A Season for Family

I just love Hallmark Christmas movies and can't wait to start watching them every year, from the older classic favorites to the new releases. I love them all, even the less than stellar ones BUT I just couldn't wait for this one to be over!! Every character had the weirdest, creepiest smile on their face and it was such a distraction during the entire movie. The two boys were actually the worst offenders of this permanent goofy smile thing and I'm sorry but real life boys that age just do not act like that towards each other and I agree with another person here that said maybe they should have cast two little girls for those parts?

I also didn't like how the father acted concerning telling his kid he was adopted because any child therapist would have disagreed with the way he was handling this whole situation. Definitely won't be watching this mess again.

The Brendan Perry is one of my favorite Hallmark actors. The storyline is a very nice Christmas story with a light romance. The chemistry between the adults works well. That said, the two little boy actors are not what I would normally expect from Hallmark. It might have worked better if the children in the story were girls. Or maybe it's the boys who seem a little soft for the parts. The scenery is perfectly Winter and the story is very believable. I can't help but think the movie would have been one of Hallmark's best this year if the boys would have been a bit more "boyish." Or maybe I'm wrong.

No spoiler here, just a statement that can let the viewer know that a quality family movie is here to enjoy. Although a long shot for plausibility, fine acting, good supporting actors and a steady growing story unfolds nicely. Whereas in some Christmas love stories the kids are second tier, here we have two responsible adults. This doesn't dampen the romance but brings a sense of reality to the account. Excellent acting gives the slow unveiling of emotions, rather than bluntness sometimes seen in rushed movies. Touching musical score and strong child actors come together for a heart warming Christmas tale.

Brendan Penny is a reliable Hallmark actor. His movies are always of a high standard, no matter who is starring opposite - he has a long list of very good Hallmark movies. I never miss one of his movies.

It was fun to see Jessica Siposs, who played his wife in the long-running Chesapeake Shores series, play his sister in 'A Season For Family. (Side note: when are we going to get a 'Chesapeake Shores' Christmas movie?)

I loved Park City, Utah setting and the refreshingly original plot. I don't mind the occasional 'return to your small hometown for Christmas' movie, but Hallmark appear to be making a concerted effort for a little more originality in their films, and that is a good thing.

Well-acted (especially the kids - they can sometimes be sickly sweet and unrealistically over-the-top enthusiastic in these movies, but are realistic and believable here), well-written, very few of the usual Hallmark tropes here.

A lot to enjoy.

Being adopted is one of the kindest shows of selfishness a person can show, but denying that adopted child the truth and even worse family is selfish, insensitive and abominable. Trying to tie deception to a flimsy excuse of a promise to wait for some magic number 10 indicates incompetence and immaturity as a parent. Zero empathy or loyalty to his child but blind loyalty to a person who is deceased? What?!! I'm just so disappointed that Hallmark thought that this behavior would make for a charming character that we are supposed to relate to. Not at all. What if his wife was actually alive and, say, his sister knew and hid that from him because she promised to protect the secret until he turned 50. How stupid is that? Come on. Do better...