A Bramble House Christmas

Throughout my whole Christmas film completest quest undertaken since late 2019, an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with Hallmark's output. There was however always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. One could see that with enough of Hallmark's output but not all.

'A Bramble House Christmas' is not a Christmas classic, but seeing it the amount of effort that went into it was more than evident throughout. Hallmark's Christmas output has been very variable, the best ones being surprisingly well done and the worst being terrible. 'A Bramble House Christmas' in many ways is one of their overall best, with almost everything done remarkably well and only a couple of things done imperfectly which was not unexpected in a way.

Have never expected much originality from Hallmark, and attempts at doing something different were quite rare. 'A Bramble House Christmas' is not much of an exception, with the story being yet another variation on a very familiar and still done to death (for Hallmark) formula. So story-wise it is rather predictable with some slow spots here and there.

Perhaps the ending is a touch on the pat side, common with Hallmark. Do have to agree too that one character's change of heart does not make much sense (if there was any explanation provided it did escape me), is revealed too suddenly.

On the other hand, there is a lot to love here. Autumn Reeser is immensely engaging as Willa, a character that is more identifiable than most female lead characters, she doesn't overdo it while also having none of the going through the motions quality. David Haydn-Jones is even better, doing sympathetic in a very nuanced way and it is very easy to see the character's appeal. The Hallmark festive films are very variable when it comes to the chemistry between their two leads, 'A Bramble House Christmas' is an example of the warm and genuine kind that develops realistically if not perhaps deeply. The rest of the cast are strong too, with a scene stealing Teryl Rothery and adorable Liam Hughes particularly impressing.

Moreover, the production values still manage to be great, one of the best looking Hallmark festive films of that year. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. Most of the soundtrack is nostalgic and appealing to listen to, capturing the festive spirit well. Hallmark had a real habit of over-scoring their films but that's not as much the case here. The script just about avoids being corny and saccharine, both of which are common for Hallmark, and the story is mostly very engaging, easy to be uplifted by and heart-warming. Did like the characters too and they came over as more real than a lot of Hallmark Christmas films.

Concluding, really liked it on the whole. 8/10

Sometimes a story doesn't have to have twists and surprises to be worth watching, especially if it is told well. This story has a somewhat unusual approach yet relies on some traditional plot devices. Some minor mysteries are revealed along the way, but there are no great surprises.

Autumn Reeser, as Willa, is a special mom of a special boy, Liam Hughes as Scout. Willa has had to struggle both emotionally and financially as her young son has had a heart transplant from which he is finally fully recovered. Since she has no special skills or qualifications, paying back the bills has been a burden for her. Yet this quiet and kindhearted lady is special in that she makes the lives of people around her better. She did that for Mr. Conrad in his final days, and he rewarded her in his will. He gives her a chance to explore her future by taking away her debt and paying for a week at Bramble House.

Mr. Conrad's estranged son sets out to prove that Willa has conned his father. Intending to confront her, instead he gets to know her and it's not hard to figure what happens from there. As the movie goes on we find out more about that estrangement and the wounds it has left in him.

We find other characters worth knowing. There is Mable, the owner of Bramble House and her niece and great niece and a male guest. The story weaves them all together with Willa as the heart that binds them.

There are some beautiful sets of Christmas decorations both at the Inn and around town. The acting is good.

Willa (Autumn Reeser) has had a truly awful last two years. First, she split from her husband, leaving her a single parent. Then, her darling son Scout (Liam Hughes), around 8 years old, suffered a serious illness which went on and on. Now, Scout is better but there are huge medical bills. Not quite finished with a nursing degree, Willa works the lesser paying home care positions. Lo and behold, her last patient, a gentleman estranged from his family long ago, leaves Willa $100,000 AND a vacation in Oregon's lovely Bramble House B & B. Thankful beyond words, Willa and Scout start their journey from Minnesota. Meanwhile, Finn (David Haydn-Jones), the true son of Willa's last patient, gets word of his father's will. Aghast that his parent "cheated" his family in life and death, Finn goes to Oregon, also, to see if he can judge if Willa took deep advantage of his dad's last days. Yet, once there, Finn finds lovely Willa a beautiful human being, inside and out, from the first moment. Scout is likewise a darling. With his sister breathing over his neck about the injunction they are about to file over the will, can Finn really be hateful to Willa? Not when she steals his heart away piece by piece! This beautiful movie, a new one in the long, long, long list of Hallmark romance films, is sweet and meaningful. Its basic theme is forgiveness with a dash of courage. Reeser and Haydn-Jones are perfect and Hughes is a doll. In addition, the Oregon setting, complete with a handsome house and a darling village, is most welcoming. What can one say but add this to your list of gotta-watch-this-season flicks.

This is based upon a book titled the same, which I haven't read yet but might do so next Christmas. They say that books are always better, so perhaps I need to check it out and put it on my list of goals since reading is one of my new year's goals and it would be perfect to read it before we watch it again next year. We all know that Hallmark repeats their previous year's movies unless it is Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening (premiere time) when they play their new movies (during the holiday season). But about the movie, it's worth a viewing and I might watch again next year as well.

Book illustrator Finn Conrad (David Haydn-Jones) has mixed emotions about the father who abandoned him when he was 10 years old as well as mixed emotions about the caregiver Willa Fairchild (Autumn Reeser) who inherited a $100 thousand dollar nest egg from his father's estate.

Finn and his sister Molly (Julia Benson) have a strong but unproven belief that the young and pretty caregiver Willa is a gold digger and that she somehow stole their own deserved inheritance from their estranged father's estate.

Finn is under a rigid 30 day timeline before the will can no longer legally be contested so he travels to the bed and breakfast that Willa and her young son Scout (Liam Hughes) are staying at over the Christmas and New Year period. The Bed and Breakfast lodge of Bramble House was a gracious gift to Willa and her cute as a buton son Scout donated by the deceased benefactor Mr. Conrad.

It is hard to hold back the tears as the story unfolds with a lot of emotional stories that all the main characters have to share as the Christmas day draws nearer. The owner of Bramble House, Mable Bramble, (Teryl Rothery) is getting on in years but is stubborn to the point that she makes it clear to all that love her, that she needs no ones help in running her bed and breakfast including that of an old and dear friend who wears his affections for Mable on his Santa sleeve.

This is a heartwarming story and my only negative comment is like in many of todays films, they portray the heroine Willa Fairchild as a divorcee taking care of her son on her own. Maybe this is the reality of todays society of many of a single parent raising their children on their own after a broken marriage, but it then becomes the accepted norm rather than the exceptance in the family relationship.

I give the film a decent 7 out of 10 rating.