Category: Movies/TV

Movie Review: A Nashville Christmas Carol

4.5/5

I fell in love with Jessy Schram a few years ago in Harvest Moon. Watching her in A Nashville Christmas Carol further cemented her on my favorites list. 

I absolutely love how expressive Jessy is by nature. Hallmark loves to put her in roles where she shows these talents. Remember when she fell in the mud in Harvest Moon? There was a similarly expressive moment when Jessy’s character, Vivienne, meets her dead boss, Marilyn. Her shock was palpable! She’s such a joy to watch.

Now that I’ve covered my girl crush on Jessy, let’s go over the movie a little.

Vivienne is a slightly different version of Scrooge who – like most people – needs to learn how wonderful she is. She isn’t a mean person to begin with; she just needed to see what (and who) was right in front of her, but Vivienne is so focused on her career that she was missing the true joy in life…living.

Marilyn is Vivienne’s guide through the past and present. She explained to Vivienne that she requested this intervention because “When it comes time to roll the credits on your life, it’s the names that matter, not the shows.” This is so true in life. Time is fleeting, concentrate on the people in your life and make memories with those you love.

Speaking of those you love…Gavin, played by Wes Brown, was a childhood friend of Vivienne’s. We get to see lots of flashbacks of how Vivienne and Gavin grew together and apart over the years.

In the end, Vivienne learns that it’s the people in her life that matters. She rights the mistakes she’s made and we get a wonderful Country Christmas concert with the perfect ending.

I loved most of this movie. There were some slow parts in the middle, but overall this was very well done. I especially liked the music that was woven throughout the movie and the way it tied to each moment. After all, “every song has a memory,” and I couldn’t agree more. 

Thank you Hallmark for finally delivering a kiss under a mistletoe!! I’ve been waiting all Christmas for this scene. This almost makes up for all those other movies missed mistletoe chances.

If you like the Christmas Carol plot, then give this movie a go. It was enjoyable! Happy movie watching y’all!

Movie Review: Deliver by Christmas

2/5

I’m so sorry everyone, I really really tried to get into this movie. I even tried watching it twice, but it’s a no go for me. 

Josh and Molly meet on a Christmas tree lot when they’re looking for trees. Their first meeting is where they reach for the same tree, but instead grab each other’s hands.

This is where the story started to go downhill for me. The acting in this particular scene wasn’t that great and it looked like they were purposefully grabbing for each other’s hands. I mean you don’t reach your whole arm into a tree to test the needles. They should have had her trying to pick up the tree or something. It was weird and awkward like several other scenes later on. However, I did enjoy the jokes about splitting the tree only to find out the tree was already sold.

As the movie continues, Josh needs cookies and he arranges to have Molly bake them, but doesn’t know it’s Molly who is the baker. The cookie arrangement was done by website and phone. Don’t you think they would have recognized each other’s voices?

Overall the plot is cute, but there was just something lacking in this movie for me. It just couldn’t keep my interest.

The video at the end of the movie with Charlie reduced me to tears with it’s sweetness. A special shout out to military families and all they do to keep everyone else safe!! Thank you!! 

I can’t recommend this movie. There are much better Hallmark movies. See some of my other reviews on here. Happy movie watching y’all!

Movie Review: A Timeless Christmas

4.5/5

Oh Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. I could really watch and listen to you all day. We need more summer movies of you on a beach shirtless. And I wouldn’t mind taking that portrait from the Whitley mansion and hang it in my house.

Stop drooling Jamie! Write your review! Ugh, fine…here we go…

Have you ever seen Kate and Leopold? If not, you totally should. It was better than this and has the same concept. A man who was about to marry someone he didn’t love comes to the future to meet his real love.

Ryan plays Charles, our time travelling man, who abandoned his fiance, Eliza. He comes to the future where he meets Megan, played by Erin Cahill. 

Charles and Megan had great chemistry throughout the movie. I loved watching them fall in love, because they were so believable. I especially loved that Megan was Rosie’s (Charles’ housekeeper’s) great great grand daughter.  

I also need to give a shout out to Megan’s parents. I think Megan’s mom literally swooned when she met Charles. I can totally sympathize with her reaction to him! But beyond her initial reaction, I loved how Megan’s family treated Charles as part of the family immediately.

I would have given this movie 5 stars, but the ending irked me a little. To be honest though, if the ending had been different, it would have probably irked me too. I don’t think there’s ever a perfect way to end a time travel romance movie. I feel like someone always loses. The people in the past will lose Charles without knowing what happened to him or Megan’s family will forever miss her and not be able to see her anymore. I’ll let you watch it to see which way this movie went.

