Scouting for Christmas

We really enjoyed the storyline in this movie. This is what Hallmark does Best in my opinion. There's so much negativity that we're fed in the news, social media, and movies, it's nice to watch something that gives you the warm and fuzzies and the whole family can watch without worrying that kids can be exposed to something that isn't appropriate. Watching Tamera Mowry Housely on screen as Angela, and her daughter Brooklyn played by Audrey Wise Alvarez was a great match, the chemistry was natural, they really shined in this movie. We look forward to the Countdown to Christmas movies every year, and will definitely be adding this to our collection, because we watch Christmas movies throughout the year!

7.2 stars.

Somebody tell the main female character to wake up. She does some things to distance herself from all the people around her. The character is obviously self sabotaging as a consequence of overwork and being too busy a single and recently divorced mother of one.

Her daughter is trying to match her with a pastry/bakery shop owner in town. He is a well-known Hallmark staple, you've seen him many times.

Something is off with the interactions. There is chemistry, that's not the issue. It's something about her personality that is offputting. Perhaps that's part of the story, and she portrayed it quite well, a bit too well in fact. It was hard to watch her sarcastic moments, she was very unbecoming.

But in the end, this movie is not bad, it's entertaining enough for at least a one-time viewing. The romance is endearing, I like the characters and it improves over time.

I recommend you give it a try. You might really like it or you might think it's average like me. But I can't imagine this is a dumpster fire by any means.

Tamera's acting was not so good in this movie. For someone playing the mother to a child she'd adopted at 2, she talked to her like she was the babysitter hired to watch a new kid for the day/night. It was awkward. The girl was, what? 10? She talked to her like she was 5. I LOVE Carlo Marks and will watch ANYTHING he's in, but he and Tamera had absolutely zero chemistry. Which has to be her doing, because everything I've seen him in, he's had some kind of spark between him and the main female lead.

I really wanted to like this movie because it represents my household. My daughter, growing up as a mixed child, never saw HER family represented on the Hallmark Channel. Majority of their couples and and/or families are very homogeneous. This movie was a let down.

Six Stars: Solid. Could be better.

Full disclosure-I was going to skip this one, but I'm glad I didn't. Scouting for Christmas was a charming non-traditional family story. It didn't break new ground but was perfectly enjoyable.

Ten-year-old Brooklyn (Audrey Wise Alvarez) is a Sunny Scout and loves baked goods and the guy who bakes them, Sir Bakes-A-Bunch, William (Carlo Marks). Brooklyn's single mom Angela (Tamera Mowry-Housley), is a busy real estate agent who doesn't like asking for help. She shows up late to things, which is apparently her worst quality as a human. Other than that, she's pretty great.

Brooklyn and Angela enlist Sir Bakes-A-Bunch to audition to be the caterer/goodie table guy for the Sunny Scout holiday ball. The relationship building centers around that story line.

We also meet Dakota (James Paladino) who is Brooklyn's dad, but I'm convinced he is 75% Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper. Look him up, you'll see it too.

The meanie is Den Mom Elizabeth (Jaycie Dotin). She is easy to root against in all things. She's judgy and snooty to a "working" mom who can't possibly be a good mom, work and show up to things on time.

This is set in Washington state. They keep showing images of snowy Seattle. That's not really a thing. We have other cities here, too. Maybe visit Leavenworth if you need a snowy Washington town. Also, nobody here has ever said "tri-state area," if anything they would say, "the Northwest" which covers Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Also, we drink coffee (home of Starbucks), not tea.

Funniest line: When Brooklyn is asked what she wants for Christmas, she replies that she wants her dad to come home and her mom to be fun. Brooklyn's friend replies, "Whoa. That's deep. I want an electric scooter."

Cast Kudos: Brooklyn (Audrey Wise Alvarez). She's a very good child actor who is really the driving force of the whole movie.

Alternative Titles: Those who bake a lot, love a lot; Sunny Scout Ball; A baker for Christmas; Christmas Matchmaker Meritt Badge.

I have to say this movie was a breath of fresh air. Pretty much all Hallmark movies are the same and after a while it starts to get boring. I felt this was a sweet and happy movie that just felt good. All the characters meshed well together and the two leads were fantastic. Great chemistry between each other and the rest of the cast. So much negativity out in the real world, I want to escape into a place where good always wins and happily ever after. I would not understand what it is like to be a single mother, so I do feel they did a good job in trying to show the struggles that someone would go through.