Le mie regole dell'amore

Well, the movie was fair; your typical made-for-tv Christmas movie. But what made me submit this was IMDB's own description, where it says Merry "finds a new perspective and Christmas cheer with charismatic aid worker Chris." Who is Chris? There's no Chris in this movie. Obviously, they mean Adam, the male lead opposite Merry.

Merry (Rachael Leigh Cook) goes to Vermont for the holidays to escape her problems. She has written a self-help book about relationships that is based on a fabrication and her publisher is demanding a rewrite. While away from the city, she reconnects with Chris (Travis Van Winkle), a free-spirited altruist who rubs her the wrong way. When her publisher follows her to Vermont, it looks like Merry's holiday will be a bust.

Cook does a fine job playing the lovable dork. Her awkwardness around Van Winkle works well to make this film a comedy-based romance. Like all Hallmark romances, the end results are fairly predictable, but solid acting by the entire cast keeps the story enjoyable.

I can't say I've ever loved the premise of a relationship expert writer who loses or doesn't have a boyfriend/fiancé. Throw in that she is an "influencer" on social media. The truth comes out a little earlier than usual and then things get interesting. Sure, overall, it's predictable, but this kind of ending is what the viewers want. The way it gets there is kind of different.

There is some good dialogue, especially when Rachael Leigh Cook is involved. Cook and Travis Van Winkle have great interplay and chemistry.

There is at least one other romance going, but Cook and Van Winkle dominate most of the story.

Further proof that Rachael Leigh Cook definitely knows a good Hallmark movie when she sees one. Has she ever starred in a bad one? I don't think so...

What seems like a fairly shallow type of plot actually becomes something more.

Yes, you have the smalltown Christmas theme - all the usual Christmassy events are there - but don't let that discourage you if you're not a fan of that particular trope.

RLC (who I must admit is very easy on the eye) and Travis Van Winkle as Merry Griffin and Adam Walters steal the show. They are fantastic together, and strong in their solo scenes as well. They benefit from a funny, witty and surprisingly heartfelt film. There are a few cringey moments, but they were thankfully few and far between.

Of course it ends with a kiss. They always do. But this one felt less cliched than many others.

Social influencer who wrote the relationship rules writes a book about finding the perfect man, her publisher wants to do promotions and have the fans meet this paragon of virtue...only he is an imaginary guy.

Her best friend/manager takes her home to come up with a plan or an idea for a replacement book. There they meet her older brother who is home from building homes for the unfortunate overseas, played by Travis van Winkle...who is the best part of this film. He does an excellent job of the older brother and teasing his sister's friend. It was funny and totally made this Hallmark holiday romance. He had me laughing over the breakup and grieving process over the fake boyfriend. He also had it for romance points...making s'mores in your pjs in the fireplace. I was right there.

This moved in to a must see...funniest and most romantic moments I have seen this far from the Hallmark holiday offerings.