Christmas Island

Memorable little Christmas romantic movie. Good chemistry between the couple. You could feel a twinge in the heart strings when Oliver was breaking the news to Kate about the weather.

Only gripe is that the production could have paid more attention to the setting. They went all out with the decorations, but forgot about the weather. Christmas Eve in Nova Scotia and you have folks in autumnwear? I know filming was done in August, but it wouldn't have hurt to dress the actors in timeline-appropriate gear. It gets to me when filmmakers don't put in the details that aid the believability of the story.

And it sure doesn't look like the weather is terrible enough to ground all flights for 3 days. I had to suspend my disbelief throughout all the outdoor scenes.

6 stars

This has the elements to make a good movie, including top actors and excellent scenery.

Yet, it was ultimately rather dull.

It was not a clunker, hence 6 stars, but it did not hold my interest.

The characters lacked chemistry and the "poor rich" family did not set up the audience for a breakthrough of joy at Christmas. It's not relatable for the audience to see a family on a private jet; something most viewers will never experience.

The scenery was beautiful but without witty or emotional banter, it came across as sterile, dry and without flavor. Fine actors did not save the dull story line.

No matter who is co-star is - and there have been some very good ones - Andrew Walker is such a surefire bet for Hallmark. Has he ever made a bad movie for them? I don't think so. He is great here with Rachel Skarsten.

Christmas Island tells the story of a VIP jet pilot (Skarsten's Captain Kate Gabriel) and the family she is flying to Europe for Christmas ending up getting waylaid at Christmas Island in Nova Scotia. Enter Walker's Oliver, playing the town's air traffic controller.

It turns out that Christmas Island is like your standard small town that you know well from multiple Hallmark movies, so all the old tropes are there...just on an island. Still, Walker's performance makes the cliches seem less cliched.

Aside from the inevitable romance between Kate and Oliver - their chemistry is good, so that's a box ticked - there is a good message in this movie about time spent with family during the holidays.

Andrew W. Walker is usually pretty reliable in Hallmark movies, Christmas or not and this is no exception. I have liked Rachel Skarsten since Marry Me at Christmas. She may have a bit of an Ice Queen reputation, but once you see through that, it is easy to like her. She is definitely not bubbly like some, but I see the inner emotions from her.

I always like kids in Christmas movies and we get a double dose in this one. A teen and one a little younger. They are an important part of the movie, but unlike many Christmas movies, they do not bond strongly with either romantic lead. This movie is a little unusual for a romantic Christmas movie in that there is an entire family totally unrelated to the romantic leads and they are central to the story.

We start with the uppity rich people and spoiled teen, but the rich people aren't nearly as arrogant as they could be or as often portrayed in these movies. Likewise the spoiled teen.

The story proceeds as usual through Christmas activities. There is a nice development toward the end worth an awe or two.

The acting is good. The dialogue is natural although not exceptionally witty. Walker and Skarsten have chemistry.

I liked this movie. The backdrop of Nova Scotia was beautiful. The story line was not the usual, but a little far fetched.

But, I kept thinking of the co-pilot. The family and pilot got to stay in the mayor's house for days because there was no room at the inn while the co-pilot bunkered down in the plane at the airport? What about heat and food?

They did a good job of showing the sites of the area. And the food. Mmmn lobster. Travel Nova Scotia will probably get an uptick. I hate these foul up in Hallmark movies. Like the ones where someone travels with one little suitcase, but manages to have dozens of change of wardrobe.