A Cowboy Christmas Romance

I loved this movie. Watched it twice in two days which I never do. I appreciate having a more nuanced story. Sure it's still a Christmas romance but it has great characters and sub-plots - and some creativity! And none of the over-the-top tacky Christmas stuff. Plus there is actual romance ... and I loved that you see it in the beginning not the last two minutes. I enjoyed the characters and acting. And the steamy scenes that are missing from all the other movies. It feels more realistic!

How's this review too short? I'm not a TV critic. I don't want to write a dissertation. I loved the movie 10/10. I'd watch more like it!

I thought it was a nice cowboy movie but I have seen better. It kind of dragged for me. It has the plot with the big city company trying to buy the cowboy single-father's ranch. It had a few romantic scenes, kisses but Hallmark has more these days too, just not the sleeping together on-screen parts which isn't missed. Other than some mentions of Santa, other Christmas things and a family dinner at the end there wasn't much Christmas. Mostly just the feud within and between 2 families over a ranch. The cast was good. I won't watch it again. But if you are into cowboy romances you might like it. My favorite cowboy romance is Hallmark's Straight From the Heart.

Some who are critical are so because it IS a rom com. The rating should be made among not just rom coms - and there are better - but among Christmas rom coms and there are VERY few that can match this one. The plot is actually fresh, albeit as I read the previews I thought this was going just another person returning to their home town at Christmas to broker a deal. It turns out that was the start and the storyline took a nice turn. Roles are well written and well played. The storyline has NO cookie baking, Christmas tree shopping, snowball fights. This is fresh for a Christmas rom com. In fact with the realistic romantic scene it is fresh among all rom coms this year and in all past years. Wake up Hallmark; grow up.

A noted departure for this season's multiple Christmas movies. The Arizona locale was different (regardless of where it was actually filmed) and the family issues were also much different than normal plot lines in these Christmas movies. I liked the focus on ranch work and the reality that it's not everyone's favorite way of making a living.

The "sensual" scene was quick (lots left to your imagination as it should be for a Christmas movie) but contributed to the raw feelings at the end that had to be resolved. Along with Hallmark's "The Royal Nanny" and its connection with MI5 I find the unusual plot lines of these types of Christmas movies interesting and worth watching again.

I am a faithful holiday romance watcher. This is better than average and among the best I have seen so far in the 2023 season. I saved the recording and would watch again.

Good: Chemistry between the two leads was good. I love Jana Kramer and she was well cast here. Spice level was mild enough for basic cable TV but better than the distinct lack of spice on the other more "wholesome" networks. Story was good, and most of the characters were believable.

Bad: The eldest brother seemed to be trying way too hard throughout the entire movie to be a villain without actually ultimately being a villain. That seemed unnecessary to me. The worst and most unbelievable character was Abby though. She was played by a girl clearly in her teens, but was written as though she was much younger. The dad has to sing her to sleep, she believes in Santa, talks very childish, etc. So, that was strange to me. They needed to write her as a teen or cast a younger girl, maybe 7 or 8 years old. That bothered be throughout the entire movie.

Neutral Comment: Apart from being set at Christmas time, this is not a Christmas movie. This could take place at any time of year and not change the story at all. Absolutely nothing was related to Christmas. That didn't bother me at all, not just felt worth mentioning.

Overall, very watchable and even enjoyable movie.