Une bague sous le sapin

Hallmark's Christmas output is very variable and 2018 was a mixed and generally not very impressive year for them. Some of their Christmas films that year were decent and more, three of the best being 'Road to Christmas', 'Christmas Made to Order' and 'A Shoe Addict's Christmas'. Other films in the batch are less than average, with 'A Gingerbread Romance' and 'Christmas at Graceland' being particularly weak. The others are in between.

'Reunited at Christmas' is one of the best Hallmark Christmas films from that year in my view. It is not quite my definition of a great film and there are definitely shortcomings with some of the story execution. Credit is due for 'Reunited at Christmas' doing something different from the usual Hallmark Christmas film formula and tackling heavier than usual subject matter, which it handles with more depth than expected and it is far from wasted, half-hearted or half-baked.

There are plenty of good things with 'Reunited at Christmas'. It pleases visually, with beautiful locations and the filming looks professional. The script doesn't get too cheesy or sentimental and does have a more natural flow the more settled it gets. Also really liked the writing's maturity and sincerity, nothing corny or childish here. As said, the story here is a departure from the usual type of story seen with Hallmark, so it is not as light-hearted and is more serious.

Luckily, the story's heavy theme is handled in a way that's well-intended, mature and poignant. The characters don't irritate while not being too perfect, they are not meaty but they have personality at least and not too stock. Nikki DeLoach and Mike Faiola are charming and affecting leads, neither overwrought and dull and it is easy to see what they see in each other. Their chemistry is genuine and easy to relate to, it grows at a realistic rate. Lisa Durupt and Andrew Airlie are sympathetic support.

Although most of the story appealed to me, it is admittedly very slight and has a few uneventful stretches in the middle. Which makes some of the film drag and the film could have had points where it was light-hearted, as it did feel a little too heavy going later.

Did feel too that the music could have been used less and been more subtle, spelling out the emotions a little too much at times.

In conclusion, admirable and well above average if not a masterpiece. 7/10.

This is not the typical Hallmark Christmas movie...and it was good! No lost love found. No okd boyfriend. No one running away from a deadend job to find love. No fake royalty. No dad with a child who lost his/her mother. It's a wonderful movie about family. It's a movie about dealing with self-doubt. It's a movie about love - family, fiance, mother, father, sister, and grandmother. Yes-it has the typical Hallmark happy ending. I wish Hallmark would do more "family" movies and not concentrate so mych on finding long lost love by going to a small town...

Reunited At Christmas (2018) -

This was definitely one of those Christmas films that decided to make sure a whole list of festive activities were checked off, but also one of those where there was an ACTUAL checklist to do, left by some dead relative. It was a good example of the style however, if a tad treacly at times.

I did feel that it was just lacking that X-factor though, that certain something that others have had without even trying and perhaps that was because it was a tad forced in some moments. And I thought that perhaps there was too much going on as well.

As much as I enjoyed his previous performance in 'Love Always, Santa' (2016) Mike Faiola, as Simon, felt a bit fake and even his voice sounded very different. There was still something about him that I liked though.

His relationship with Samantha didn't seem to be as long term as they made out though and frankly I couldn't understand why he would bother to stay with her at all, because Nikki Deloach in that role, was sending such mixed messages throughout the story and he was obviously far too good for her. I personally would have been thrilled to marry him, because he was not only handsome with a good job but also obviously devoted to the one he loved, but she just couldn't see it.

I didn't feel that Samantha's separated parents were ever going to survive together in any way either. There were a lot of arguments between the pair and again I felt that Andrew Airlie as Bill was too good for Eileen Peddle's, Claire character.

It wasn't the worst of these films that are out there and I liked the fact that it wasn't the usual boy meets girl, but I have a list of better ones to watch.

6.3/10.

I was pleasantly surprised by the pleasant surprises in this Hallmark movie. At the beginning, I was waiting for the boyfriend to make a rude remark about Christmas, or cancel a date because he was too involved in his work, or complain about real Christmas trees dropping needles--you know, all the deadly sins of the Original Hallmark Boyfriend. I thought for sure that something like that would happen so Samantha could fall in love with the delivery man (played by Andrew Walker) and later learn that he is the king of a small country that none of us ever heard of.

Instead, the original boyfriend turned out to be a nice guy who was devoted to Samantha and her family. Furthermore, while there were issues between them (primarily Sam's fear of commitment), they didn't have that misunderstanding which occurs around the 1:35 mark and could be resolved in two minutes if they'd just have a conversation, and then, of course, they manage to work everything out seven minutes before the Big Kiss and the end of the movie. The relationships, problems, and conversations in this movie seemed more like real life.

This movie simply didn't follow the traditional Hallmark formula, and for that, I give it a couple of extra points. Kudos, too, to the casting: Nikki Deloach and Lisa Durupt really looked like sisters. I enjoyed this movie and hope to see more Hallmark movies that contain the warmth we expect from Hallmark while not being quite so paint-by-the-numbers as some of them are.

Hallmark Christmas 2018 has been a dissapointment to me; but this movie reminded me of its prior brilliance. It does have a sad turn; but so does Christmas sometimes. I loved the lead actors and their chemistry was apparent. It is a great reminder that there is laughter even in the face of loss. Worth a watch.