User reviews

Given that 'The Nine Lives of Christmas' is a Hallmark fan favorite, and I did enjoy the movie myself, I naturally was looking forward to seeing this new installment, knowing full well that sequels rarely meet fans' expectations. So, how was it, you ask? This Christmas movie (for cat lovers) checks all the boxes for, what I like to call, a classic Hallmark movie: a warm and cute story with a decent script, strong performances all around, and plenty of Christmas spirit and festive cheer (arguably, it's more Christmassy than the first). That said, though enjoyable, 'The Nine Kittens of Christmas' had less of an impression on me than the first, I'm afraid. Our protagonists in this sequel are again Marilee (played by Kimberley Sustad) and Zachary (played by Brandon Routh). Marilee, who has finished veterinary school and started her own practice since we saw her last, takes some time off to visit her family this Christmas. Zachary, who has been coming into his own at the firehouse, is looking forward to a ski trip this Christmas. His plans, however, change when he finds a box of abandoned kittens. Shortly thereafter, Marilee and Zachary are thrown back together, and then, join forces to search for new homes for the kittens, who are named after Santa's reindeer, of course. And so, our story begins as we watch these two begin to reconnect and rediscover their love for each other. Unlike some viewers, I didn't mind the unexpected shift in the plot at the start or the backstories that set this up. I thought the writers did a decent job of capturing much of the dynamics between Marilee and Zachary from the first film. Moreover, the dialogue and interaction between the two were strong. There were a few noticeable shortcomings, however. The writers could have done a better job of developing Routh's character (Zachary), especially regarding his lack of confidence (in relationships). I enjoyed the bonding between Marilee and Jaclyn (played by Stephanie Bennett); it is clear the writers were keen to develop this. Unfortunately, the inclusion of the advent story seemed forced. There was potential here that was never really developed, I thought. The acting, overall, was strong, and the chemistry between Sustad and Routh was good (believable). Sustad, in particular, had a brilliant performance. It pulled me in. For example, you could feel her struggling with her feelings for Zachary on-screen. Routh had a strong performance, though he could have given us a bit more emotion (and passion) at times. The supporting cast was excellent, and it was great seeing them on-screen together again. And then there are the kittens (aka Santa's reindeer), Ambrose, and Duchess (Marilee's new cat). Very adorable performances all around. The scenes where Zachary and Marilee talk to Ambrose and Duchess are fun to watch. Really enjoyed them. All in all, 'The Nine Kittens of Christmas' is a warm, cute, and fun movie. Maybe not as good as the first, but entertaining nonetheless. A nice new edition to Hallmark's 2021 Christmas movie line-up.

I am not a big fan of redo sequels. The beautiful ending in Nine Lives of Christmas is undone. Marilee is across the country in a relationship with a different guy with whom she is sharing a vet practice. After Zach's beautiful grand gesture in the first movie, somewhere in the 5 years since he got commitment phobia again and now they are no longer together. That saps my faith a little in terms of the chemistry between Kimberley Sustad and Brandon Routh. Oh, it's definitely there,, but it's tainted just a little bit.

If two cats were cute before, two cats plus 9 kittens is even cuter, and they spread that cuteness all through the movie.

The story wasn't bad even if it did use the well worn old ploy of one person misunderstanding what they see.

Both Sustad and Routh continue from the previous movie with great delivery of mumbled comments to themselves or talking to their cats, Sustad especially.

Really not bad for a sequel.

It took seven years for Hallmark to finally show us what ever happened to Zachary and Marilee from one of its most beloved Christmas movies, "Nine Lives of Christmas." Was it worth the wait ? Well, in a way, yes.

The movie starts off with a couple of real surprises that leave you intrigued, and then it goes on to resolve those matters in a very interesting way. Sustad, as usual, is wonderful, and her portrayal of Marilee is honest, forthright, and endearing just like in the original movie.

Routh has matured as as actor and seems more comfortable in his role as Zachary. His scenes with Gregory Harrison as Zachary's mentor/father figure are quite good and realistic. The only problem is the script. It tries too hard to draw parallels to the original story and it contains what I call "filler" - a subplot that is intended to give the actors something else to do - that is unimaginative. Here, it is a silly advent calendar that Marilee's sister "found" after 20 years in their deceased's mother's lake house before it was "finally" sold. It's just uninteresting hokem that adds nothing to the story, which good filler should do. Nevertheless, it is nice to see these two characters back together and there is a really sweet pay off at the end. There's some good "extras" here, too. No one makes an entrance into a scene better than Sustad and here she does it again - this time in a stunning green dress. And keep your eye open for a little cameo appearance by the wonderful Paul Campbell, Sustad's frequent co-star.