If you’re a Ryan Paevey fan, I think you’ll enjoy this, because he was absolutely swoon worthy with all his 1900’s manners and such.

**SIGH** Ryan kissing my hand as he meets me for the first time, then that blue gaze meets mine…Ryan’s scruff rubbing…JAMIE!! Get back to the review!

Anyhow, if you don’t like fantasy / time travel romance, then I don’t think this is the right movie for you. Otherwise, give it a shot! There’s so much more to like than the basics I included here. Happy movie watching y’all!!

Movie Review: Meet Me at Christmas

Meet Me at Christmas
Movie Rating:
5/5

You need to know a few things about me.

First, one of my favorite romance plots is the second chance romance. Movies where the whole plot revolves around a romance that started when they were young, but was lost for one reason or another and now has a chance to blossom. 

Second, I have always liked Catherine Bell AND Mark Deklin. Together, they are pure Christmas magic. I bet Cassie Nightingale had something to do with this match, but what took Hallmark so long to put these two together?! 

Third, I have a strong belief in fate and “Love finds you when it’s suppose to,” which is a large theme in this movie. Joan and Beau were meant to come back together at this time, in this place and in this way. 

Okay…Now that we’ve gone over things that make me say awwwww, hopefully you’ll understand a little better when I say, I. LOVED. THIS. MOVIE!! It hit me right in the feels time and time again.

The feels start right away with flashbacks to Joan’s past. I enjoyed seeing young Joan’s history with her husband to be and the man who first took her heart. This was done very well and helped set the stage for Joan and Beau’s reaction to figuring out who each other were, which had ME tearing up.

Be still my heart! This is Hallmark – it’ll all work out. Even at the climax when everything comes crashing down, and two people are acting like stubborn arses, hold onto that hope, because in the end, we get the love we want all along. 

If all this sounds like your type of movie, please watch this! It’s such a sweet story of fate, new love, old love, lost love, and found love. I think it’ll hit you in the feels too. Happy watching y’all!

Movie Review: Christmas in Vienna

Christmas In Vienna
Movie Rating
3.5/5

Instead of Christmas in Vienna, this movie could be called Christmas on Rinse & Repeat. The whole movie can be summed up as: Jess and Mark meet in the square, someone asks someone if they speak English, Jess steps out of her comfort zone, Mark shoots her down, Mark asks Jess’ opinion, Jess gives her opinion, Mark gets mad, Mark apologizes…RINSE & REPEAT.

Ahhh!! Christmas in Vienna…I don’t know what to think of you. You’re such a mixed bag, because there is so much I did enjoy, but Jess continuing to put herself out there and open her heart while Mark continued to shut her down got to me after the third or fourth time. She gave him so many opportunities. Granted, he did finally come around, but should it have really taken that many times? I’m just not sure. 

Let’s take a minute to talk about the mistletoe scene. A kiss on the hand?! Come on Hallmark! That was a serious missed opportunity. I would have loved at least a kiss on the cheek. It’s mistletoe after all!

Now that you know what really bothered me about the movie, let’s get to some of the good stuff. Despite my frustrations, there was still lots to enjoy with this movie.

I loved Jess’s character! She’s adorable and quirky and, like me, can’t pronounce any German. Sprechen sie English? Yup, that’s about as much as I can say too Jess! I even butcher that. 

More than the main story line of Mark and Jess, the story of Vincent and Tory is adorable too. I loved watching their chemistry. And how can you not like someone who references Gremlins in regard to taking care of children?! I’ve done that so many times in my life. 

    • Don’t feed them after midnight
    • Don’t get them wet
    • Don’t expose them to light

Speaking of the children. How cute were they?! Jess helped each child grow a little throughout the movie. The youngest learns how to play violin, the son learns to “hang his hat,” and the oldest performs her song at the end. 

As you can see, Jess really made this movie shine through her amazing heart. Her speech to Summer was pure gold. I wish I could write down the whole thing and put it here, but it’s really something you need to watch. Plus, the presents she gave at the end of the movie. Each one was so perfect. It proves that cost doesn’t matter with a present – thoughtfulness does.  

Without Jess, this movie wouldn’t have even made the 3.5 stars. Mark’s character was just blah. He didn’t make my heart say awww – except for the stocking scene – and I didn’t hold my breath hoping to see him come into the room so I could watch the chemistry. It could have been a movie about Jess and the kids and it might have been better than the romance movie it was suppose to be.

