Mystic Christmas

7.5 stars.

First impression after several minutes of puns, quick witted dry humor, and pithy remarks much too clever for normal humans...this was written by a 'Gilmore Girls' writer. So now I'm looking to see if these writers or director did in fact have any association with Gilmore. And the answer is: nope. To bed with that theory. So if you've seen Gilmore, think of the banter they share back and forth and back and forth ad nauseum and then swap Rory with a shy and hesitant seal loving blond named Juniper (Schram) and trade Lorelai or Melissa McCarthy's character with Juniper's best friend Candice, and then switch one of the more interesting and loquacious men of Gilmore (not Ventimiglia's character who was way too gloomy) with our lead male Sawyer, and that's 'Mystic Christmas' in a nutshell. Come to think of it, now on this soapbox, there were no men in 'Gilmore Girls' with any notable redeeming qualities. I digress.

This will hold your attention mostly, although there are a few slow parts. The leads share a very skittish romance to say the least. They are both frightened of the concept of following through with love or commitment. Question: did the email get sent or not? You will find out, but it's a bit underplayed in my opinion. I liked 'Mystic Christmas', I hope they make a sequel, finger's crossed.

Having seen and enjoyed Jessy Schram in several other Hallmark movies, I was looking forward to this. However, I just couldn't get into this one at all. Her character wasn't particularly bad, but pretty much everyone in every scene talks so fast and frantically that virtual no interactions seemed natural. That was done by basically the whole cast which makes me think that the director told everybody to read their lines really fast. I assume that was supposed to make them all seem really quirky, but again, it just led to almost every interaction feel very unnatural.

Also, the two romantic leads in this acted particularly uncomfortable around each other to the extent it felt like both were back in 6th grade when placed together.

There was also one montage in a bookstore that was supposed to be funny and cute but was really painful to watch.

Ultimately Jessy Schram was just passable in this and everyone else was basically a drag on this film. She has done much better in previous Hallmark films.

Mystic Christmas (2023) -

Chandler Massey was incredibly cute, but in his role of Sawyer he was a bit too good to be true and a tad gay seeming. I felt that, if I was ever brave enough, I could approach him to chat him up, without barking up the wrong tree or being dismissed for it, although he didn't seem THAT desperate. But he was definitely a likeable character that I wanted to find real happiness.

Jessy Schram played her part of Juniper well and I wanted her to succeed in love too and in her work at the sea life centre.

I enjoyed the inclusion of the aquarium as something different from the usual Christmas films, especially as Peppermint The Seal (Cork) was almost as adorable as Chandler Massey.

I wasn't sure that I believed in the seals drastic and incredibly convenient improvement however.

I did like that it didn't detract from the Christmas element of the story as it quite often has with this type of films, where they have forgotten that it's supposed to be about the season and got carried away with Trees, Horses or Real Estate.

I also enjoyed the fact that the romance was blossoming right from the start, with Sawyer and Juniper (Jessy Schram) already crushing on each other from their meeting at his sister's wedding.

I thought that the sister, Candice (Patti Murin) was good casting too.

I wasn't sure about Peter though, he was played far too over enthusiastically by Eric Freeman, who was a sweetie and pretty to boot, but turned up to 11. To start with I assumed that he was there to be an alternative love interest for Juniper, which was probably because he appeared to have been directed to be very similar to Sawyer.

I did like the LGBTQ+ inclusion as well. The romantic connection between Eric (Ralph Adriel Johnson) and Nick (Nick Jordan) was not over the top or so obviously thrown for the sake of diversity.

It was all very perfect, sweet and idealistic, but after some of the terrible films I've seen this year, it was actually nice for this one to be so joyous and happy.

It was disappointing that once again the traveller had to settle down, rather than the settled one agreeing to travel though.

They participated in various Christmas activities and made a connection that was cute until they inevitably fell out about something silly, but it was certainly one of the best of this year's release.

If I had cast this one I might have put Chandler Massey as Juniper and Nick Jordan/Eric Freeman as Sawyer with Jessy Schram as Candice or chose other alternatives to work with Jessy.

I really liked this one though.

7.26/10.

I enjoyed watching this one, even though I had read the reviews before diving in. Jessy Schram and Chandler Massey are both decent actors, have good chemistry, and I was drawn-in by the tour of Mystic, CT.

The story is lacking, to be sure, but the leads and the scenery make this one an enjoyable watch. The seal isn't the star, but does steal a scene or two. The "made-up Canadian proverb" should become a new trope of this genre.

There is a recent trend where these Christmas movies have basically no stakes. The characters start off liking each other, have very little competition for each others attention or affection, and we are left with kind of a waiting game until they finally get together. It works in this film because the real roadblock is their own awkwardness.

The "big argument" here felt like a missed opportunity to bring the characters together through some heightened emotions, and showing that conflict doesn't always have to be a scary or uncomfortable experience.

All in all, I'd recommend this one. It kept me watching, so it has something going for it.

As a guy I don't understand why some people don't like this picture.

If you are a fan of the Hallmark movies this should be right up your alley.

They all have the same story line. Guy meets girl, something happens and eventually they end up happily together. Only difference is the time of year.

This happens to be around Christmas time so it has that kind of stuff going on but it's not a Christmas movie say like Where are you Christmas or even Die Hard was lol It is in the other hand a good advertisement for Mystic CT because it showcased some of the best parts of the town and if you didn't notice it's a great little village well worth visiting.

So as far as another Hallmark movie that my wife always seems to have on tv I really enjoyed watching this one and would watch it again.