Natale a Christmas Island

Most of the Christmas movies so far this year have been embarrassingly poor. Leave it to Andrew Walker to turn that around fast. This is a good, old fashioned, feel good, Christmas movie about family, friends and the unique magic of the Christmas season. Always with Andrew Walker, the magic starts with him. He is an exceptional actor that brings to his roles a down to earth honesty, a genuine caring you can feel throughout the movies he acts in. In Christmas movies, maybe more so. You just want someone like him in your life....and if you are really lucky, during the Christmas season. He is the real deal. His acting seems effortless. Along with him, in this movie, all the other actors, from top to bottom, the father, Christmas Island family, the "stranded lost family"...the town...all bring tangible warmth and caring to their roles. You want to stay in this town. You want to spend Christmas with all of these people. You want Christmas to be like their Christmas. What more could you want from a Christmas movie.

This is one of the best Christmas movies, so far in 2023...and even more ...for the last few years.

Being not so indifferent about Andrew W. Walker, difficult to be too critic about this film.

Indeed, unrealism in huge doses, silly scenes and pretty nice education for a rebelious teenager, technology and a suffocated sappy final.

But my problems are basic two: the fate of co-pilot who is absent in the days of forced life in Christmas Island and the missing romance, natural, with huge potential, between Cali and Shane.

Sure, no expectations from a Hallmark Christmas romance but few questions are not so bad ( the other being the presumed controll of MacLeod family about town ).

But, sure, pretty nice . Like so many other Hallmark movies.

Andrew W. Walker is usually pretty reliable in Hallmark movies, Christmas or not and this is no exception. I have liked Rachel Skarsten since Marry Me at Christmas. She may have a bit of an Ice Queen reputation, but once you see through that, it is easy to like her. She is definitely not bubbly like some, but I see the inner emotions from her.

I always like kids in Christmas movies and we get a double dose in this one. A teen and one a little younger. They are an important part of the movie, but unlike many Christmas movies, they do not bond strongly with either romantic lead. This movie is a little unusual for a romantic Christmas movie in that there is an entire family totally unrelated to the romantic leads and they are central to the story.

We start with the uppity rich people and spoiled teen, but the rich people aren't nearly as arrogant as they could be or as often portrayed in these movies. Likewise the spoiled teen.

The story proceeds as usual through Christmas activities. There is a nice development toward the end worth an awe or two.

The acting is good. The dialogue is natural although not exceptionally witty. Walker and Skarsten have chemistry.

Truly a heart-warming story well worth an attentive watch. The message here from the citizens of Christmas Island is how gratifying it is to share of one's self with others - what most of us who celebrate the spirit of Christmas wish to experience. There's no cliches, "wow" moments, or fluff in this story. My only knock was the story was a little slow to unfold. Once it did, you witness the Sharpe couple realize their financial success has come at a price of sacrificing their other talents, and their teenage daughter learns that she could accomplish wonders "offline", and become more empathetic to her little brother by reading a letter to Santa. Andrew Walker, one of Hallmark's finest, enhances this cast, and he, along with his fellow citizens, lead the visitors, Kate (the pilot) and the Sharpe's to rediscover joy and romance.

I'm always on board for an Andrew Walker holiday romcom (My Christmas Family Tree) and this one doesn't disappoint. Kate (Rachel Skarsten) is a pilot who's just been given a shot at her dream job, piloting a wealthy family to Switzerland. Poor weather requires them to make an unexpected stop at a Nova Scotia town called Christmas Island, where air traffic controller Oliver (Walker) and his father, sister and nephew reside. It is here that we find out more about what everyone's deal is.

What I enjoyed most was that it wasn't strictly the usual plot line of will they or won't they. Sure, there was that, but the secondary storylines of the wealthy couple (Jefferson Brown and Kate Drummond), their two children and Oliver's family were just as interesting, to me. It was great seeing Good Witch's Peter MacNeil and Virgin River's Lauren Hammersley in supporting roles. This movie was a really good ensemble effort, which I think Hallmark does well and should do more often. The storylines were interesting and the cast was very good. Highly recommended.