Oh Autumn Reeser! You’re one of my Hallmark favs, but this movie didn’t do it for me. I know this is kind of cliche, but it’s not you, it’s…Antonio Cupo (Kyle). Haha! I bet you thought I was going to say “me,” but nope. I wasn’t a fan of Kyle.
Autumn plays Jessica “Emerson” Morgan, a soon-to-be CEO of a large real estate company. Her parents died when she was young and her Grandfather raised her. She decides to go to Glenbrooke where her mom lived when she was younger. She’s even able to rent the house her mom lived in, but she’s using the name Jessica Emerson instead of her famous Morgan last name to try and stay under the radar.
Upon arriving in Glenbrooke, Jessica almost runs over Kyle, Glenbrooke Fire Chief, while he’s carrying a whole stack of ginger bread men. Kyle’s coworker, Ruthie dubs this the Gingerpocalypse 😂 This was possibly the funniest part of the movie! It’s also the part where I started losing interest.
Kyle is such a jerk to Jessica over the cookies breaking that it was an immediate turn off for me. She even offered to pay for the cookies, but he blames her and starts accusing her of texting while driving and not paying attention. Jerk alert!! It doesn’t make sense that he can be a total jerk over something so small and a Fire Chief. I would think that position requires more political common sense and friendliness.
Kyle’s coworker, Ruthie was actually my favorite person in the movie. Besides the gingerpocalypse, she also guides Jessica to a “VIP” section of a tree lot. It’s the VIP section, because Kyle is there. She totally set-up Kyle and Jessica on that one! Jessica’s face when she figured it out was priceless. LOL.
Once in Glenbrooke, Jessica discovers the chimes – a local cherished landmark – are broken and they need $10,000 to save them. Jessica helps create a fundraiser to save them.
I also struggled with this. Jessica is a multi-millionaire. $10,000 is a drop in the hat. Why not just anonymously donate the money and be done? Don’t get me wrong, she really helped a lot of people in the community while organizing the fundraiser and they kind of explain why she doesn’t write a check for it a little later in the movie, but it didn’t sit right with me.
Kyle somewhat redeems himself and shows his nice/caring side during other parts of the movie when him and Jessica decorate a Christmas tree together, go to a party together, and read The Night Before Christmas to some children. But even in the end, Kyle is upset and jerky when he learns the truth about who Jessica really is.
I don’t know if it’s Antonio or Kyle, but I wasn’t digging him. Watch the movie and let me know what you think! While you’re watching, be sure to catch the sweet story about how the bells came to be such an important part of the town. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but it’s really sweet.
If you’re an Autumn Reeser fan too, check out one of her other great movies! I highly recommend A Country Wedding, Christmas Under the Stars, or All Summer Long. These were all much better than this one! Happy movie watching y’all!
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