Une avalanche d'amour

That's how I feel about 99% of everything Hallmark makes today these days. Well, no most of it is bad but a few are lost potential. This was did a bit better. I enjoyed it for the most part but it always comes back to these days that no matter the disagreement the girl is never as wrong as the guy. Which is just tired and boring. Watching an imperfect man next to a supposedly perfect woman is so fake and obnoxious. I know people will disagree with me but I can't I see what do much if media is trying to push.

So for this movie the chemistry wasn't bad. I don't normally like this actor but he's growing on me a little. I've always liked her but this wasn't her best performance, or rather her character was a bit off putting. Arrogance isn't any more attractive in women than it is in men.

I liked the fresh take on the professions of the leads. Also, always good to have dogs. The young lady who played Samantha was exceptional. They kinda dropped the Sonia storyline which on one level was fine but for that reason it was pointless to have it to begin with. And the story line with her sister was removed but unresolved. You'll understand when you see it. Sonia and the sister's story lines had so much focus that it was weird to realize they fizzled pretty quickly.

Anyway, I give it a six overall.

It was good enough to watch at least once.

1. The lead man was so cold. Pitbulls are friendlier than he was at the start of this movie. I'm not sure why anyone would want to be around him.

2. The lead woman was better, but everything about her felt contrived -- especially her attraction to the distant guy.

3. The sister was so corny and was uncomfortably pushy about hooking up her sister.

4. The redhead masseuse was a mustache-twirling villain who of course came across as pathetic.

The writing and production was too unnatural. People don't act like this -- ever. And I can't buy into a "romance" story when the first 45 mintues are spent watching the guy be a stiff robot while the couple demonstrates zero compatibility. Hallmark has much better movies out there where the characters are easy to cheer for.

As someone who has been going to Glacier National Park his entire life, I was looking forward to seeing scenes of the park. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. There was spectacular scenery of British Columbia, but there were only two references to the real GNP: Grinnell Glacier and Apgar (which is a town at the foot of Lake McDonald--there is NO "Apgar Gulch."). Furthermore, there is only cross country skiing in Glacier--the closest downhill ski area is Big Mountain (I refuse to use the new name "Whitefish Mountain Resort") near Whitefish. Also, motorized vehicles like snowmobiles are prohibited in the park in the winter. There are so many realistic story lines that could be made in the real Glacier National Park, that it's unfortunate they picked something so completely inaccurate.

NOT! Why not just call it "Love in British Columbia" ??? The people at Hallmark think we're all stupid. Glacier doesn't have any formal ski resorts within its boundaries. Cross-country - yes. BUT no chairlifts for sure. So over Hallmark using places that don't even resemble the actual location. Another example is in The Christmas Train - which shows the actors gazing at the beautiful, rugged peaks outside La Junta, CO - which is on the eastern plains of Colorado at least 200 miles from any kind of mountain - and nothing rugged as shown.

So let's talk actors: Ashley Newbrough is a mediocre actor in every sense of the word. I have not seen a single movie with her in it that's she been good OR believable. AND PLEASE! No one goes skiing in full makeup INCLUDING fake lashes and lipstick. COME ON! Stephen Huszar was OK. Just passable. The young lady playing his daughter was delightful - she lit up the screen in every scene she was in.

UNNECESSARY and UNFINISHED storylines: Teagan Moss is the sister. She and her husband have been going through IVF. She takes a pregnancy test and it's negative. She's devastated - AND YET - the next day she's very chipper - hot tubbing and playing in the snow with the daughter. It's NEVER mentioned again. What was the point? AND her sister (Newbrough) never asks her about it? NEVER!!! Then there's the "nemesis woman." She obviously has the hots for Huzsar's character...and seems miffed he's not interested - but that storyline too is never addressed after she huffs out of the party. What was the point there? Totally unnecessary.

We also have the confrontation between Newbrough and Huzsar about her avalanche software. They never really discussed it in depth - but he won't support it - so she gets angry and decides to go home. OOPS. The airport is closed due to snow. So ... she and Huzsar's friend use it and freak out because they are on a search and rescue operation - and HORRORS ... there's avalanche activity and no one knew it without her program. After JUST ONE use - he's sold and asks her to stay.

One of the most contrived, silly storylines ever. Thank goodness they were all safe ... but still nothing on the sister's IVF thing.

Overall - I give it a 5 - for the daughter and the scenery.

I visited Juneau AK in 1988 and was up in the snowpack along the Perseverance Trail, mostly in the rain, and I was advised about avalanches in the area from time to time, and being a little too old to repeat that feat, the scenery was the main star of this movie - it was beautifully filmed in British Columbia, not Montana, but that was just fine with me.

Both the screenplay and direction were in the top tier of Hallmark movies from the last few years; Ashley Newbrough as Heather and Stephen Huszar as Chris had believable chemistry - first professional, then awkwardly romantic, then the "Hallmark Breakup", then reconciliation.

The cast seemed to really enjoy working on this, although it was really more of a drama than romance or comedy. Sure, as others have observed, there were times when the acting was a little stiff and signs of a low budget abounded, but I had no problem putting such issues aside, and the remembrance at the close of the movie perfectly fit the serious spirit of this story. Hallmark can really tell some wonderful stories at times, and this one bears repeated watching. I would love to see Hallmark put the whole company behind this effort into more movies, or even a series.