Well, upon seeing the cover for this 2021 Christmas movie, I have to be honest and say that I immediately thought that I would be in for a traditional all-out sappy romantic Christmas movie that only Hallmark can produce. Yet, I opted to sit down and watch "The Nine Kittens of Christmas" on the notion that I hadn't already seen the movie, and also I am on a Christmas movie bender this year.

Sure, there were the traditional romantic cheese in "The Nine Kittens of Christmas", just as you'd expect from Hallmark, but luckily it wasn't over-the-top and it wasn't the sole focal point of the movie. So I will say that "The Nine Kittens of Christmas" was actually a nice sort of break away from the usual formula, which made for an enjoyable and wholesome Christmas movie with something for the entire family.

So writer Erinne Dobson actually managed to put together a wholesome script for the movie, based on the book by Sheila Roberts - not that I can claim to have read said book, much less even heard about it.

"The Nine Kittens of Christmas" stars Brandon Routh and Kimberley Sustad, and they actually carried the movie quite well together.

And there is just something about cats in movies that work out so well, so if you enjoy cats and kittens, then you are in for a treat here.

While "The Nine Kittens of Christmas" is not going to become a Christmas classic for me, it is certainly a movie that was well-worth taking the time to sit down and watch.

My rating of director David Winning's 2021 movie lands on a six out of ten stars.

Our handsome fireman Zachary is back and trying to find homes for nine abandoned kittens and he calls on the help of his former love and veterinary Marilee for help. Marilee just happens to be in town visiting family...her boyfriend who was supposed to come bails on her and they end up breaking up leaving room for a second chance romance with Zachary.

Our two main characters have wonderful chemistry and the kittens, who get named after Santa's nine reindeers, are the most adorable kittens and make this movie.

If you like kittens and miss Zachary and Marilee from The nine lives of Christmas, don't miss them getting their second chance in this Hallmark holiday romance.

7/10 - this sequel 7 years detached from the original is a nice return to one of Hallmark's best Christmas movies to date, but still can't quite match the quality of its beloved predecessor.

Haven't seen 'The Nine Lives of Christmas' for some time, but do remember liking it a lot and considering it one of the better Hallmark Christmas films that year. Although Hallmark really do vary when it comes to their sequels, it is always a little more promising when the same leads and cast return in the sequel which helps give continuity. Which is what 'The Nine Kittens of Christmas' does. Also saw it as someone who likes Kimberly Sustad, both as a lead and supporting actress.

While not as good as before, 'The Nine Kittens of Christmas', once you get past the off putting beginning that makes one unsure of whether to continue, turned out to be a worthy sequel and a quite decent film in its own right. Sustad and kitten fans will be in heaven and it is interesting seeing how much Brandon Routh has matured as an actor. 2021 was very hit and miss with its Christmas output and 'The Nine Kittens of Christmas' is one of the high middle ones in my view.

'The Nine Kittens of Christmas' isn't perfect. Wasn't overly impressed by the start, after such a beautiful ending in the previous film it is agreed that the circumstances set at the beginning rather undid it and it was like it didn't happen. It did make me think is this going to be another sequel that messes around with continuity in a mean spirited way.

Did also find Zach less likeable as a character here, here he seemed too passive and his indifference to the emotion spilling out from Marilee towards the end was something of a turn off. Will agree too that the advent calendar subplot was not necessary at all in the story and felt like padding, especially when very little is done with it.

On the other hand, Sustad is truly charming and heartfelt throughout and apart from at the end (which was a character writing thing at a guess) Routh looks more comfortable here. Their chemistry is as fresh and sweet as it was before and it was like the seven year gap had not happened. Gregory Harrison is distinguished support. The kittens are absolutely adorable and hug-worthy, though the film just about avoids sugar overload territory (which could easily have happened when reading the synopsis).

Production values are slick and attractive and the music isn't sickly or melodramatic. The dialogue doesn't come over as cheesy or schmaltzy and has a nice light hearted tone. Despite starting off unsure, the story is immensely charming and heart-warming. Really loved the development of the sister relationship, which was beautifully done and very relatable. The ending did move, namely because of Sustad, if not as much as that of the first. Most of the characters are written well and are worth caring about, the only reservation being with Zach.

In summary, worthy and a decent watch. 7/10.

I was so ecstatic when I found out there was going to be a sequel to one of my all time favorite Hallmark movies "The Nine Lives Of Christmas". Let me tell you.. "The Nine Kittens Of Christmas" did not disappoint. First off, I'm so happy the original leading cast, Brandon Routh, Kimberley Sustad, and Gregory Harrison came back to reprise their roles as Zachary, Marilee and Chief Sam. Also Trace came back the cat who played Ambrose. This is a heartfelt movie that tugs at your heart especially if you're a cat lover. The nine kittens that were in this movie were all adopted into loving homes by the crew members. That alone is a good enough reason to watch this movie. I highly recommend it.

