La Surprise de Noël

This was better than expected, the story was a bit different which is nice to see from Hallmark, the acting was good and it had some genuine emotion.

This movie was very well done and I was tempted to rate it a Perfect 10. The ending was so good (eyes got moist) that if I rated it right after watching, it would have gotten a 10. I loved Teryl Rothery in Cedar Cove and she was a delight here as the Cooking show host Julia Wise. Her producer Maggie and son Danny are working on the live Christmas show from Vermont. In doing so they fly/drive from Los Angeles and have some great adventures. I loved how they showed their journey on a map of the USA and this made the title "Road to Christmas" fit the movie. There is also a 2006 movie by the same title which is also excellent, but much different story. Here we get a Christmas tree farm, snow man making contest, white elephant gift exchange, cute dog looks, train ride, sleigh ride, and a Christmas song sung by the actors at the end. Maggie is high energy and Danny is a bit opposite. This was very enjoyable. Since they are making a Christmas special, some of the story is revealed in the video clips. Teryl Rothery as Julia Wise helped make the movie.

I Have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films and Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

Review Date 11/19/2018

Los Angeles television producer Maggie Baker unwittingly falls for Danny Wise, the son and former producer of his mother's popular annual Christmas special Julia Wise Lifestyle which is basically "Martha Stewart" . Maggie's has secret plan that can bring her boss the best Christmas she has had in years! Now roadblock lie in her way but Maggie uses her charm and determination to make sure her plan is 100% successful.

Not a great movie. It borders on being "boring" but at times you know what scenes you can "Click through". See the film has a rail thin plot stretched out into a full length feature film .

Maggie (Jessy Schram) is producer for a cooking Christmas special by Julie Wise. She is forced by the network to work with a former producer, one of Julie's son (Chad Michael Murray) and record Christmas segments for the show all across the country, during which she gets to know Danny and makes it her mission to reunite all three siblings.

It was a pretty good one! Both leads were great, Jessy is becoming one of my favorites HM ladies, amazing storyline, good chemistry and a road trip! What else can you ask for? It contains only a few of the typical cliches we know.

It shows us what Christmas and that time of the year should be: about being next to your loved ones. Definitely watch this one.

8.0 stars.

Another good one! My initial feeling as the credits roll is there should have been a sequel. This story, the actors, the whole production demanded another installment, alas it didn't happen and I'm sad about that.

'Road to Christmas' is comprised of an abundance of goodness all in one package. Two driven and very professional young TV producers are assigned to travel the country to create a Christmas TV special, and they have one week. Both are very driven individuals and precise with their work, but also opinionated - two peas in a pod. At first they butt heads, but per usual Hallmark, they will end up together.

There is nothing particularly amazing about this movie except that all the actors gel and are so likable. The comradery oozes off the screen. I can't imagine any story would fail with this combination of actors performing it together. They could have read out of the phone book and entertained our butts off. Where is the sequel? Why no sequel?