Una coppia per Natale

While the story line of a pair of cohosts doing a live show in a "Christmas town" is not unique, it also isn't the most common premise. Having one or both leads participate in all the usual Christmas activities is very common. Misunderstandings causing a conflict, especially when a rival is involved is maybe universal in this type movie. While the ultimate outcome is inevitable, there is a nice twist that helped get it there.

The real attraction is the leads Allison Sweeney and Marc Blucas. I have loved both of these stars in several movies and they even did one together before. Blucas has hit home runs in 3 previous Christmas movies and Sweeney was great last year in one and good in one two years before. The two eventually developed great chemistry in this one after Blucas' character, Brian, stopped acting like a stuck-up jock. It took a little time for me to stop seeing Brian that way.

Alison Sweeney and Marc Blucas are both Hallmark regulars, with more familiarity with Sweeney. Both of them have been in some good Hallmark films, such as Sweeney in one of the best Hallmark Christmas films last year and Blucas in a couple of Christmas films with a military theme. They were my main reason for seeing 'Good Morning Christmas'. Also because the premise sounded intriguing with a setting not seen a lot with Hallmark pre-2020 (has been used a number of times since though) and because Hallmark's 2020 Christmas batch has surprised me in a good way.

'Good Morning Christmas' on the whole did surprise me and in a good way. It is not always easy making a premise like this interesting, fun and heart-warming and generally all three are achieved. The film was seen for the leads and they and their chemistry do not disappoint. As far as the 2020 Hallmark Christmas films go, 'Good Morning Christmas' is in the high middle, close to best, category, and if asked as to whether it is worth watching the answer would be yes.

Did feel that it was a bit of a slow starter, with it taking a bit of time to get going and to connect with the characters.

Will agree too that the bickering was a bit too over the top and veered on mean spirited and the ending is on the too neat and easily foreseeable side.

However, there is a lot that works incredibly well. Sweeney and Blucas are very charming leads, playing their roles with a lot of gusto and heart while not taking them too seriously. Their chemistry is natural and genuine and the characters are not stereotypical ciphers, too perfect or overly-negative. The supporting cast is solid across the board.

Furthermore, the film pleases visually, lovely festive locations attractively and never drably or garishly shot. The music isn't as intrusive as it tends to be with Hallmark while the direction gets the job done well. The script doesn't get too cheesy or sentimental and does have a more natural flow when it becomes more settled. The story is not too heavy while taking itself seriously and is both warm-hearted and has a light touch when necessary. The conflict is not as forced or as predictable as it tends to be. Very interesting to see the festive traditions.

Overall, good but not great. 7/10.

This has to be one of my favorite Hallmark Christmas movies ever. I check out quite a few of them but don't finish most of them. This one had my attention from start to finish. The sets were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen and the dialogue/script was a step above as well. Brian's transformation from "grinchy" to Christmas enthusiast felt realistic, as did the progression of Melanie and Brian's relationship.

Everyone has their own tastes, but for me, a lot of these movies have the two leads romantically interested in each other too early on. Good Morning Christmas! and Christmas by Starlight this year both distinguish themselves by not making that mistake. The burn is a little slower and the conflict keeping the characters from being attracted to each other is more substantial. I recommend both.

Very cute. I will watch it again another year for sure.

7/10 - romantic spoof of "Live! With Kelly and Michael" is fun and lighthearted

Well, somehow I wish I could just wrap this up by saying: another year, another sappy Hallmark Christmas movie.

But I can't. No. "Good Morning Christmas!" was actually a rather enjoyable and surprisingly nice Christmas movie. Sure, it had the traditional and archetypical sappy Hallmark romance that you have in just about every one of their holiday movies, but actually "Good Morning Christmas!" was more than just your run-of-the-mill romantic Christmas cheese.

The storyline told in "Good Morning Christmas!", as written by Riley Weston, was actually rather well-written and definitely captured that feeling of Christmas spirit and that romance that Hallmark tends to always make use of. But it worked. Oh yes, it worked so well in "Good Morning Christmas!".

Aside from having a greatly written storyline, then director Paul Ziller definitely had a good cast ensemble to work with here in bringing the characters to life on the screen. The movie starred Alison Sweeney and Marc Blucas, both of whom carried the movie quite well with their performances. And the two lead performers had a nice chemistry on the screen.

I was genuinely entertained by "Good Morning Christmas!", and it is certainly a movie that I can warmly recommend you sit down to watch if you enjoy Christmas movies.

My rating of "Good Morning Christmas!" lands on a seven out of ten stars.