De bons vœux

Project Christmas movie-watch continues but it seems I'm knee deep in Hallmark land already. Turning out these soporific seasonal romance movies seems akin to the film makers rearranging the slushy words in greeting cards to say the same thing in a different way.

In this one, we're introduced to New York-based advertising executive Jill Wagner's Janie character who seems to have it all. She's successful in her job, has a mirror-image boyfriend in wealth management and is getting ready to go with him to L. A. for Christmas.

Then, just her luck, she learns her rich, great uncle Randall has died and left her his farm at Brigadoon, sorry, that should read Woodland Falls, an idyllic little town three hours drive away from the city hustle and bustle, where she spent a happy childhood. So she makes the journey there to tie up the estate where she reconnects with her old childhood girlfriend, who now has a cute daughter and wouldn't you know it, hunky brother who apparently comes with the farm. We learn that her bequest comes with one condition, she has to continue the tradition of putting on the town's annual Christmas fair. Of course she's going to need help to do that and just where do you suppose she'll get a chunky hunk of help to do just that...?

It all ends up with our heroine having to choose between the city and the country, as well as the old slick, suited and booted beau or her new rugged, check-shirted boyfriend. No surprises for guessing which way she ends up going both times.

Listen, there's lots of Christmas Muzak playing in the background, there are plenty of Christmas decorations everywhere and everybody in Woodland Falls is just so gosh-darned nice as they make rosemary-flavoured honey and eat Friendship cookies, with Janie making their lives better yet with some free marketing advice she dispenses to all and sundry.

It's a typical seasonal TV movie, blandly predictable, supposedly heart-warming and undemanding if you like this sort of thing but in truth I think I'll look for something a little more substantial next time I peruse the schedules.

This is an upbeat family friendly Christmas movie. The story, if you even call it that, is a checklist of Christmas movie tropes. There are no great highs or lows or surprises, but given all of this, it is fairly well done. It's just not that exciting, if like me, you watch every Christmas movie out there from late October through the end of the year.

Jill Wagner, as Janie, and Cameron Mathison, as Dylan, are accomplished veterans of many Christmas movies and rom/coms. They have chemistry but it doesn't stand out that much. There is a cute niece and a childhood BFF girlfriend for Janie. Janie has an existing boyfriend from the city who is one of the least flawed rivals I can remember, but on the other hand he is the usual "steady and reliable" which I guess is a bad thing. He does pay a little too much attention to business at Janie's expense, but I've seen much worse.

I found it interesting that the 43 year old Wagner's character had a conversation about wanting children going forward. This leads to a discussion I've had with my wife about how so many of Hallmarks stars are growing past the age where they appeal as romantic leads. Hallmark has dealt with this by bringing on board many promising younger stars. But this movie is not Hallmark. This is their new competitor, GAC Family. GAC stole some of Hallmarks better known veterans and that's just it, they are veterans. Merritt Patterson is the one of the few and probably most prominent younger female star with any length to her rom/com resume. Articles I have read imply she may still be more of a free agent. I have not been impressed with any of the other younger stars so far on GAC.

Almost all movies push a lesson or issue. A common one has to do with small town values and this movie has plenty of that. Big city and progress bad. Small town and time to enjoy life good. I think this movie presses that point a little too much.

Wow! I forgot how much I love Cameron Matheson! He is the perfect leading man for a romance movie. Those eyes, that smile, he's just perfect! Age is not hurting him at all either. I recall watching and enjoying his movies years ago.

I don't know where I've been to not have seen him in so long but I'm glad I caught him in this movie. I had never heard of Jill Wagner before now but she was also very good and convincing.

These romance movies get rushed because there is less than two hours to convince us that the love is real in the ned and this movie did it for me.

A few movies this year also had me grinning from ear to ear by the last scene, which almost always incudes a deep passionate kiss and this movie doesn't disappoint. It went a little further and made me actually envision the couple's future together and that's the biggest reason they got the 10 rating.

The farmhouse used in this movie was beautiful and so well decorated. It made me want to move back to the country.

Great movie and love story. Hope to see both these actors again soon.

A refreshing take on the city girl moves to the country theme so prevalent in holiday movies. The heroine is a decent human being who genuinely cares more about her family than the money she could get. Only thing that doesn't make sense is the title.

Janey is an advertising agent in New York when she learns a great uncle she stayed with as a kid has died. She returns home and reconnects with past friends while deciding what to do with her uncle's farm. In the process she has to choose whether to continue a town tradition.

A very humble movie that doesn't get caught up in itself. Also, best holiday kitchen and bedroom decorations for the win!

Overall a good movie to watch, but go in knowing that the plot and surroundings are typical Hallmark-like. No mystery as to what the final outcome will be (including so long, old boyfriend!). Positives include the well known stars, other excellent cast members, and the pleasant winter setting (in reality, northward in Ontario) and Christmas decor.

However, there is one major flaw in the timeline of the story, which could easily have been avoided by the writer. Namely (and this is all known early on in the movie, so not a spoiler), Jill Wagner inherits a farm in "upstate New York" from a great uncle with whom she had a close summertime relationship until age 10, in 2003. There is no specific mention to my recollection as to why no contact after that or anything about her immediate family. Now it's 20 years later, i.e., age 30-ish. Well, as attractive as the stars are, they aren't 30 years old anymore! The script could have described the close relationship until 2003 at age 17 or 18, after which a youth would more likely lose contact; then 20 years later would more closely match the actors' real ages.

The other always unbelievable timing in Hallmark and now Great American movies is the sudden need to plan, organize and put on a major event in something like a week, which would in reality takes weeks or months. But they can always do it!