This Time Each Year

6.6 stars.

This was almost a great movie, but missed the mark on every level. We are left with a sub par story that could've been wonderful. There are so many little pieces missing that it's unfortunate, because the acting is great. The characters are endearing, the two adult brothers with their horseplay and man jokes, the cute little boy, fun grandparents...

Everything is great about this movie except the execution. It's slow throughout, the dialogue stalls, the romance is forced and depressing, although that's probably by design. Everyone seems so forlorn it's difficult to be excited about this film.

The story is about a man and a woman who are separated, their marriage is on the rocks. Both sides of the family are patient as they try to mend their relationship. Things are difficult and it seems like it's not going to work out. But as with all Hallmark movies, it works out in the end. But it was too sad for me and I had difficulty getting through this painstakingly painful narrative.

Even for Hallmark, why would lying to the mom be a smart thing to do? Why do so many of these movies start with a lie? Maybe if they didn't have a child already ten months into the separation, they wouldn't come off so selfish. How would that have been anything but confusing for him? On top of asking him to play along. That alone nearly put me off the whole movie and I find it hard to believe that if she'd talked to her grandson at all in the last year that he didn't say something that would clue her into his home life.

I knew right away that Kevin meant he lost his driver's license but I agree that with the movies they've had over the last couple of years, HM not being willing to call him an alcoholic outright is rich. I also noticed that the movie doesn't have him attend meetings or mention them so they were clearly trying to dance around the subject for whatever reason. Why would a bar be the only place he could find a job? Why would his boss think it was a good idea to fire him right before Christmas bc he didn't want to be responsible for a relapse? Huh? Why hire him in the first place then. Why ask an addict to lie and pretend everything was fine?

What was up with the house? If it was supposed to be a metaphor for their broken relationship that just needed repairs then it didn't hit the mark. This story had too many threads for them to reach a resolution to everything in mere days. The house, Kevin's job loss, his potential for relapse, the dad having health issues. It was a lot. Sometimes simpler is better.

Cranberry Christmas and A Mrs Miracle's Christmas are movies that deal with relationship crises in a much more believable, focused, and logical way with all the standard Hallmark Christmas trimmings. In those movies, both couples had struggles but nothing that couldn't be handled with proper communication. This movie lost me with the plan to lie as if it made sense. I get trying to take a more serious tone, but imo when you add elements like divorce/separation or addiction, one would think the writing would take better care of such subjects. Again it might have been more tolerable (but still not great) if they didn't have a young son.

Lastly, I am sure we all know by now about the longtime casting director's lawsuit. Her name is in so many credits for the network that it probably has merit. That said, most of their "veterans" are 40 and up. I just turned 41 so watching a romcom with 23 year olds is not something I'm likely to do, but can we grow up the stories for the older cast please? I don't think this story would be appealing for 30 year olds but it definitely is not appealing to have 40-45 year old actors acting so immature. I think without the lying and the alcoholism (since they purposely didn't call it that), this could have been a story of rediscovery and the redeeming power of love after the trials of life.

Niall and Ally deserve better. They both have better films and I'm one who prefers the Miracles of Christmas to Countdown. I looked at the writer's imdb and she's done several of the Hannah Swenson and Murder She Baked movies so perhaps Allison likes her work. I just wasn't feeling this. Understand what I'm saying.... I do NOT want a movie that is so drab and grim that there is no hope unless they hand wave it all away, but Miracles usually have a better tone and story than this.

Something positive. I loved the scenes with Kevin and his brother. They played bffs and teammates in Frozen in Love so it was nice to see them again.

Please go back to new movies only after Thanksgiving. Maybe beginning on December 1st. Perhaps fewer movies will help the quality.

Five stars only for Niall and Allison.

A somewhat unbelievable storyline leads us to a pleasant and dare I say heartwarming movie starring Hallmark veterans Niall Matter as Kevin and Allison Sweeney as Lauren, both of whom are very good in this movie.

They play an estranged husband and wife who must act like they're still married when Lauren's mother - to whom Lauren has had trouble breaking the news that she and Kevin have separated - visits for Christmas.

It's a story of second chances for a family unit at Christmastime. The ending, of course, was no great surprise, but there were some nice moments along the way watching Kevin and Lauren realise how much they mean to each other.

Personally I want the fantasy for the holidays. And what is an "occupancy license"? Is this something they have in other states, because we do not have them here in Washington State.

And the Christmas Carol being the "original OG".... I think Dickens is turning over in his grave.

A single child couple separate after Christmas last year, only Lauren still hasn't told her mother about it. So, when Lauren's mom shows up for Christmas she asks Kevin and her son Charlie to pretend that they are still one big happy family.

The couple got themselves into financial trouble and are now on the verge of selling Lauren's dream home. Kevin list his license, it's never explained why...drinking and driving? Kevin looses his job at the bar, where he was working for extra money, the two were in couple's counseling. Lauren has a childhood hangup about her mom calling her "little miss mess".

What I did really like is the family dynamics in Kevin's family...between his parents, his sibling and the family as a whole. It was really healthy to see how they treated each other and everyone they interacted with.

I still love both Allison Sweeney and Niall Matters...but I think they are both in better romances.

I kept "recognizing" Allison Sweeney from other HM favs, especially the Hannah Swenson series, but, no, I had to be wrong, right? The lead actress didn't look like herself (Allison) at all. Am I the only one to notice this? I'm still looking for the date it was filmed.

Not the usual HM fare, for sure, but the cast was top notch. I loved seeing the actress who plays one of my favorite characters on The Rookie. If you think I'm really old school - you'd be so right. I'm re-watching "The Snow Bride" for the millionth time time right now, and my favorite Christmas HM movie is "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" with the Fonz!