Cate (Jodie Sweetin) took over as CEO of the Merry & Bright candy cane company from her grandmother, and she’s struggling to make it her own. She knows she needs to make some changes to stay competitive but she doesn’t want to disrupt her grandmother’s vision or traditions. Meanwhile, Cate’s mother is more concerned with getting her coupled up, and has set her up with a whole bunch of unpromising dates. Gabe (Andrew Walker) doesn’t seem all that different at first, not any more promising, when she meets him a week before Christmas, but he is, mostly because he’s actually not there to date her, he’s been sent by corporate recovery to assess her company and make recommendations. Oops, that’s awkward. He is single, though…

Predictably, these two will fall in love as they make plans to expand her business and diversify her candy line. But is it really love if it’s based on business? And is it good for business if it veers away from candy canes? And why is her mother (Sharon Lawrence) always carrying around that duffel bag, anyway?

Each year about 1.76 billion candy canes are made and 90% of candy canes are sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas, though National Candy Cane day is actually on December 26, so be sure to save some for then. Are you a candy cane consumer? Do you hang them on your tree? Are you a traditionalist as far as flavour or would you be up for some of Cate’s new flavours? Cinnamon, key lime pie, gingerbread, eggnog, pumpkin spice perhaps? The strangest I’ve seen (and sent) is bacon, but according to the internet, you can get clam canes with a pretty silver stripe, mac and cheese candy canes with a potent after taste, pickle ones, and even ketchup. Kind of makes peppermint seem quaint, doesn’t it?

Anyway, Merry & Bright is a standard Hallmark offering with a better than average dog actor, whose acting is so good that he had my Walt barking right back, and you know I’ll always have a soft spot for a cute and scruffy pup.