North to Home

This is one of the best movies I've seen about the long term effects of trauma, and how to heal from trauma - over time & by connecting with others. It's not overly dramatic, it's straightforward and clear. The movie takes its time fleshing out the characters so that the viewer can really care about each of them. The actors are superb.

Hallmark Movies and Mysteries has shown it likes to take on some heavy topics, particularly around the death of loved ones. This one was well-acted and well-directed but a little too heavy on melodrama, particularly between the sisters. An enjoyable film with strong performances. Really like Lyndsy Fonseca and hopes she does more movies with Hallmark, but feel like she's cut out for a more lighthearted role.

I didn't not like the movie...however, this book was so well rounded. I found the characters stilted in the movie. I know that comes down to timing - there just isn't time to delve into each character like you can in a novel. It was also "hallmarkified" which took away from the characters as well. If I hadn't read the book first I would have enjoyed this much more.

This was so much better (and more emotional) than I thought it would be. And it was a very different kind of Hallmark movie than the ones that loyal viewers like me are used to seeing. In fact, the only new love story in the movie was the least interesting relationship (I also didn't really like the big reveal in connection with that story).

Instead, like Every Time a Bell Rings ( which starred this movie's multi talented director Ali Liebert), the main focus was the relationship between three sisters. They were played by three very beautiful, talented and compelling actresses (Lyndsy Fonseca, Kimberley Sustad and Erica Durance) and their mother was played by the very reliable Barbara Niven (from Chesapeake Shores) who may be the most beautiful 68 year old woman on the planet.

Lyndsy Fonseca just starred in her first Hallmark movie (Next Stop, Christmas- one of last year's best Hallmark movies) and I'm looking forward to many more from her. Kimberley Sustad was great in Christmas by Starlight with Paul Campbell. And Erica Durance was, for me, the best thing about Open By Christmas and I really wish Hallmark would put her in her own movie.. They were all wonderful here.

The relationships between between the two married sisters and their husbands was also portrayed as very healthy with a nice approach to the home/career conflict that Beth was experiencing. I could quibble about Hallmark's ongoing refusal to acknowledge the lack of daylight in Alaska during the winter (they'd be in the dark during that 7am hike), and Beth's overreaction to the girls getting cookie dough on their faces, but Hallmark movies don't get much better than this.

'North to Home' is the first 2022 Hallmark Movies and Mysteries film, which has always been a hit and miss block in all the years it's been going on. The story sounded really heartfelt, and Hallmark have proven many times that they can explore family relationships and deeper, more serious themes very well (they have not always been successful at this though). Of the cast, the most familiar names are Kimberly Sustad and Barbara Niven, have always liked both and have always found them consistently good.

Like all the previous years, 2022 was a very up and down year for Hallmark. 'North to Home' is one of the best 2022 Hallmark films and one of the most charming and moving. Also consider it a contender for the best 2022 Hallmark Movies and Mysteries film, a very well done start for the block and one of Hallmark's best in a long time. 'North to Home' may not be perfect by all means, but it is beautifully done in a vast majority of areas, especially the acting and emotion.

Starting with what doesn't quite come off as well as everything else, for my tastes it did get a little too melodramatic and sentimentality heavy in the final act.

Didn't find the male characters written as strongly on the whole (apart from Adam, who was in a relatable situation), did find Luke particularly underwritten and Tom Stevens for my tastes felt out of place.

However, there is a huge amount to love about 'North to Home'. Could find no issue with the acting, with equally deeply felt performances from Lyndsey Fonseca, Erica Durance and Sustad, Sustad as the most interesting sister of the three particularly good. All three are well fleshed out characters that are not hard to root for, with any negative character traits (like for example over-protectiveness not being overdone) and all three having distinct personalities. Niven brings a lot of class to her role and Matthew James Dowden is suitably sympathetic. The characters were ones easy to care about and felt more than typical cliches.

Furthermore, the script sounds natural and has real sincerity throughout, it doesn't sugar coat the serious theme without on the whole not overdoing the seriousness. The story is extremely touching and warms the heart, with everything done with a lot of honesty. All the subplots are nicely balanced and tie together cohesively, a good job is done developing them and making them relatable and true to life. The drama is not too soapy or over sentimental and it doesn't feel forced. Visually it looks pleasing, with the photography and scenery being equally attractive. The music plays a key role in the film while not being used too much, it has presence but isn't dominant in sound. The ending didn't feel too neat and is poignant.

Overall, very well done. 8/10.