Sweetin is probably never going to do much better than Hallmark. And many of the negative things other reviewers have said about this movie are at least partially true, but I think they are over emphasized. I managed to enjoy this movie just as I actually have enjoyed several of Sweetin's movies on Hallmark in the past. Perhaps that's because I haven't seen any incarnation of Full House since it ran the first time, but I have seen Sweetin in several good Christmas movies. Sweetin's Full and Fuller House image is hard to overcome.
I readily acknowledge that this movie lacks the serious conflict, or tension as one reviewer described it. It uses a worn out premise that I never liked that much to begin with - save-the-family-company. Yet we never really feel like anything really bad is going to happen to the company. There is the token conflict between Cate and Gabe near the end which is similar to so many others that we've seen before. And it has the way too happy Hallmark ending.
When a story follows the old worn out themes and maybe lacks some spark, rely on the relationship. I enjoyed watching the relationship. I actually thought Sweetin's personality fit what they were going for with Cate. Cate generally feels like mostly all is well with the world and she travels through life trying to honor that and honor the traditions and principles she grew up with and most of all trying to do good for others. She wins over Gabe and the movie spends enough time with them together to make it enjoyable rather than beating the negative things to death.
Did anyone else perk up at the last line? I'll call it a pun or some sort of double meaning.
I've seen some miserable Christmas movies already this season, but this one I will probably watch again next year.
