Angel of Christmas

I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 (C H R I S T M A S ) MOVIES AND SPECIALS.

BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY Christmas MOVIES AS I CAN.

In this movie a woman's life changes in unexpected ways when, in the process of writing a newspaper article about her family's heirloom Christmas ornament, she meets an enthusiastic artist. The heirloom seems to bring people together. Our protagonist is someone who isn't looking for love but is not against it either.

The film is one of those you should watch on a cold December Night. It is a very romantic but predictable.

This film however is better than the average Hallmark movie. It has some very pretty settings and a story that will spark something even in the most cynical viewer.

Realistically the movie is a 4 or 5. But I had to deduct points for the hideous and creepy angel and also for the horrifyingly ugly painting!!

Really liked the premise for 'Angel of Christmas'. It sounded like it could be intriguing in its mystery element and be as heart-warming as one expects from a Christmas film (well certainly me anywhow). Also the concept for the film was quite different, well in the main plot line at least, from the usual premises for a Hallmark festive film, which tend to follow a certain formula with the odd variation every now and again. Despite how the rest of the review is going to sound, not all Hallmark festive films are bad, enough of them far from it.

'Angel of Christmas' is not a my definition of a terrible film either. It is though towards the bottom end of the spectrum when it comes to ratings and one of the mediocre ones. The concept is a great one, 'Angel of Christmas' is sadly a case of not doing enough with it. Outside of everything to do with the angel, which actually could have been done much better, it's pretty much standard Hallmark fare so not as original as it sounded on paper sadly.

There are good things here. Some of the photography is attractive and the scenery likewise. Really liked the character of Grandpa James, the most likeable and most interesting character by far due to being the source of the bouts of warmth and charm the film has. Some of the soundtrack is pleasant. There are moments of charm and heart.

Did find some of the acting quite good. Jonathan Scarfe is amiable as Brady and makes a real effort to make an initially not so likeable character easier to warm to. The best performance comes from a twinkling Francis X. McCarthy.

Jennifer Finnegan is less successful though. Did find Susan an obnoxious, over the top and unrealistic character, despite promise on paper, and Finnegan tries too hard, some of her performance is borderline mugging. There is not enough discernible chemistry between her and Scarfe, the relationship between them building too slowly and then developed hastily in a slightly choppy manner. Too much of the rest of the music is like other Hallmark films too loud and too constant.

A good deal of the dialogue is very corny and awkward, with a fair share of over-sentimentality. The story as said had a good and quite different premise but executed it too ordinarily. Found everything with the angel too unintentionally creepy in alternative to heart-warming, the mystery element is too slow paced and under-explored to intrigue and the rest is very formulaic with nothing new. Also found everything to do with Susan's job pretty unrealistic and the ending doesn't ring true either. Some of the photography was nice but there were other parts where it was fairly choppy.

So in a nutshell, mediocre and could have been so much more. 4/10

Hallmark ends its first batch of Christmas romantic comedies for 2015 with this highly watchable effort. Jennifer Finnigan writes a story about her family's heirloom wooden angel. In talking to her relatives about legends that have accumulated around it, she comes to understand and accept the nature of faith and, this being a Hallmark TV movie, falls in love with laid-back artist Jonathan Scarfe.

Although the story is nicely handled with a pleasant bit of whimsy -- is the angel actually doing something or is it all coincidence? -- there are a couple of technical aspects that might have been better handled. Conversations between Ms. Finnigan and Mr. Scarfe are shot in a lot of short clips, when a slower cutting speed might have helped; and there is a lot of obvious and poorly executed dialogue looping during the tree-buying scene.

However, the loveliness of the story and the fine performances by the leads render those two complaints minor. This is the best of the batch of Hallmark Christmas romcoms and worth seeing on its own account.

During the holiday season tons of Christmas movies come out. They are purposely made to be feel good movies They are great to have on while you are putting decorations up - making cookies or anything to assist with that magical time of year. Which is a great thing especially that time of year. However you can only watch X amount of very expected guidelines with predictable repetitive story endings. Sometimes regardless of it being the holidays you want some substance. This offers just that. It is a great storyline that you really have to follow. Don't get me wrong it is still a feel good movie but part of that feel good you get is from when you walk away thinking wow!!! - That really was a great well thought nurtured storyline with an interesting story told!!! That is just my opinion - I say well worth watching & deciding yourself!!!