Un Noël à Springdale

This movie is pretty much what you'd expect given the title and the TV network, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries (although it fits Hallmark Channel better). A small town is the epitome of life and tradition is everything. Yet, despite the predictability, it was done pretty well and the characters are appealing. Kristoffer Polaha kept reminding me of other Christmas movies he has been in . He and Ashley Newbrough had chemistry and add the little girl to make it even better.

So. This movie was cute, and Polaha is genuinely charming, but I'm tired of Hallmark movies pretending they're set somewhere the director has obviously never been. They cut to a view of a full moon over a mountain range. Where do they imagine this was filmed? The Wisconsin Mountains? LOL. Wisconsin has hills and bluffs and lakes galore but, alas, no mountains.

Anyway, it's a standard fare Hallmark Christmas movie, with the usual cast of characters. Entertaining and mindless. Polaha is a bit more appealing than the usual male lead, imho.

Good watch. Recommended. The leads have chemistry and the kid actor did a decent job too. Any criticism you may read about the setting or window dressing in this film is inconsequential in my view. It is all about the story and characters you are rooting for. On that basis, Small Town Christmas delivered!

There are a number of Hallmark movies built around a "perfect for Christmas" small town, but this is one of the better ones. In part that's because the lead actors are decent and in part because of the interesting setup that brings the main characters together. Enjoyable, fun, and satisfying to watch.

Just to make things clear, whenever a high rating or good review is written for any of the recent festive films from namely last year and this year it is not saying that it is on par in quality with other films and such given the same rating or just a little higher. Or on par with or better than films well regarded but weren't quite as good to me. Sorry if that doesn't make sense, and am aware that the wording is very clumsy. It is purely judging it as its own entity and whether it worked for me or not.

'Small Town Christmas' did work for me. My recent festive film quest, a much needed one, has been very hit and miss, but while none of the films fit my definition of classic there were a fair share of those that were better than expected with a lot of good things and a few bad things. That was the case with 'Small Town Christmas', which was a pleasant diversion for a couple of hours and something that shouldn't be expected too much from. One of the best films from this quest easily.

It does have things that don't quite work. One is two or more steps ahead of the story in what happens next the whole time, from the well set up beginning to the rather too pat end. Some of the dialogue could have had more nuance and not been as corny.

While all the supporting cast are competent and nobody is bland or annoying, nobody properly stands out as such.

On the other hand, 'Small Town Christmas' is lovingly filmed and has a location that doesn't look cheap. Have a thing for good soundtracks, and the soundtrack is suitably infectious and affectionate (which is exactly what one wants from a Christmas film soundtrack). The direction indicated a director engaged with the material and at ease with it.

The script has enough sweet and witty moments, not sounding too awkward or aimless, and while the story is formulaic it is also full of charm and warms the heart in a way that never felt manipulative or schmaltzy. The two leads have a very sweet and unforced chemistry together and both give good performances individually too. Kristoffer Polaha particularly.

All in all, not exceptional but very pleasant and worth seeing. 7/10