Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Joined Dec 2004
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Aussie-Byrd-Brother's rating
Kelly (Meghann Fahy) and Jason (Luke Macfarlane) compete on a famed cooking show for the chance to win their own restaurant, but can they find a balance between showing off their culinary skills and confronting their emerging affection for each-other?
'Just Add Romance' is perhaps not always the most exciting or fast paced of the Hallmark movies, the resolution at the end of the film is pretty easy to pick right from the start, and it even covers quite a lot of ground that all those real TV cooking shows already do! Also, frequent Hallmark junkies, you'll need to decide if you're happy with one of the regular 'no kissing before the finale' rules possibly being broken!
But even in its slowest moments, Luke Macfarlane is, of course, charming as always and really an old pro at this sort of thing now with so many HM films on his resume, and the newcoming lady Meghann Fahy (such exquisite eyes!) already shows a lovely screen presence, and she will likely get even warmer in these roles if she gets to make more HM flicks in the future.
Special mention should also go to Brittney Wilson, who plays the dorky blonde TV assistant with the glasses, as she deserves to get a lead role in her very own HM flick!
A nice film, completely held up at all times by the superior cast, and a very reliable option for those seeking an easy-going Hallmark love-fest.
'Just Add Romance' is perhaps not always the most exciting or fast paced of the Hallmark movies, the resolution at the end of the film is pretty easy to pick right from the start, and it even covers quite a lot of ground that all those real TV cooking shows already do! Also, frequent Hallmark junkies, you'll need to decide if you're happy with one of the regular 'no kissing before the finale' rules possibly being broken!
But even in its slowest moments, Luke Macfarlane is, of course, charming as always and really an old pro at this sort of thing now with so many HM films on his resume, and the newcoming lady Meghann Fahy (such exquisite eyes!) already shows a lovely screen presence, and she will likely get even warmer in these roles if she gets to make more HM flicks in the future.
Special mention should also go to Brittney Wilson, who plays the dorky blonde TV assistant with the glasses, as she deserves to get a lead role in her very own HM flick!
A nice film, completely held up at all times by the superior cast, and a very reliable option for those seeking an easy-going Hallmark love-fest.
Zoey Hathaway (Ashley Williams) really wanted to be a full-time pilot, but when she inherits a reindeer farm in the town she grew up in, she has to decide what she wants to do with the property. Ranch hand Alec Wynn (Corey Sevier) is resentful of her initial plan to sell it, but will fond memories of her hometown, reconnecting with old friends in a town where everyone knows her name and a blossoming friendship with the slowly thawing demeanour of Alec change her plans?
'Northern Lights of Christmas' has tons going for it if you enjoy the Hallmark brand of Christmas movies. Leading lady Ashley Williams is always a class act in these flicks, delivering so much genuine excitement and warmth, and she gets bonus points for those stunning eyes of hers (and let's face it, a lot of the time these films are ALL about that eye acting!). Leading man Corey Sevier has a rugged handsome quality and restraint to his performance that never drifts into that more grating 'pretty-boy' over-cuteness that often appears in these movies...although many of the female viewers of these probably don't mind that anyway! The rest of the minor cast are all friendly and charming, really helping to bring home that sense of community that is so important to the best of these type of films.
Yes, it falls back on that wonderful 'distorted reality' that comes out in so many Hallmark Christmas movies where every single little niggling problem or issue is perfectly resolved by the finale (actually all in the space of about five minutes in this particular instance!), but the lead and minor cast are constantly likable, the close community aspect is inviting, everyone will love the adorable animals, and the Alaskan backdrops add all the snowy atmosphere you'd want to see in one of these Christmas films...and you'll definitely decide within minutes that moving to a breathtaking reindeer ranch is the only logical next step in your life!
8 out of 10 for this tasteful effort if you're an unashamed Hallmark Christmas junkie - raises hand on that one.
Now scouring my box of personal files to see if I was due to be left a reindeer ranch in any inheritance I might have missed...
'Northern Lights of Christmas' has tons going for it if you enjoy the Hallmark brand of Christmas movies. Leading lady Ashley Williams is always a class act in these flicks, delivering so much genuine excitement and warmth, and she gets bonus points for those stunning eyes of hers (and let's face it, a lot of the time these films are ALL about that eye acting!). Leading man Corey Sevier has a rugged handsome quality and restraint to his performance that never drifts into that more grating 'pretty-boy' over-cuteness that often appears in these movies...although many of the female viewers of these probably don't mind that anyway! The rest of the minor cast are all friendly and charming, really helping to bring home that sense of community that is so important to the best of these type of films.
Yes, it falls back on that wonderful 'distorted reality' that comes out in so many Hallmark Christmas movies where every single little niggling problem or issue is perfectly resolved by the finale (actually all in the space of about five minutes in this particular instance!), but the lead and minor cast are constantly likable, the close community aspect is inviting, everyone will love the adorable animals, and the Alaskan backdrops add all the snowy atmosphere you'd want to see in one of these Christmas films...and you'll definitely decide within minutes that moving to a breathtaking reindeer ranch is the only logical next step in your life!
8 out of 10 for this tasteful effort if you're an unashamed Hallmark Christmas junkie - raises hand on that one.
Now scouring my box of personal files to see if I was due to be left a reindeer ranch in any inheritance I might have missed...
In 2017's 'Tiny Christmas', two young kids are accidentally shrunk by Santa's elf's shrinking ray (that's how they manage to load up so many presents in the sleigh to deliver on Christmas eve, of course!) and have to navigate through runaway toys, a dangerous cat, loopy neighbours and other hazards, before they can find their way back home and hopefully be returned to proper size!
Obviously 'Tiny Christmas' is aimed at younger audiences, but it has plenty to offer other viewers if you're in a forgiving mood - and preferably of an easily amused and/or slightly warped mindset! In fact, there's a good chance you won't be able to take your eyes off the absolutely bewildering and exaggerated overacting from every single one of the cast - almost no-one acts or talks in the least bit realistically, but it's clear every one of the performers were in on the joke and were having a great time making this, and their liveliness really carries the film! The dialogue is completely nonsensical and proves to be unexpectedly funny (although you'll either be rolling your eyes or grinning from ear to ear!), the cheerfully cheap n' cheesy special-effects completely compliment the loopy tone of the film, and one or two quieter reflective moments have a sweet heart to them in the way all Christmas/family films should.
So if you click with the deranged silliness of the movie, there's an energetic and peppy little film (urgh, pun not intended, but it works, so it's staying!) in 'Tiny Christmas', and there's a good chance you and your kids will have a great time with it!
7/10.
Obviously 'Tiny Christmas' is aimed at younger audiences, but it has plenty to offer other viewers if you're in a forgiving mood - and preferably of an easily amused and/or slightly warped mindset! In fact, there's a good chance you won't be able to take your eyes off the absolutely bewildering and exaggerated overacting from every single one of the cast - almost no-one acts or talks in the least bit realistically, but it's clear every one of the performers were in on the joke and were having a great time making this, and their liveliness really carries the film! The dialogue is completely nonsensical and proves to be unexpectedly funny (although you'll either be rolling your eyes or grinning from ear to ear!), the cheerfully cheap n' cheesy special-effects completely compliment the loopy tone of the film, and one or two quieter reflective moments have a sweet heart to them in the way all Christmas/family films should.
So if you click with the deranged silliness of the movie, there's an energetic and peppy little film (urgh, pun not intended, but it works, so it's staying!) in 'Tiny Christmas', and there's a good chance you and your kids will have a great time with it!
7/10.