Comme les Noëls de mon enfance

After a hot-shot app developer's new idea for a Christmas app is shot down in the boardroom, she seeks inspiration at the inn run by her uncle, who she hasn't seen since her family left under a cloud years before. Some really good performances keep the interest throughout. The delightful Tori Anderson as Amelia oozes charm, portraying fragility when required, and Stephen Weber as Harry (the uncle) is excellently guarded when introduced and has a good character arc. Very enjoyable family drama set around the Christmas season.

Obviously with the sheer volume of movies Hallmark puts out at Christmas they can't all be great. This one was ok but nothing particularly special or memorable. Tori Anderson was delightful, hopefully she gets another shot as a Hallmark lead in the future.

Review Date 7/13/2019

I have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films, & Christmas Television Movies , & Television 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. I am on a mission to watch every Christmas Movie ever made. Since 2014 I average 100 a year.

As Christmas approaches, Amelia Hughes, a career-focused Chicago app developer lacking in holiday spirit, returns to her small hometown of Christmas Creek to rediscover the meaning of Christmas. There, she reunites with her childhood best friend Mike and her estranged uncle Harry, whose mysterious rift with Amelia's father divided her family during the holiday season when she was a child.

This was a nice story and Steven Weber was shockingly very good. I love again that they don't make the career woman a heartless villain. In fact she is the hero of this story!

This movie is a combination romance and story of a family working through long time issues. There are a lot of the formula themes for a Christmas romance like one lead goes home to fix an new app that has problems. Two high school flames reunite. Town tree lighting. Ginger bread contest. Service man separated from wife and kid.

The story doesn't have any real surprises or highs or lows. The tension is normal family issues. The one slightly unusual thing is the "Fly-by Christmas" which involves Amelia (whose heroine is Earhart) getting reacquainted with flying.

Tori Anderson and Stephen Huszar are comfortable together but their story is diluted by other things. Most of the acting is adequate including supporting cast.

7/10 - holiday fun with Hallmark and full of familiar tropes