Should you watch it? I’ll leave that in your hands. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more than me. Good luck! Happy movie watching y’all!

Movie Review: Christmas with the Darlings

This movie has so much to love! Hot chocolate (huge Hallmark theme this year), tree decorating, building snowmen, a carriage ride, and so much more. Let’s dissect the movie a little – I’ll start with our leading characters…

Our leading lady, Jessica “Jess”, is played by Katrina Law. I loved her in Snow Bride! If you haven’t seen it, you should. It’s one of my favorites. She was fantastic! In this movie, she plays a list making, closed from love, yet very lovable woman.

Our leading man, Max, is played by Carlo Marks. He was in Moonlight in Vermont with Lacey Chabert. It’s another good movie! He’s quickly becoming one of my favorite leads and in some ways, reminds me of Andrew Walker. In this movie, he first comes off as a free spirited, partying, very non list making man.

Don’t they sound like the perfect polar opposite pair?? Yup! They sure are!

I’m sure you’re asking…how do two polar opposites come together?

Max and his brother Charles become guardians of their orphaned nieces and nephew and Charles wants to send them to boarding school, but Jess steps in and volunteers to watch them before they need to go to boarding school. Of course, Max offers to help! Combine this with Max wanting to do more at the family company and Jess wanting to change jobs and you have a wonderful mix of character growth to add to the movie.

As you can imagine, putting two polar opposites in a house together during Christmas yields interesting results from the very beginning when Jessica asks the kids to make lists and Max says to do things as they feel like doing them. 

As the movie continues, we see Max and Jess grow as characters – Jess becomes less structured and Max becomes a little more. We also see Max and Jess come together as co-guardians and love interests.

This is Hallmark, so you know there’s a happily ever after, which I won’t ruin for you, but it ends in the best way possible for everyone!

Now that we’ve covered the basics on the movie, let’s get down and dirty in the feels department.

There were some wonderful quotes in this movie! 

    • “Home feels like family” – one of Max’s Nieces
    • “Christmas has a way of bringing up a lot of memories” – Jess
    • “You should never settle” – Charles
    • “Wow! You just went down the analogy rabbit hole” – Jess

These quotes help show the character of the movie. It was fun, generally funny, and very sweet. There are some serious/slightly sad parts when talking about death, but they weren’t sad enough to bring me to tears.

With all this good, I didn’t feel an overwhelming amount of passion between Max and Jess. It seemed like they were more best friends than love interests. This left me torn, because I know that love isn’t always like my romance books where people are pulling off their clothes and jumping into the first empty closet, but I also feel like there should be MORE than what these two had.

Even though there was this lack of passion, there was still so much to love. I mean, this movie has a CARRIAGE RIDE! In other words, there was a HORSE in this movie. That almost guarantees movie success in my book.

All my Goodreads books get rated, which makes me feel like this needs stars too. So, are you ready?? Please keep in mind that I’m giving this a Hallmark rating, which CANNOT be confused with a romance novel rating. Okay Jamie, enough rambling, let’s get to it!

4.5/5

I’m taking off a half star for some of the slow spots in the movie that had me reaching for my phone instead of being actively engaged. The end of the movie had a super passionate kiss, so I’m letting them keep a star for that.

This is a super solid, cute, and funny Hallmark romance that will hit you in the feels and if you’re bored one night, I would put on your Hallmark movie watching sweatshirt, grab your cozy blanket, cup of hot chocolate, and settle in for a good movie.

Movie Review: Under the Autumn Moon

Hallmark Romance Movie: Under the Autumn Moon

I have a soft spot in my heart for ranch romances. Especially ranches that are going under and a woman comes in to help save the day.

In this case, Alex is the savior. She is a career woman who comes to the ranch to scout it for a development opportunity. While on the ranch she meets Josh. Alex agrees to stay longer on the ranch to get to know the ranch better. While there, she rediscovers her love of the ranch and everything that comes with it, including Josh.

This was one of those sweet movies that makes you say “aaaaahhhhh….” It isn’t one that you absolutely love, but it’s a solid three out of 5 stars and you’ll find yourself agreeable to watching it again when it’s on.

In some ways this reminds me of A Summer Romance with Ryan Paevey. I liked that one a little more. So, if you like these ranch romances too, you might want to check out A Summer Romance too.