In Merry Measure

In a nutshell, this is your standard cookie cutter made for TV Hallmark movie - with a lot of singing.

Everything about In Merry Measure is generic and unremarkable. The acting, set design, musical score, script writing and direction...it's all right in the middle of the "Hallmark movie bell curve"

Nothing objectively terrible but nothing memorable or worth rewatching for either.

The endless singing from the high schoolers and lack of notable chemistry between the lead actors make this one I wouldn't rewatch.

If you're more musically or vocally inclined, this might be more appealing to you. Watching teenagers sing for a cumulative 20 minutes of the 80 minute runtime was just too much for me (though to their credit, they sang well).

To put it simply, Hallmark couldn't get any more boring than this. Talky scenes go on forever without saying much. By the end, you may ask, "So what?" The cast gives it the old college try, but there is just not a script here that is worthy of their attempt. There is not enough chemistry between the leads to elevate the material enough to make this believable or, for that matter, even interesting.

In addition, the direction and sets are very common and you are left with the feeling that you have seen this all before in many other Hallmark Christmas movies.

I consider this one of Hallmark's "filler" movies - quickly and cheaply made in order to fill in the new Christmas movie schedule.

This one rates in the middle of the pack so far with the 2022 lineup. My favorite thing about this movie was the chemistry between the sisters I would love to see them in another movie together. It felt like they really were sisters. Their banter and expressions were great. I also liked the friendship between the coach and the music teacher. The romantic chemistry felt a little forced but by the end I was rooting for them. I think the ending left something to be desired The whole movie built up to the big performance but I felt like it fell short. Maybe I have just watched Pitch Perfect too many times!

In Merry Measure is a Hallmark triumph, and Megan Hilty is its dazzling crown jewel. Her performance as the spirited lead is nothing short of mesmerizing-she carries the film with effortless grace, infusing every scene with warmth, wit, and an irresistible charm that hooks you from the first note. Her voice? A revelation-rich, soaring, and utterly enchanting, it transforms each musical moment into pure magic, leaving you spellbound. Hilty's captivating presence elevates this delightful tale of love and harmony into a holiday classic, making it a joy-filled gem that sparkles brighter than the season's finest lights. A must-watch masterpiece!

I was so ticked off at the gross unprofessionalism which obviously stemmed from professional jealousy by Adam, that I was very tempted to turn this movie off at the start. Fortunately, I try to avoid that knowing that so often in this genre, the tone of the movie and some character personalities change dramatically by the first commercial or shortly thereafter. I'm very glad I stuck with it.

For one thing, I enjoy Christmas movies that feature extended musical performances usually at the end, but sometimes also along the way. This is such a movie and the last performance is almost worth waiting for strictly by itself.

There are several common themes in the story. Fading musical star, Darcy, goes home for a break. She encounters an old beau, or in this case an old rival, Adam. She gets thrown together with him to produce an act for a contest.

Patti Murin's Darcy has a couple of nice performances and some mild chemistry with Brendan Penny's Adam. But for me the real surprise is Cassidy Reichman as Darcy's niece Megan. Reichman has no other credits listed on IMDb yet her intentional performances were excellent and she was a decent actor as well. I hope this is a rising star for Hallmark much like Joceyln Hudon and Kayla Wallace became.