Christmas Class Reunion

I have loved Aimee Teegarden since the Friday Night Lights days, and I have enjoyed all her Christmas movies for Hallmark - last year's 'My Christmas Family Tree' and 2018's 'Once Upon a Christmas Miracle are standouts - to this point, and enjoyed them all.

So of course I was anticipating 'Christmas Class Reunion' which sees the "cursed" class of 2007 reunite at Christmas (because everyone is already in town for the holidays) fifteen years after they graduated high school.

There are a number of intertwined stories but Elle's (Teegarden) is the main one, as she plans the reunion - which doesn't exactly go to her meticulous plan - whilst being torn between her high school crush and the guy who she didn't really like back then, the class clown who has matured and has a daughter.

It's a fairly predictable movie in the sense that you have a pretty good idea of exactly what's going to happen, but there are some nice moments throughout the film that definitely resonate. Christmas is a wonderful time for nostalgia, and what is more nostalgic than a high school reunion at Christmas?

Don't over-think a movie like this. Just watch and enjoy. Yes, everything ends happily, but that's fine. That's what you want from a movie like this! You could do a lot worse. Indeed, Hallmark HAS done a lot worse this year and in past years.

The teaser text for this movie would have made a great movie, potentially. But the writers didn't even try for that. The idea of a class reunion with surprises and successes and disappointments could have been dramatic and humorous at the same time, but the reunion only appears in the last act and the script never really focuses on it very much. Yeah, they have a room full of people, but do nothing with it.

We have a female lead whose firm is collapsing, but they spent so little time on establishing her in it that 'Who cares?' They made a weak pass at an antipathetic romance when she distrusts the "high school goof off" as an event organizer, but they didn't really make much of that, either.

We did find ONE funny moment, when she tells a company that "The North Pole" is a deceptive name for a company, given that it's devoted to "exotic dancers".

Otherwise, these lazy writers showed no originality and wasted our time.

"My resume is who I am." I'm disappointed in the woman who says this especially when she's played by my favorite actor, Aimee Teagarden. Aimee's previous 4 Hallmark movies have given her deeper roles. My current Christmas favorite was her last Christmas movie so I really looked forward to this despite signs that it would probably be on the shallow end.

This movie is basically one of the usual holiday rom/coms. Elle is the class president of the "cursed" class of 2007 and she vows to pull off a reunion to break that curse. To do so, she must work with the former class clown who is now fairly accomplished at just what she needs for the reunion. Meanwhile, things from her day job threaten her enjoyment of the holidays. The rest of the story is pretty much what you might expect.

Elle and at least one other character are forced to examine their lives and what they consider their identity.

The acting is ok. The dialogue has some good moments. Teagarden and Tanner Novlan have quiet chemistry. For a holiday movie, the overall tone is not so jolly with downer moments occurring almost from start to finish.

Now I get that most of the Christmas movies in recent years are the same 3 romance stories in different variations. But most of them had some Christmas elements that wasn't just the the tree it had that magical moment of the holiday. But this movie didn't feel any Christmas to me.the story is about high school reunion after 15 years were we meet the group of characters thinking about their school days and where they are now. Did they chose the right path, what did they achieve etc' etc'. The movie wasn't bad at all, the cast was great and had good chemistry. But to me the link between Christmas and the story was weak at best. They could have done reunion at any event because we always think of these questions When we meet our friends. There was no this extra Christmas magic that these kind of movies need to be holiday movie .

I really enjoyed this movie for what it is: fun entertainment that is easy to follow and fairly captivating.

In reading many of my peers' contributions here, my view is clearly a departure from theirs. While I agree that the plot wasn't airtight on each and every detail, I fail to understand how a movie that is covering about 6 sub-plots/relationships could go that deep.

Elle (Teagarden) indeed has a job with "Zigg", and it's true we never really know the company's profile. Is that really necessary to understand the overall gist of the movie? Not at all. We know that this firm has come into challenging times, and it threatens Elle's self-confidence, because she has placed her identity in her work. Another reviewer stated that this is disappointing; I respect this, however, I myself truly relate. I work in non-profit, but if my job were threatened, my purpose and joy would be rocked; I try to work on this, but I would absolutely need to recalibrate. To me, the point of her statement "My resume is who I am" is not that her identity is the money she earns, but that her work is her 'comfort zone' - she is structured, disciplined, very Type-A, and many people are similar.

It is only until this painful moment happens that she is forced to reconsider her priorities, and for that reason, she is able to step back and see how it hasn't been as wonderful as she thought.

- I agree that she is somewhat aloof, because in this role, her respect for a peer that was silly, undisciplined, and her complete opposite in high school is understandably sparse. She doesn't keep that mindset for the entire movie, and realizes that Devin has found wisdom worth sharing.

I loved Aimee in other movies, especially I think "Christmas miracle", where she plays a very ill and endearing young lady. To see her in two very different roles, but equally believable, shows her range and skill.

- I loved the couple that had their marriage issues; oddly enough, the young man was so incredibly handsome and charming (i'm not related, I swear) - the actor looked absolutely in love with his movie partner, but I did think she was somewhat like a shell of a person. I appreciated the realistic view of a couple that drifts apart due to career, and it's a great foil for the usually magical relationships that Hallmark is known to highlight. (Every HM movie has a conflict, but it's rare for the conflict to be this level of "icy"; while it's not fun to feel these emotions, they are truly a reality for millions of people. It helps to see that - surprise! - we are truly not alone, and even the bliss-filled Christmas world of Hallmark has complexities.) - The story lines that were also included, but for me, lacked enough depth to warrant a "10", were the ones that featured the 'nerd that became a success' with her amusing assistant, as well as the father/daughter storyline that failed to be authentic to me. (he didn't have enough 'fatherly' factor to seem like her dad, and she needs to be in movies that allow her to be the focal point - not a bit part) I laughed aloud at the start, when the movie decides to channel Carrie, because that scream of Aimee's was absolutely hilarious. I also listened - the entire time! - for a 'voice clearing' that Aimee allegedly does, and I heard nothing. That was actually why I decided to watch each detail of the movie, and I must say that I'm disappointed to not be able to hear this allegedly annoying trait of Aimee's!

Overall: enjoy this movie, don't overthink it, and know that if you are the sort of HM movie lover that relates to work/career situations, this is a great Christmas movie for you.