The Snow Must Go On

I always enjoy a good song or two in a Hallmark movie-give me a catchy duet and a cozy setting, and I'm usually hooked. But I just couldn't get into this one, no matter how hard I tried. The main character, Isaiah, just didn't click for me. He came across as manipulative and oddly smug for most of the movie, and while I know he supposedly has a change of heart near the end, it felt a little too late and not entirely earned.

The chemistry between him and Lilly-Anne was flat at best. There was no spark, no zing, nothing that made me root for them. I really wanted to like it, especially since I enjoy Corey Cott, I thought he was great in Making Waves, but this character just didn't suit him.

Maybe it's because I come from a theatre background myself that I had higher hopes for this storyline, but the execution fell flat. It had all the right ingredients on paper-music, romance, redemption-but somehow it never hit the right notes. This one's definitely not making my rewatch list.

The theater kid in me ate this holiday movie up like a kitten with catnip. Yes, the storyline is an overdone trope: main character returns to town to help put on the local holiday production. However, this isn't the normal Sunday School fare with cardboard sheep and a babydoll Jesus.

This is children's theater with extremely talented kids who can actually act and sing. The makeup was impressive as well, sort of reminding me of the Lion King.

The main couple look like they could fall for each other in real life, and have great chemistry.

If you like holiday movies, you should enjoy this one.

Another reviewer admitted he gave up shortly after 27 minutes. I can definitely see why he and his wife felt that way. It was cringe worthy. Myself, I try not to write a review without at least scanning the entirety of the movie.

One positive which became obvious even during that horrible start is that Corey Cott is talented. The audience gets several chances to hear him throughout the movie.

Isaiah starts off as extremely unlikeable. He is totally self-absorbed and selfish. He quickly sees how he can advance his own career without regard to the interests of the students, the school or the musical he is directing.

Then at about the 29 minute mark, Isaiah begins to exhibit some truly commendable traits. I have seen many movies in this genre which start out very badly and then quickly improve to the point of becoming enjoyable. Isaiah hasn't become a perfect hero, but at this point forward there is some hope for an enjoyable enterprise. Isaiah actually is starting to look like a natural director.

Another thing happens well into the movie. Cott and Heather Hemmens (as of this writing not credited on this movie's main IMDb page) do have some chemistry after the character Isaiah gets over himself.

There are a couple of interesting minor subplots that weave into the final product. I thought I could see where the story would end up at the climax and I wasn't far off.

Aside from Corey Cott, there were several very talented students, especially Emily Leung as Miranda.

This movie has a totally off-putting start but soon becomes interesting and enjoyable. Stick with it.

I watched this because it is Christmas & I need to be in a more festive mood. I didn't feel the chemistry between Isaiah and Lilly-Anne. The musical numbers didn't enhance the story or make it feel any less different from any other Hallmark movie, like Jeff Beesley had hoped it would do, at least for me. The supporting characters feel more like they just function more as plot devices than characters who have their own dreams, their own families, their own friendship groups etc.

At twenty-seven minutes in, I remarked to my wife, "I'm giving this time, but so far it hasn't done ANYTHING FOR ME. I didn't feel a connection to ANY of the characters, or find anything to root for, for any of them. As a script, that's utter failure. My wife agreed, and a few minutes later said, "If you'd like to bag this, it's okay with me ... meaning she felt the same way I did. SO we bagged it and moved on to the next Christmas movie.