This Time Each Year

A somewhat unbelievable storyline leads us to a pleasant and dare I say heartwarming movie starring Hallmark veterans Niall Matter as Kevin and Allison Sweeney as Lauren, both of whom are very good in this movie.

They play an estranged husband and wife who must act like they're still married when Lauren's mother - to whom Lauren has had trouble breaking the news that she and Kevin have separated - visits for Christmas.

It's a story of second chances for a family unit at Christmastime. The ending, of course, was no great surprise, but there were some nice moments along the way watching Kevin and Lauren realise how much they mean to each other.

Even for Hallmark, why would lying to the mom be a smart thing to do? Why do so many of these movies start with a lie? Maybe if they didn't have a child already ten months into the separation, they wouldn't come off so selfish. How would that have been anything but confusing for him? On top of asking him to play along. That alone nearly put me off the whole movie and I find it hard to believe that if she'd talked to her grandson at all in the last year that he didn't say something that would clue her into his home life.

I knew right away that Kevin meant he lost his driver's license but I agree that with the movies they've had over the last couple of years, HM not being willing to call him an alcoholic outright is rich. I also noticed that the movie doesn't have him attend meetings or mention them so they were clearly trying to dance around the subject for whatever reason. Why would a bar be the only place he could find a job? Why would his boss think it was a good idea to fire him right before Christmas bc he didn't want to be responsible for a relapse? Huh? Why hire him in the first place then. Why ask an addict to lie and pretend everything was fine?

What was up with the house? If it was supposed to be a metaphor for their broken relationship that just needed repairs then it didn't hit the mark. This story had too many threads for them to reach a resolution to everything in mere days. The house, Kevin's job loss, his potential for relapse, the dad having health issues. It was a lot. Sometimes simpler is better.

Cranberry Christmas and A Mrs Miracle's Christmas are movies that deal with relationship crises in a much more believable, focused, and logical way with all the standard Hallmark Christmas trimmings. In those movies, both couples had struggles but nothing that couldn't be handled with proper communication. This movie lost me with the plan to lie as if it made sense. I get trying to take a more serious tone, but imo when you add elements like divorce/separation or addiction, one would think the writing would take better care of such subjects. Again it might have been more tolerable (but still not great) if they didn't have a young son.

Lastly, I am sure we all know by now about the longtime casting director's lawsuit. Her name is in so many credits for the network that it probably has merit. That said, most of their "veterans" are 40 and up. I just turned 41 so watching a romcom with 23 year olds is not something I'm likely to do, but can we grow up the stories for the older cast please? I don't think this story would be appealing for 30 year olds but it definitely is not appealing to have 40-45 year old actors acting so immature. I think without the lying and the alcoholism (since they purposely didn't call it that), this could have been a story of rediscovery and the redeeming power of love after the trials of life.

Niall and Ally deserve better. They both have better films and I'm one who prefers the Miracles of Christmas to Countdown. I looked at the writer's imdb and she's done several of the Hannah Swenson and Murder She Baked movies so perhaps Allison likes her work. I just wasn't feeling this. Understand what I'm saying.... I do NOT want a movie that is so drab and grim that there is no hope unless they hand wave it all away, but Miracles usually have a better tone and story than this.

Something positive. I loved the scenes with Kevin and his brother. They played bffs and teammates in Frozen in Love so it was nice to see them again.

Please go back to new movies only after Thanksgiving. Maybe beginning on December 1st. Perhaps fewer movies will help the quality.

Five stars only for Niall and Allison.

Personally I want the fantasy for the holidays. And what is an "occupancy license"? Is this something they have in other states, because we do not have them here in Washington State.

And the Christmas Carol being the "original OG".... I think Dickens is turning over in his grave.

A single child couple separate after Christmas last year, only Lauren still hasn't told her mother about it. So, when Lauren's mom shows up for Christmas she asks Kevin and her son Charlie to pretend that they are still one big happy family.

The couple got themselves into financial trouble and are now on the verge of selling Lauren's dream home. Kevin list his license, it's never explained why...drinking and driving? Kevin looses his job at the bar, where he was working for extra money, the two were in couple's counseling. Lauren has a childhood hangup about her mom calling her "little miss mess".

What I did really like is the family dynamics in Kevin's family...between his parents, his sibling and the family as a whole. It was really healthy to see how they treated each other and everyone they interacted with.

I still love both Allison Sweeney and Niall Matters...but I think they are both in better romances.

This movie was just too off kilter for me to really care much about it. First of all, how old was this couple supposed to be? Going by the dated Christmas cards at the beginning showing their engagement and the pregnancy, it is clear that they were supposed to be in their mid 30s at the most. This is a case of Hallmark straining credibility by shoehorning actors in their late 40s into scripts meant for younger actors. I thought Hallmark had gotten over that. I mean are you telling me that an adult family man in his 40s still hasn't finished his degree and whose chosen career is a bartender? An alcoholic bartender? Bad enough for a 35 year old. When he said he "lost his licence" I assumed he meant his medical license or teaching license, or contracting license. But his driver's license? They just couldn't bear to confirm that he was arrested for drinking and driving? Or that a professional business manager would buy a house without reading the contract and getting it inspected first? And it's so messed up they can't even live in it and are paying rent and a mortgage? Or she could be so mentally damaged by being called "Miss Mess" when she was a kid? I was expecting her mother to be a cruel old harridan. But she could not have been nicer or more supportive of her 35 (or 45?) year old daughter.

I love both Alison Sweeney and Niall Matter but Hallmark did them no favors by miscasting them in these roles.

All that's gold doesn't glitter. This is a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of real emotions and tough times and choices. Lauren and Kevin are at a crossroads in their marriage. After over a decade building a life and love together, bad decisions and circumstances land them in a place of estrangement. Kevin had to deal with personal demons and Lauren has to overcome bearing the weight of guilt she rests squarely on her own shoulders. The reason she is so hard on herself is revealed in a way that is so impactful. As parents, we sometimes don't realize the profound impact any and everything we say and do has on our children who look to us as heroes and judges. Such a powerful message in those two small scenes.

They both move through the movie in such distress that it's hard for them to find the joy in the traditions of the season.

With Hallmark Channel putting out so many lead characters that act more like they are 12 years old than the adults they are supposed to be, it is refreshing to watch a movie that mirrors life as many of us see and experience it. Yes, we need the feel good fantasy silliness holiday movie, but Hallmark Channel also was known for giving us true to life stories that we all can relate to no matter our culture, age, gender or whatever. Bravo for telling a story so many of us can relate to and understand.