Un merveilleux Noël en famille

Being adopted is one of the kindest shows of selfishness a person can show, but denying that adopted child the truth and even worse family is selfish, insensitive and abominable. Trying to tie deception to a flimsy excuse of a promise to wait for some magic number 10 indicates incompetence and immaturity as a parent. Zero empathy or loyalty to his child but blind loyalty to a person who is deceased? What?!! I'm just so disappointed that Hallmark thought that this behavior would make for a charming character that we are supposed to relate to. Not at all. What if his wife was actually alive and, say, his sister knew and hid that from him because she promised to protect the secret until he turned 50. How stupid is that? Come on. Do better...

No spoiler here, just a statement that can let the viewer know that a quality family movie is here to enjoy. Although a long shot for plausibility, fine acting, good supporting actors and a steady growing story unfolds nicely. Whereas in some Christmas love stories the kids are second tier, here we have two responsible adults. This doesn't dampen the romance but brings a sense of reality to the account. Excellent acting gives the slow unveiling of emotions, rather than bluntness sometimes seen in rushed movies. Touching musical score and strong child actors come together for a heart warming Christmas tale.

I don't know if this one rises to the level of a Hallmark Christmas movie we like so much that we'll watch it again in coming years, but I was impressed with the job the writers did on making a Gordian knot out of the problems the male and female leads faced. They made it believable all the way and with only one of the common "romance tropes".

We do have a bit of a coincidence. Two single people have adopted sons who happen to be brothers. The woman lives in San Fran and is in the hotel business. Her father owns a ski resort in Park City, Utah, and she and her son find out the brother lives there. By coincidence they meet the brother's widowed adoptive father.

The son from San Fran knows he's adopted and the son in Utah does not. The leads both like each other and their afinity grows, but there is the problem of the two boys becoming immediate fast friend without knowing they are brothers and without the one knowing he's adopted.

That puts pressure on the man to disclose his son's adoption and the woman to reject her father's offer of a job to stay in Utah as his resort's General Manager. She and the man can't get together unless he admits the adoption, and that's a problem for him, and it's understandable it might be.

So the truth about the adoption upsets the romance and the job and the boys knowing they are brothers ... all the while the man may lose his ski shop ... when the woman could save it by becoming the GM and accepting a business proposal her father put on hold.

The tendrils of the story reach in every direction and they don't make you roll your eyes at the samey plot tropes which so infest most of these romances.

Recommended.

8.5 stars.

Maddy's (Farber) magnetism and cheerfulness caught my attention immediately. She is not an actress I've seen often. I was surprised to see that Sipos was not the lead actress, as I've seen her in shows and movies, especially 'Chesapeake Shores'. It's apparent she and Penny collaborate here, being that he's one of the main leads in Chesapeake.

'A Season for Family' is generally festive and fun, but there are some dramatic and serious moments to balance out the laughter. Paul (Penny) is a troubled father of an adopted boy. If I had to give a theme for this film it would be: A despondent father comes to terms with his fears. Paul's wife passed away a couple years back, and he's left to deal with the aftermath, but hasn't adapted well, but his son Cody is a real trooper.

Sometimes a movie just works. This one is pieced together in a way that gives us a lot of emotions all over the spectrum. Rarely is a story so versatile. I laughed a couple of times at some uncharacteristically humorous moments. I don't believe they were necessarily meant to be funny, but they were presented in just a way that was brilliant. There are some tearful moments too, and the two young boys were amazing. The grandparents fit right in place, and the plot lends itself to making every actor so likable. Wonderful production. 8.5 rounds up to 9 stars! I had to award this the coveted 9 star status, it's THAT good.

Brendan Penny is a reliable Hallmark actor. His movies are always of a high standard, no matter who is starring opposite - he has a long list of very good Hallmark movies. I never miss one of his movies.

It was fun to see Jessica Siposs, who played his wife in the long-running Chesapeake Shores series, play his sister in 'A Season For Family. (Side note: when are we going to get a 'Chesapeake Shores' Christmas movie?)

I loved Park City, Utah setting and the refreshingly original plot. I don't mind the occasional 'return to your small hometown for Christmas' movie, but Hallmark appear to be making a concerted effort for a little more originality in their films, and that is a good thing.

Well-acted (especially the kids - they can sometimes be sickly sweet and unrealistically over-the-top enthusiastic in these movies, but are realistic and believable here), well-written, very few of the usual Hallmark tropes here.

A lot to enjoy.