Snowed-Inn Christmas

With Bethany Joy Lenz and Andrew Walker taking the lead, how can it not be at least good? The popular duo play 2 journalist colleagues sent to Aspen to compete for top spot at their magazine. They both are "off" Christmas. Andrew, because he can't bear to go home to his lovely family since his Dad died. Bethany, because her boyfriend just dumped her after looking forward to spending it with him and his family. They get stranded in Santa Claus, Indiana, at a B & B run by Mr. And Mrs. Winter with both trying to find a Christmas story there that will save their jobs. Rivalry leads to mutual appreciation, liking, then love, even though they are so different from each other.

Andrew's character seems a little sneaky at first. But when he finds out Bethany was an unadopted orphan who made up her happy Christmas tradition stories, he takes her to his nearby home so she can have the family Christmas she has always dreamed of. It was sweet and touching and embodied the true spirit of Christmas.

Bethany realizes right away that there is something magical and mysterious going on with the B & B and the Winters. The fantasy is handled with wonder and without silliness thanks to Belinda Montgomery and John B. Lowe who play the couple and the excellent script. When she finds a photograph of the Winters dated 1842...Well. I will say no more, but she knows she has her story. If only she can find a certificate designating the Inn as a property of historical significance that will prevent it's demolition. Yes, there is that going on as well.

The only quibble I had was when bad boyfriend showed up, she took way too long to dump him. The actors all shine in this one, with a special shout out to Tasha Scott, a former Tyler Perry stand-out, who made the small part of their boss entertaining and special. The last short scene with "The Winters" is worth a an extra star all by itself.

Have said many times about my love of Christmas and getting a lot of pleasure out of in particular watching films, cartoons and specials during this period, something that most years has been much needed. Wanted to see some more festive films that were more recent, lower in budget and were not childhood favourites, so in a way to broaden my horizons and have been doing so since November 2019. The idea of the film did sound predictable and similar to other hotel etc-set Lifetime/Hallmark films.

Some though have had formulaic stories but managed to have not over-simplistic or formulaic. 'Snowed-Inn Christmas' turned out to be one of those films and was a lovely surprise. It does a lot right and avoids, or at least to me it did, most of the traps that Christmas films with similar basic plotlines or follow a certain formula often do. Don't be put off by the pretty terrible and incredibly cheesy title which doesn't do the film justice in any shape or form. The title indicates a film that would be very cheesily and sappily written and something more of the same, but 'Snowed-Inn Christmas' was more than that and is one of Lifetime's better films in recent years.

It doesn't fit my definition of a masterpiece, something that nobody should expect from Lifetime. Is predictable, no doubt about it, with an ending that can be seen a mile away and story elements seen many times before.

Really though, to me there was very little wrong (the only other problem being some of the dialogue being on the contrived and cheesy side). Of the recently seen Christmas films from recent years with similar plots and similar budgets, 'Snowed-Inn Christmas' is easily one of the best ones.

Moreover, 'Snowed-Inn Christmas' looks lovely, with scenery that captures the festive spirit very well pleasingly shot. The soundtrack also adds to the atmosphere and is easy to remember, the music does vary in Lifetime films and can be intrusive but it wasn't here for me. The script mixes amusing comedy, sweet romance and not too sentimental drama with ease and good balance, having personality too.

The story is predictable but also very charming, easy to engage with and heart-warming. Any tensions never got too dark or complicated and there wasn't anything that felt aimless. The characters were more likeable and interesting than most similar characters and are further advantaged by strong performances from Bethany Joy Lenz (spirited and charming) and Andrew W. Walker (easy going and never stiff), who shares a chemistry that rings true and is sweet. Belinda Montgomery and John B. Lowe are solid support. The characters are not too perfect but any not so positive character traits are not overwritten at the same time.

Overall, very lovely surprise. 8/10.

Didn't love the story line but I have to admit these 2 have amazing chemistry and banter. My second movie from the both of them and they are great actors. Bottled with love was much better still this one wasn't too bad

Yes these Christmas stories are a dime a dozen. Yes these churned out movies can be crushingly boring and laughable. Because of the two lead characters, however, Snowed-In Christmas transcends. Walker and Lenz have great chemistry and timing. He is especially charming and more believable as a romantic male lead than a lot of these made for TV movies. They hooked me right in to the predictable story line. The emphasis on simple nuclear family experiences and togetherness becoming treasured and meaningful traditions is heartwarming and rare. Yep, I loved the movie.

While I think this movie has a terrible title and also I do not like the subplot about the owners of the inn and their connection to the real life Santa Claus, this move works much better than the standard Christmas fare. In large part, as has been noted this is due to the main actors who are both very good actors (and actually will someone give Andrew Walker a non lifetime / Hallmark movie? He has earned it). Bethany Joy Lenz and Walker play fellow reporters at an online magazine. As you do, they live in their own little work world hardly even knowing each other until they are pitted against each other at Christmas, tasked with writing a story or losing a job. Both are determined to win but get diverted from their original location to the small town of Santa Claus Indiana. While there they get to know each other they fall in love. Without giving too much away these stories typically do not have enough plot to establish a real feeling relationship but this did and the actors sold it pretty well. There is one sour note right at the very end but still the vast majority of the move is worth it.