Ultimately, there is one measure for rating Christmas movies that outweighs the others. Will I watch it again? Oh, yes.
If you watched the previews, you know what could have been the surprise a little before half way, but even so, it wouldn't have been totally unexpected. Nina's cancer is back and she has no other family for her kids. Melody grew up in foster care and she will let those kids go there only over her dead body. But she has a challenge. No permanent job, and a house that needs an overhaul because she bought it to fix it. And she has little time to get it up to code for CPS inspection.
The premise is unusual, but is perfect for the Christmas season. It's super sappy, but also super irresistible. For starters, there's two adorable little girls, an equally cute puppy and a sad sad story that needs hope.
The movie is about family and community and dreams and reality. And books.
It's interesting because Jeremy Jordan must like to act opposite super-heroines. In another TV world, last I looked, he was Supergirl's best friend. Melody makes Kara Danvers look selfish. Jordan and Janel Parrish have wonderful chemistry. Marisol Nichols is very reserved as Nina, but that's her part. The actors playing the two girls do a great job. Neither of them falls into the trap of child actors in a Christmas movie of overplaying her part. And they bring an energy to the movie which Parrish amplifies.
Are there flaws in the movie. I'm sure there are. I already said it was predictable, although I wasn't sure about one major thing until almost the end. This movie isn't strictly a romance movie because the bigger story is Melody, Nina and the kids, but that's a plus.
PS: 2020 isn't over yet, and I'm sitting here watching at least the last half of it for the 4TH time and tears are still flowing. I think that says that I love this movie.
