Jingle Bell Bride

The plot was decent. I really wanted to love the movie since the leads were gorgeous and I thought the story was going somewhere. The dilemma of the special flowers for a high profile wedding made sense. The friction at the workplace was expected. The setting was beautiful. But there was little chemistry between the leads. It felt awkward. The expected tension was not significant to keep a viewer engaged. I expected more from the ending. It simply fell flat.

The story has an unusual start. A wedding planner has to obtain a rare flower which she has to travel to Alaska to get.

Boss says "Do whatever it takes. Do the impossible." Planner says "I have to fly to Alaska." Boss says "Isn't that a little much." (Paraphrase)

Don't worry, there's still plenty of the standard stuff. There's a town festival. A festival princess. (Cute little twist here, though.) Up for a promotion. A thousand things happen to keep her from leaving. Difficult cell service including holding the phone up over her head. Battery died and no phone charger. Everything about a small town is wonderful. "No, no, we're not together." "Let's decorate together even if you're a stranger." The community center's pipes broke. And so many more.

There is a worthy mini-villain. Between her and the situation there is just a little tension.

I've enjoyed Julie Gonzalo in several parts in similar movies. But her character Jessica didn't get off to a good start. Arrogant and narcissistic. Of course in most of these movies, that's the way the leads start off, with antagonism toward one another. Then suddenly, they turn angelic. And Jessica suddenly loses her NYC arrogance and becomes a very likeable lady. Gonzalo and Ronnie Rowe develop good chemistry. Mostly the movie is held together by their relationship.

The climax and ending are neither surprising nor sparkling - just nice.

I have to give the writers credit for one thing. I can't remember a Hallmark movie that actually understood when the sun rises and sets in the winter in northern latitudes. Jessica learns about long hours of darkness right away.

Pretty good. Julie Gonzalo was charming and funny and I liked they incorporated her Latino heritage into the character. I usually appreciate it when there is more going on that just the love story, and this one brought in her professional life and challenges. I like the tension with her coworker trying to steal her client when she got stuck in Alaska. A Sweet love story and I was actually a little moved at one point.

The characters are lovely. I don't like such backstabbing and negativity in my hallmark shows- no one should be ready to tear down someone else for a job. It wasn't needed; we already had the time aspect. That was a poor choice. That kind of storytelling is for the other networks. Keep hallmark happy and special. I like to live in my hallmark bubble.

A fair story full of the usual Hallmark tropes including small town Christmas festivals, job pressures and being trapped with a deadline. They usually work but seem a bit forced here. I really wonder if the nature of the relationship caused the production to be a bit careful. It also doesn't help that the two leads lack romantic chemistry. Still, its worth a watch.