La Partition perdue de Noël

What is the name of the song sung at the end? "Merry Christmas, I Miss You" doesn't come up in my searches.

For us, Alicia Witt's quirky style adds to every movie she appears in, and that alone gave us reason to watch this film. It's probably our second favorite (in a dismal 2019 field) of the current year's Hallmark Christmas films.

Luckily, Alicia was included to carry the film, because much of the plot makes no sense at all. Alicia, a country singing star, must return home to find proof that will defend her against a plagiarism claim. The movie focuses on finding the original music or notes written for her song.

However, while she returned home for this purpose, she doesn't work at it very diligently. Random scenes are interspersed, and they only return to the search from time to time to remind us that was supposed to be important. During the random scenes and search scenes, innumerable people remember her singing the song in public 10 years before the song she's accused of plagiarising, but no thought of getting these memories down as testimony on affidavits is ever considered. LOL

More cliches follow, regardless, we found this to be a watchable film, but probably now the bottom of the list of Alicia Witt's Christmas offerings, and I don't really plan on repeat viewings.

She does do some singing, and we discovered that she has "singer/songwriter" in her history. So the singing was real, and she did a nice job.

Alicia Witt's Christmas Hallmark efforts are variable, as are her performances in them. While the likes of 'A Very Merry Mix Up' and 'Christmas List' were worthwhile watches despite flaws, she was in mediocre misfires such as 'The Mistletoe Inn' and 'Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane' as well. Actually do not think she's too bad an actress despite not being a big fan, but whether she is good in her films is dependent on the role and that's the aspect where the Hallmark films she stars in vary.

Personally think she comes over quite well here and her character is one of her more endearing ones. As far as her Hallmark festive films go, 'Our Christmas Love Song' leans towards the better end in ranking if more high middle. 2019 was not the best of years for Hallmark or their Christmas films, but 'Our Christmas Love Song', despite being heavily flawed, is to me among their above average ones with a good deal to like about it. Not a great film but certainly didn't leave me tearing my hair out.

These good things include Witt, who has not been this charming in a long while. She is expressive and her character is neither too perfect or her flaws too exaggerated. The supporting performances are above average and spirited, even if the characters are fairly sketchy in development and just Hallmark cliches. 'Our Christmas Love Song' looks good, the photography complementing the pleasant scenery very well. The music is some of the best of any Hallmark film in a while, it's catchy and lovely to listen to and if that was Witt performing she has some vocal chops.

Dialogue is not great to begin with, but it does get better throughout the course of the film and there is less cheese and it becomes more natural. The story generally is heart-warming, light-hearted and has a charm.

Even though it also is very predictable, a slow starter and at times silly with an easily telegraphed and too tidy resolution. Brendon Hines doesn't have the same amount of warmth and likeability that Witt has, takes his role too seriously and didn't always seem at ease.

His chemistry with her didn't really gel either, the romance felt both underdeveloped and underused with not an awful lot of growth and was then hurriedly written and together the two seemed under-rehearsed. The dialogue early on really isn't good and is quite stilted.

In summary, not great but above average. 6/10

6/10 - one of the better Alicia Witt Christmas movies, but still filled with a few too many of the classic tropes

The first virtue is represented by the lead couple. The second one - the admirable job of supporting actors. Not the last - the atmosphere. Result - just a beautiful film about roots, romance and a song.