Un Noël impérial

Sarah Drew is so lovely and her chemistry with the cast was wonderful but the romance between her and Brennan Elliot just isn't believable. Elliot's character is too stiff and disinterested to be deserving of love from Drew's perfectly played, sweet and lovable character. This dynamic has worked in the past for Hallmark with Lacey Chabert in Crossword Mysteries and All of my heart, but misses the mark here. The acting is good between the leads, but you're left wanting better for Drew's character. The backdrop of Vienna is beautiful, it's a shame they didn't do a better job with casting the male lead, but it's still worth watching

Jess Waters (Sarah Drew) is a concert violinist looking for her music inspiration. It's nothing more than a job now and a rather tiresome one for her. Her friend Tori Voight gets her a performing gig in Vienna and introduces her to cousin Mark Olsen (Brennan Elliott).

This is a Hallmark Christmas romance. I love Sarah Drew ever since Everwood. She's still great. There isn't much in terms of drama. There is barely a plot. It does have Vienna and that's the main attraction in this. It looks pretty. As a movie, it's rather bland. As a travel show, there is a good fifteen minutes.

I didn't see it until the end, but there is a little touch of The Sound Of Music...which is my all time favorite musical.

Vienna is absolutely gorgeous! Even more so at Christmas with all the lights, trees, Christmas market, candle arches, glühwein, advent candles, traditions...etc! This film is worth watching for its little bit of music history and the gorgeous Vienna at Christmas backdrop.

The story revolves around Jess, a concert violinist in Vienna for a holiday performance and a vacation. While in Vienna she looks up her college roommate who is there being the nanny to her widowed cousin's three children. The children are delightful and when Jess' friend gets an opportunity to sell her hand painted ornaments at the Christmas market...Jess takes over the looking after the three children. Being with Jess the three kids slowly start to come alive...something their father notices. Jess and Mark seem to have this undeniable attraction. Mark was raised in a military family and as a diplomat has continued the constant moving into his own life...which has been hard on his kids, especially after their mom passed away.

I loved this film and highly recommend watching it for the holidays! It is gorgeous, filled with beautiful music, Christmas traditions and a sweet family holiday romance with throwbacks to The Sound of Music.

The good point of film was, obvious, Vienna. The second good point -Sarah Drew effort to save a romance not so credible. The other good thing - the subtle reference to The Sound of Music. But, unfortunately, nothing more. Sure, a Halmark , so, the expectations are reasonable . But, against the not new recipe, it is not fair to ignore the potential of a real good story, sacrified for a too gray product of serie.

She is a concert violinist, invited to Vienna to perform for a Christmas event. He is a widower with three youngsters, he represents US interests and is assigned to Vienna. A circumstance has her get involved with the children, she gets attracted to the dad, he is reluctant but it wouldn't be a Hallmark movie if he didn't have a turn for the better.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library. A very nicely enjoyable movie with a musical theme.