could let the plot slide. She's utterly awful.

Next, is the romance in the room with us? For some reason, Lifetime cannot do romance and they may have one believable Christmas romance a year. Usually those movies will involve actresses you've heard of like Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Tatyana Ali, and Jana Kramer. The budding romance between Scarlett and James (?) is not there at all. Her attitude is so poor, why would he be interested in her? Why are these personalities never a turn off? I also don't like how she treats her business parter and presumed best friend. As if her opinion on the restaurant doesn't matter. Honestly, this might have been better as A Christmas Carol story or something similar where she actually has to experience and reflect on the consequences of her actions.

I know it's a 3 yr old movie but I hadn't seen it before today. It'll be the first and last time.

Even for Hallmark, why would lying to the mom be a smart thing to do? Why do so many of these movies start with a lie? Maybe if they didn't have a child already ten months into the separation, they wouldn't come off so selfish. How would that have been anything but confusing for him? On top of asking him to play along. That alone nearly put me off the whole movie and I find it hard to believe that if she'd talked to her grandson at all in the last year that he didn't say something that would clue her into his home life.

I knew right away that Kevin meant he lost his driver's license but I agree that with the movies they've had over the last couple of years, HM not being willing to call him an alcoholic outright is rich. I also noticed that the movie doesn't have him attend meetings or mention them so they were clearly trying to dance around the subject for whatever reason. Why would a bar be the only place he could find a job? Why would his boss think it was a good idea to fire him right before Christmas bc he didn't want to be responsible for a relapse? Huh? Why hire him in the first place then. Why ask an addict to lie and pretend everything was fine?

What was up with the house? If it was supposed to be a metaphor for their broken relationship that just needed repairs then it didn't hit the mark. This story had too many threads for them to reach a resolution to everything in mere days. The house, Kevin's job loss, his potential for relapse, the dad having health issues. It was a lot. Sometimes simpler is better.

Cranberry Christmas and A Mrs Miracle's Christmas are movies that deal with relationship crises in a much more believable, focused, and logical way with all the standard Hallmark Christmas trimmings. In those movies, both couples had struggles but nothing that couldn't be handled with proper communication. This movie lost me with the plan to lie as if it made sense. I get trying to take a more serious tone, but imo when you add elements like divorce/separation or addiction, one would think the writing would take better care of such subjects. Again it might have been more tolerable (but still not great) if they didn't have a young son.

Lastly, I am sure we all know by now about the longtime casting director's lawsuit. Her name is in so many credits for the network that it probably has merit. That said, most of their "veterans" are 40 and up. I just turned 41 so watching a romcom with 23 year olds is not something I'm likely to do, but can we grow up the stories for the older cast please? I don't think this story would be appealing for 30 year olds but it definitely is not appealing to have 40-45 year old actors acting so immature. I think without the lying and the alcoholism (since they purposely didn't call it that), this could have been a story of rediscovery and the redeeming power of love after the trials of life.

Niall and Ally deserve better. They both have better films and I'm one who prefers the Miracles of Christmas to Countdown. I looked at the writer's imdb and she's done several of the Hannah Swenson and Murder She Baked movies so perhaps Allison likes her work. I just wasn't feeling this. Understand what I'm saying.... I do NOT want a movie that is so drab and grim that there is no hope unless they hand wave it all away, but Miracles usually have a better tone and story than this.

Something positive. I loved the scenes with Kevin and his brother. They played bffs and teammates in Frozen in Love so it was nice to see them again.

Please go back to new movies only after Thanksgiving. Maybe beginning on December 1st. Perhaps fewer movies will help the quality.

Five stars only for Niall and Allison.