Christmas Under the Lights

Emily - Heather Hemmins - is called back to her small Washington state town by her brother around Christmas. She's in marketing in Los Angeles and doesn't want to look back. But, her Mother ran a small petting farm and put on a famous Christmas carnival. Now, Mother has passed away and Emily is torn up inside. But, she goes. Driving near the farm, her car almost collides with a new farm worker, Luke - Marco Grazzini. They trade snarls. Yet, as Emily gets involved in the Carnival plans, she begins to see value in Luke's help and presence. She likewise begins to heal from her Mother's death. Will she return to Los Angeles after the Carnival? Hallmark continues to deliver sweet, touching films for holiday romance fans. The two stars, Hemmens and Grazzini, were delightful, charming and good looking. Fans will welcome another heart warming Christmas flick.

Christmas under the lights is a movie about a marketing executive who is persuaded by her brother to return to the family farm to help run a holiday event after the passing of their mother. I feel like I've typed that before.

Anyway, she is reluctant to return because she's still carrying baggage from her troubled relationship with her mom.

She does so, and on the way has a meet-hostile with a man she later learns is an artist staying at the farm as a refuge following a bad breakup.

There are several things that stand out in this movie: for one, the leads are prettier than people have a right to be. I have to say it's nice to see some actual masculinity in one of these movies, and they have a little fun mocking it from time to time.

They also manage to get in a couple jabs at the Hollywood/social media types.

This movie is very dialogue-heavy. Some of it is very well-written, but some not.

Supporting cast is good, although again, another movie with mostly unfamiliar faces.

Not a bad job, I think many will enjoy it. I do not happen to be a big fan of all the heavy conversation, and really didn't care for the flashbacks.

Six.

Liked the actors and the plot well enough, strongly dislike whoever wrote in scenes of 6 pack of beer/ale as a Christmas gift even if it is for a white elephant party, a departure of family values. It's one thing for adults to stand around drinking wine in a glass, thankfully no labels to display, so parents can tell little kids it's just juice but another thing to present can with the word "ale" on it as a Christmas gift on a network that is supposed to have family values. What kind of message does that send to kids who might be watching a Hallmark Christmas movie with Mom and Dad? Hallmark, for Christmas movies stick to your hot cocoa scenes with whipped cream. Otherwise don't claim to be a family channel.

6.4 stars.

Not much to see here. The story has potential that sort of falls flat. Mother is deceased, the lead female has flashes of seeing her mom, memories, all that good stuff, it is endearing.

The brother turns out to be a very quiet farmer who really has no personality. He is very laid back and nonchalant about life in general, which is sort of a realistic point of view actually. Many people become that way in life.

She is a go-getter, but too much of one. She ran away from home several times, wanted to get out, see the world, be adventurous and daring. These traits are her downfall, and now she's back home to see the town for Christmas due to her circumstances.

She meets an artist who is best friends with her brother and they eventually hit it off.

The film is not exciting and there is very little romance. It's a story of a woman reliving her past and regretting all her decisions, yet not really. She's conflicted, and so is this film.

The male actor was great, The female actress I was not a fan of She felt dry and whiny. The leads did lack chemistry as far as I could see from a home or perspective Sterling could have been a lot better put together as well. Felt like it was missing a lot. The story had potential and the lead actor was good for it but the female actress just didn't feel right for the roll. For me this was a Hallmark want to miss not something I would care to see again. Was helping for more emotion and story and development and I felt like it was missing a lot of that The co-stars were nice but the lack of development and not feel dry and bored after a A period of repetition.