Take Me Back for Christmas

Vanessa Lengies has come a long way from the beauteous but spoiled airhead Joanne Charis character she inconsistently played in 2006's Stick It (with an intimidating Jeff Bridges as co-star). She has matured gracefully both physically and professionally in her acting skills. This is highlighted in this most recent starring turn in a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. It is shown in the onscreen chemistry she has with her romantic co-star and director, Corey Sevier. It is most apparent in her surprisingly sensitive and earnestly sympathetic portrayal of a character that might have been given an over-the-top simpering touch by other actresses in Hallmark's roster.

The movie itself is derivative with the usual tropes and cliches but Sevier kept the pace and balance evenly to focus on the movie's characters (thankfully no caricatures) and themes. Every year Hallmark has at least 1 home run of a movie. I haven't seen all of Hallmark Channel's 2022's Christmas offerings and this one's for 2023 but I think it may be a top contender. I'm giving it a solid 8.

PS.

I think Vanessa Lengies might be Alan Rickman's daughter.

Forget the worn out storyline. Of course it is just that. Take it as the Hallmark movie that it is and appreciate the talented cast. I say well done to all of them. Corey Sevier's role was meant to be less than the female leads'. That's the chosen storyline. But I didn't find that there was any less chemistry between them than you'd expect. It was cute, sometimes funny and, yes, a little silly/ unrealistic at times. It is a fantasy Christmas movie. And a made for tv romcom.

Nice scenery, great costuming and lovely relationship between mother and daughter. I wasn't really familiar with Vanessa Lengies (female lead) but she carried the show and was the spark that brought all the characters to life. A lot of depth in her performance. I liked her even when the script put her in a few silly/uncomfortable situations. And Corey Sevier never disappoints, always handles his roles well.

I'd definitely watch this again.

I have watched a million Hallmark movies and this one is really a step above the rest, almost completely due to the acting job of Vanessa Lengies who was brilliant in this movie. Since you know that the main characters are already in love from the beginning of the movie, you wonder how they are going to make a been-done-many-times-before Hallmark plot feel fresh. But Vanessa does it! Really, really worth watching. Corey Sevier always does a decent job, but Vanessa steals the show, perfectly nailing every emotion in every scene and making the fantasy plot seem absolutely plausible. I also loved that there were some other plot lines going on, especially the mother-daughter one; Paula Boudreau was AMAZING in the role as the mother, by the way. I will be keeping this movie on DVR and watching again!

This movie is very much centered on the heroine, Renée. Both of the leads were charismatic, and I appreciated that the elf wasn't an old white guy.

The heroine was a bit of a wimp in the workplace, in both scenarios. That seems especially unfortunate in the fantasy, where she is supposed to be an über-successful businesswoman.

For much of the movie, this very fact frustrated me. However, I think it was necessary in order for the ending to have all the emotional resonance that it did.

Several recent Hallmark movies have been, shall we say, cluttered with multiple couples and several subplots. This script does not have that issue; since we always follow Renée, the plot is very unified.

I watched the Prince Crush movie a couple days ago and gave it a 3 star because it was so awful. The cast was a complete disaster and story plot so overdone.

Then I watch this one and I am in complete love with the cast. Yes this might be a repeat story plot but this was so fresh and sweet. I'm crying and laughing and rooting for this loving couple.

This is what a Hallmark movie should be.

Please Please Please use whoever you did to create this movie again and again!

And make sure you cast Vanessa Lengies in more of your movies because she is so delightful. I remembered her from the reboot of Turner and Hooch.

Thank you for an enjoyable true Hallmark movie!!!