User reviews

I really enjoyed the band at the Christmas Party but I cannot find a credit for them.

(I've put enough negative reviews here on Hallmark Christmas movies, so I really need to comment on one that I like.)

By keeping the story small--meaning just the family spending time in the house with the few forays into town--there weren't opportunities for multiple implausibilities. I know that's a negative way to put it, but by contrast with other Hallmark Christmas movies I've seen, this one didn't have so many distractions. Mira Sorvino is very winsome in her role. It's easy to see how this family would come to love her. And Cameron Mathison plays the suitably low-key , gentle, and supportive man a lost woman would be glad to have helping her in such a situation.

This is a really endearing Hallmark Christmas Movie, at least the middle and ending 2/3s of the movie. I almost stopped watching before I got to that part, but I'm glad that I stayed with it.

Love this movie. I just read on IMDb that Cameron Mathison just had surgery for kidney cancer. Prayers sent his way.

Throughout my whole Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas film completest quest undertaken namely late last year through to early this year, an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with Hallmark's output. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. One could see that with most of Hallmark's output but not all.

'A Christmas to Remember' as far as Hallmark's Christmas films go fares quite well and is definitely worth watching and remembering. It is not flawless or a classic, but have come overtime to not expect any of those things watching a Hallmark Christmas film and have always tried to not judge them too seriously. Have seen the two leads in other things and they have shown that they can be good with the right material, which they do have once 'A Christmas to Remember' gets going.

It is a bit slow to begin with, the set up taking a little too long and Mira Sorvino's character is not easy to warm to at first.

Some of the dialogue early on is pretty ropey too, the cheese really stinking up the room. The music could have been toned down too tonally and in placement, too constant and too loud.

However, it is worth sticking with 'A Christmas to Remember' if in any initial doubt as to me it did get a lot better. The production values still manage to be pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. Some of the music has some pleasant nostalgic moments. The dialogue is not great to begin with but improves when the plot properly kicks in, not being too sweet and it flows at least.

Furthermore, the story is light-hearted and really warms the heart without going into over-saccharine territory. The characters were on the most part ones easy to get behind and carry the film well. The acting is well above average, with Sorvino being very engaging once her character became easier to warm to and expressive. Even better is charming Cameron Mathison and the two have genuine and natural chemistry together. Hallmark have a variable track record when it comes to child acting performances (Lifetime more so), but the children here are great. They are not too cute and are not bratty either.

Concluding, worthwhile and worth remembering if not quite a must watch. 7/10

I have to admit I'm a sucker for these movies. I recorded them and then we watch at our (retired) convenience. Then I delete them after watching. Not so with this one. It's actually still there and we watched it a couple more times. This is a step above the rest of the Hallmark movies. The story was simple, and only a couple of small plot holes but overall quite good. It was well acted in as much of a minimalist way as is possible with the genre. We love ALL the characters from kids to sports writer who gave us a couple of chuckles as well as face palms. It's one we wished it was to be a hour longer to expand on all the characters.

Well, it's not a spoiler to say that the central plot is that someone loses their memory. Which, on the list of "juvenile choices when attempting to write a script" comes in at number 7, on the Hallmark List of Amateur Writing. That said, most of the cast do a good job, with much less ham being produced, than you would expect. The female lead phoned in a fair amount of her performance, but she played it cute enough. Male lead was very well measured in his performance and the kids were super. A little spoiler: when the central character gets their memory back, they remember that they're a convicted axe murderer on the run and so they slaughter all the kids in a massive blood bath in the last scene.... No, not really - relax, they just put up a Christama tree and bake some cookies. Happy Christmas

Loved this movie - for the third time.

Favorite line - Paula: "Brad is your boyfriend." Maggie: "I don't think so."

Sweet movie. I just wonder why Mira Sorvino is in this movie. She's so out of place; you can feel it in her acting. And what has she done to her face?

6.5 It's a pretty good story, but I think all of the acting is just moderate. However I've watched it two times over the years and can probably watch it another. :)

I have seen every Hallmark Christmas movie and just love them! I only gave this a 5 out of 10 because the acting of the lead female character was bad and out of place. She plays the part as if she has had a brain injury giving her the mind of a ditzy teenager and less of somebody with amnesia. The actress didn't seem comfortable in this role for whatever reason, but overall good movie the family will love!

One thing many of these romances miss is enough interaction between the leads. It's not easy to show believable relationship building, but the scripts which try, and which get it right, are a cut above the rest.

This one tried and hit a home run.

Cameron Mathison always plays well as a guy "who has it together". Here he and his kids find a woman who's wandering on the highway after a wreck, and she's lost her memory. She's stuck with them during a blizzard (yes, contrived but it keeps the characters in the same place).

"Jennifer's" identity remains a mystery to "John" and the small town he lives near. In the meantime she melds into the family as the romance builds.

We watch this one every year. Highly recommended.

The first and only review of this movie a month ago was so bad I decided not to watch it. Then I decided that since I liked the plot summary so much I would watch it. I'm so glad I did. I loved it. It was a well done Happy to watch movie. Mira Sovino in the lead reminds me so much of a Mrs Walton/Mrs Ingles and Sandra Bullock with her smile and mannerisms. Also loved Cameron Matheson in the lead. Now I see there are four more reviews for this movie and they are all great. The lead actor and actress are actually in their late 40's. Recognized the Grampa from the Christmas Lodge. Could have kept watching this movie loved it.

I really enjoyed this movie. I now own it. Will watch it every Christmas time. Hope you give it a try.

This was such a sweet movie. I loved the somewhat different storyline then most Christmas movies and I loved the sweet kids in the movie!

I truly enjoyed watching this movie. I liked the premise, I liked the chemistry between leads, and it's always nice to see Brenda Crichlow... she's very likeable and I think she's a good actress. Everything about this movie warmed my heart from the kids to the cabin to the artist/painter who stops in for dinner all the time lol. I thought MS and CM did a great job together! Well done to all involved.

We just finished this one and I can not say enough good things. It's hard to get our husbands hooked and they were. I had my sister over with her family and all loved it! We didn't want it to end. I scanned the room a few times and many had smiles on. It was a happy Christmas take on the movie Overboard which is one of our family favorites. I would definitely watch this movie again next Christmas! Ps. I was nervous that Mira from one of my favorite movies growing up would affect my take on this movie but she absolutely nailed it! Hallmark, thank you for this Christmas movie!!! Great job!!

This is a very sweet story. May be predictable but loved the actors, the scenery, the ending. Happy ending as with most Hallmark movies have. There's enough depressing stuff out there. Nice Xmas movie for the whole family to watch! Cameron Mathieson is always a joy to watch. Have not seen Mira Sorvino in anything in quite awhile so she was a nice surprise. The actors Hallmark casts are always a wonderful to watch. Would love to see a sequel which might include the barn being used with John treating animals or also Jennifer's on site cooking show. Love this family. Jennifer & John having a baby together! Lots of possibilities.

The screen writing was a cut above the usual fare on the Hallmark channels. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew when I saw that Mira Sorvino was the lead it was going to be good. I really dislike how women are usually portrayed, foolish, fly off the handle, just silly. It's a treat to see a woman with some sense. The children were also a treat. I give a lot of credit to the directing. A director can ruin the writing as I sure many writers can attest. This director did a very good job. Cameron does his usual fine performance as he does in everything I've seen him in on the Hallmark Channel. The supporting cast was well selected especially the elderly fellow who shows up to eat from time to time.

While writing for a genre that is formulaic the screen writer avoided some of the pitfalls that usually accompany these types of romances. I would love to see more of the same.