Ruined the great ending of the first movie. There was no reason for this movie to be made.

If they had continued with a story with the main characters still together it might have had some merit.

The Nine Kittens Of Christmas (2021) -

I'm not sure I can give the best review for this film, because I was completely distracted by the cats and kittens throughout. They were adorable and in my opinion none of them had enough screen time, which was a shame, because we'd actually seen Zachary (Brandon Routh) and Marilee's (Kimberley Sustad) story before.

I didn't actually think that they needed to have broken up for the rest of the story to work anyway. They could instead have been the cupids for another couple who were brought together by adopting the kittens.

However, I could see why they brought them back for another film, because they did work well together and they are at least capable actors. Ambrose, played by Trace, was the best actor of them all however.

I did of course like Brandon for his handsome face, but he needed a better hair cut.

So apart from the fact that they used some really bad fake snow and it probably wasn't totally necessary to make this film, it was definitely one of the better produced ones, as was its predecessor.

710.09/1000.

Seven years ago, Hallmark produced a cute movie involving two cats. In that, Marilee, a gentle, considerate and loving woman found love with firefighter Zac, who won his commitment-phobia and, like a mountain lion, climbed the highest peak and reclaimed her, his eternal love. It was not a teenager, puppy, love, as both were well into their thirties. Now, Hallmark transport us to five years later, when we find their "eternal" love has lasted no longer than the holidays cheer. For unclear reasons, Marilee had soon moved to Miami, to complete her vet school. She has completely turned the page, started a business and lived for three years with her partner- boyfriend. Meanwhile, Zac has lived in limbo, still chasing his fears, and done nothing to claim her again. Marilee decides to go back home to visit her family for the Holidays and they meet again. With the help of nine kittens, they are ready to rekindle their previous ephemeral story. With typical TV movies logic, she has no qualms turning the page on her three-year commitment and he miraculously discovers the backbone he never had. Christmas movies are magic in that they make us believe there are good people, with all of the qualities we admire and inspire us. In this instance, Hallmark expects us to be idiots, supposed to be moved and inspired by two characters that have proved to be flaky, shallow and and clueless, at best.

Honestly, why should anyone give a hoot about their new fling and how long it is going to last? But...., do not worry, we are likely to find out soon, whenever Hallmark is short of ideas for a new show. With a masterful stroke, Hallmark has managed to ruin the appeal of their former creations, to provide a nonsensical, vapid new chapter. Such is the glory of most remakes. On the plus side, the nine kittens are very cute. Wish they had been given a larger role and spared us the uninspired love story.

I do not know the first part of story. It is enough, for me, to like the second one. Charming for kittens, humor, for fair job of Gragory Harrison, for decent craft of Routh and, not last, for the green dress.

The story is not very far by the familiar recipe of Hallmark but it works decent to beautiful and this may be a noble virtue.

Yes, romance, with same missunderstandings and old story becoming the present one.

And with some very or just too wise cats.

A seductive film about mentoring and fair options , sweet and tender and a large opened window to a new kind of modern fairy tale. And it is just enough.

I'm so happy for this sequel. Hoping to get a number 3!! The returning characters and adorable kittens helped to make this worth watching. The two leads have so much chemistry.

Love the kitties. This movie had several things going for it. #1 Kittens and cats #2 No "Royal" storyline and #3 None of the overused trio, Candace, Danica and Lacey. Really liked this actress.

Absolutely loved the first Nine Lives movie. This one has completely ruined the first one for me. While I love the actors and animals in this one, what is with Marilee being with a different boyfriend in a whole other town? Completely dismantles the love story of the first movie. While I was extremely excited to anticipate the second when I heard it was coming out, I was equally disappointed with the second from the opening scenes. Trying to watch the first one again as I write this, can't enjoy it anymore. Don't do sequels if this is the best you can do.

The sequel absolutely ruined the great ending of the original. I was so exited to hear about the sequel and so disappointed when I watched it. Sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone.

This movie is great! It didn't feel slow and the acting was decent. The romance between the two leads was perfect and cute. And for them to make a sequel that's just as good, if not better, than the first is amazing. Hallmark really stepped it up for this movie. I hope we see more of this in the future!

The best thing about this movie is obviously the kittens. They were adorable and gave some cute note to this sequel that was okay, the chemistry was there, but the romantic scenes were few and the whole romantic drama was idiotic. The family dynamics were cute though.