Posted by Photo Credit: Crown Media
We’re going to change this up. Because we’re talking about Hallmark movies, we all know (even though we love them dearly) they tend to be formulaic. So at the end of the day, I find myself talking about the same few things…..chemistry of the cast (especially the leads), the storyline, what rating does it get, and will I rewatch it. I don’t want to do full recaps of each movie so I’m going to really just abbreviate it down to those topics above (plus a section on Hallmarkiness) and hopefully give you enough insight to decide to watch or not and give me your two cents. So let’s start with two movies that are pretty far from the Hallmark formula!
Holly & Ivy
Cast:
- Janal Parish: Melody
- Marisol Nichols: Nina
- Sadie Coleman: Holly
- Piper Rubio: Ivy
- Jeremy Jordan: Adam
Storyline:
Melody moves to a small town to live out her vision board dream of being a librarian. She befriends her neighbor Nina and they become fast BFFs. Nina has two daughters, Holly & Ivy who instantly connect with Melody. Nina is a cancer survivor but unfortunately the cancer has returned and Nina is worried about who will care for her kids. Melody tells her that she will step up so they don’t have to go into foster care. Problem is, her “new”house is a disaster and she has to make it livable for two young girls to have any hope of living with Melody. Enter Adam….a charming and adorable contractor who helps Melody get her home ready for Holly & Ivy. Eventually, Nina passes away and Holly & Ivy come to live with Melody while she also builds a life with Adam.
Overall Thoughts:
I enjoyed this movie. I thought the entire cast worked very well together. I knew Parish from Pretty Little Liars and Jordan from seeing him on Broadway to Smash and Supergirl. And I’ve always loved Nichols in everything she’s been in. Strangely enough, I didn’t feel this movie needed the story between Melody and Adam. It was fine and they had lovely chemistry but I didn’t think it was necessary. I was so invested in the friendship that was building between Nina and Melody and the bond Melody was forming with the girls. And considering the premise was about Melody taking in H&I after Nina passes, I would have liked more time with their friendship…even showing a rolling 6 months later, 12 months later type of situation. The reason for that, who is going to leave their children to someone they just met a week ago? Doesn’t Nina have other family? Doesn’t she have other friends she’s known longer and is closer to? And even if she doesn’t, it would take me a LONG time to feel comfortable leaving the two most important people in my life to a twenty something who may not realize how life changing raising two kids is, that I’ve known all of one week. Also, I hope she did some research on Melody. She could be an escaped mental patient. She could have a history of violent tendencies. She could be an annoying millennial. I would also want to make sure she had a job so she could provide for my girls. Being a volunteer librarian assistant isn’t going to cut it. But Nichols and Parish were so good together in every scene they were in, I actually believed they’ve been friends for years. Or if I came into the movie late, I would have thought, big sister/little sister. That’s how good they were together. So I wanted more of them vs. trying to squeeze the romantic storyline in as well. It would have also helped to sell the “yes I’ll leave my girls to you” story.
Hallmarkiness:
3 out of 10. We are dealing with a woman dying of cancer leaving her children to her neighbor and her neighbor doing everything she can to make sure she can provide for the girls. Parts of this movie are not so uplifting. But the magnanimous gesture Melody makes, more than makes up for the sad parts. Other than the romance between Adam and Melody, this was a major shift in the Hallmark formula for Christmas movies. And I loved seeing something different. I probably liked this movie a little bit more than I should have, simply because it was such a different movie.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Re-Watch Chances: I can see this being on in the background while I’m doing other things.
The Christmas House
Cast:
- Robert Buckley: Mike Mitchell
- Sharon Lawrence: Phylis
- Treat Williams: Bill
- Jonathan Bennett: Brandon
- Brad Harder: Jake
- Ana Ayora: Andi
Storyline:
Mike is a Hollywood actor who may be down on his luck if his show gets canceled. His parents have reached out to him to return home this Christmas because they are resurrecting the Christmas House one more time and want him involved in the process of bringing this to life. Also being recruited is Mike’s brother Brandon, his husband Jake, and next door neighbor (and Mike’s childhood girlfriend) Andi. Three very separate stories intermingle together to showcase a heartwarming family dramady that celebrates family, love, and second chances.
Overall Thoughts:
I wasn’t expecting much going into this, even with the amazing cast, but I really liked this movie. But like Holly & Ivy, I was much more interested in the family dynamic than the love story between Andi and Mike. I didn’t feel it with Andi and Mike. I know there were parts where she was trying to play cutesy with him but to me it came across as a little bitchy. For example when they were fluffing the garland (I giggle every time I hear that or say that) instead of thanking the man with 1.2MM Instagram followers for his free ad for your company, you were a bit tweaked it wasn’t you in the ad and he didn’t run it by you. Um, how about thank you for doing something so generous to help a friend you haven’t seen in years build her business? I also felt I got the same monotone performance from her in every scene. Head tilt, smile, same delivery for every line. Hell the woman who played her mom (Gabriela Reynoso) had more personality and spunk. I would rather have seen a love story between Mama Elena and Mike. And with this powerhouse cast, she was certainly the weakest link. Where Buckley, Lawrence, Williams, Bennett, and Harder were absolutely believable as a family, Ayora didn’t quite fit with the rest of them. All of them have such energy and power in scenes that when Ayora entered, she sucked the life out of the room. Therefore, I could have done without her character.
It’s hard not to say Lawrence and Williams were my favs because in many ways they carried this film. But I was LOVING the story with Brandon and Jake. First off, it’s about damn time Hallmark. You started going down the LGBTQ road with some other movies this year, but this is the first one where the gay couple is part of the main cast with their own storyline that isn’t foundation or context for the main love story. Brandon and Jake also came home to help with the Christmas House but were keeping their adoption plans under wrap because in case it didn’t work out, (and who wouldn’t want these two raising a child) they won’t disappoint anyone. This is their third time trying for adoption. Bennett and Harder did an amazing job being an adorable couple so in love with each other, but not too much that you wanted to smack them with one of those life sized candy cane pillars they were securing to the house. I also really felt their true bond when Brandon said he’s just so nervous about how this will play out and between his stress at work and the adoption, it’s been a lot on him. And Jake was there to listen, respect his feelings, and give him the support and encouragement a true partner needs. The actors had fabulous chemistry and at the end of the movie, I was hoping for a sequel where we get to see Brandon and Jake raising their son.
I can’t wrap this up without giving a shout out to Sharon Lawrence and Treat Williams. It’s no surprise that their subtle and moving performances were just so touching and lovely. As someone watching her parents recently retire, I can respect what Phylis and Bill are going through. It’s a real challenge that Phylis summed up perfectly when she told Mike that you go through life working, raising your kids, wanting the same things, and being on the same page. Then when the kids are gone and you stop working, now what? What does my life look like now? Do I even fit in with my spouse who was retired well before me and has established a new routine that doesn’t seem to include me? I’m just glad those crazy kids figured it all out in the end!
Hallmarkiness:
5 out of 10. All 5 points go to the house itself. If that doesn’t scream Hallmark, I don’t know what does. Come on, they move out their furniture and decorate the entire house inside and out for Christmas. But, this really was more of a family movie that happened to have a love story. And by love story, I mean Brandon and Jake. But since it featured a gay couple for the first time in major roles, it dropped the Hallmarkiness down. Although one could hope this is a sign of this becoming more of the norm with Hallmark!
Rating: 8 out of 10
Re-Watch Chances: No doubt it’s in the rotation.
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