Kayleigh (Danica McKellar) writes an advice column for a newspaper in New York City but gets canned right before the holidays. Upside: she gets to go to California for Christmas this year, where her sister and niece live. Kayleigh is of course a big fan of the holidays. The new editor, Tripp (Dylan Neal), quickly comes to regret his decision (her readers love her!), and jets out to California as well, to convince her to come back (a man who can admit he’s wrong? Now you know you’re watching the pure fantasy of a Hallmark movie!).
Tripp doesn’t count on Kayleigh being pretty bitter though, bitter enough she starts writing a Christmas column for the small local paper instead, rebuffing Tripp’s offer, which is getting more and more desperate since his own boss has now told him in no uncertain terms that if he can’t get Kayleigh back, he needn’t come back himself.
In Hallmark tradition, the pair, who seem so at odds at the beginning of the film, seem destined to fall in love by the film’s end regardless. However, the man who once broke Kayleigh’s heart (not to mention their engagement – just two weeks before their Christmas Eve wedding) is back in town, and he’s looking awfully cute – and contrite.
Will Kayleigh be enticed back to New York? Will her Christmas column manage to find love for her sister Amy, or best friend Steven? How many Christmas romances for the price of one, you ask? Only at Hallmark, folks, and only at the holidays. Enjoy.
Did you know Danica McKellar has a Masters in Math and a theorem with her name on it? She has that special magnetism within the Hallmark universe, no matter how utterly predictable the script and lame writing, she gives it her all and injects her personality into the roles. This was a cute film entirely because of her. I like more sophisticated European cinema as well as action films and cannot stop watching nearly any film that grabs my attention (which takes only a few seconds, even Sarknado), but these light romcoms must give a lot of people 1.5 hours of escape, serving some purpose if not to contribute to prize winning film culture. Thanks for not slamming this genre.
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I think escapism is more important now than ever!
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I appreciate your in your face attitude (in the name of your site) but was happy to see that you guys have heart when reviewing this class of movies. I discovered you by chance using IMDB for deciding on movies to watch and sometimes share “nonreviews” with my Facebook friends:
http://www34.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.jantzen/drbob/moviecriticnot.htm
Do you also have videos of each film written up (I now get announcements in email but so far they are all from you, Jay.)? I cannot seem to find your video reviews at your AWM website.
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You’re right, we unfortunately don’t get to do videos for every single Hallmark movie, but we have done a new this year discussing the genre: https://youtu.be/0hTRgrDzlDA
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I’m so glad we can agree on this, Jay 🙂
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I had no idea! She’s one of my favorite Hallmark actresses 🙂
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I watched and enjoyed this Hallmark Christmas movie on its release. As a writer, I’ve observed that their stories all follow a specific plot or script which makes it easy to determine from the beginning who the protagonist will end up with. Nonetheless, I always enjoy the magic they create along the way 🙂
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Yes, I think Hallmark movies are a comfort because you know how it will end up, happy ending guaranteed. But you get to indulge in a little fantasy and some Christmas warmth along the way, which is a kind thing to give yourself around the holidays.
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I am getting over a Hallmark addiction, it was rough, almost like trying to give up coffee.
I think I saw this one though, as she is one of my favorites when I am scrolling around the tube and I see here playing a familiar, hallmark roll 🙂
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Since you guys seem to be Hallmark experts what do you know about this lady we just met on Netflix: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3037446/
my nonreview:
don’t worry I am not competition, just an oversharer on FB.
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I think my roommates watched this last week.
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ah Winnie.
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I’ve observed that their stories all follow a specific plot or script which makes it easy to determine from the beginning who the protagonist will end up with. I appreciate your in your face attitude (in the name of your site) but was happy to see that you guys have a heart when reviewing this class of movies. I think Hallmark movies are a comfort because you know how it will end up, happy ending guaranteed.
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