If you have seen your fair share of Hallmark Christmas films, like me as a big fan of the holiday, it would be safe to say that you are very likely to know what to expect and one shouldn't expect any more. Have always watched the Hallmark Christmas films, which have been many over the past few years and especially at the end of last year, with mixed expectations. That are either met and even exceeded, or the film completely misses the mark and does little with any potential.
'Christmas in Homestead' met expectations and was another one that was actually better than expected. Am not going to go as far as calling it a Christmas classic, because to me 'Christmas in Homestead' is not that and does fall short of being great. As said a few times in the past, the Hallmark festive films are a very mixed and hit and miss bunch. 'Christmas in Homestead' fares favourably if to compare and is one of the better ones.
There are many good things here. The production values are very pleasing to look at, nice use of locations slickly shot. The music generally captures the Christmas feel very well and is not near as over-scored or intrusive as too many of a lot of Hallmark films. The script can be very corny, but mostly flows nicely and has a light-hearted and sweet tone without being too sugary sweet. It's sympathetically directed without being routine, while Taylor Cole and Michael Rady are amiable leads. Brooklyn Rae Silzer is also a charming watch and doesn't come over as too cutesy.
Although the story is not exceptional and is derivative of 'Notting Hill', it is charming, is light on its feet and is heart-warming with nice use of the festive setting. It doesn't take itself too seriously that it becomes too dreary, while not treating things as too much of a joke at the same time. 'Christmas in Homestead' has characters that are likeable, with lead characters that are not annoying or stiff like they are in other Hallmark Christmas films. The leads also have a nice chemistry that is not overdone or too low-key, it doesn't move too fast or too slow either or feel forced.
Like all Hallmark festive films, 'Christmas in Homestead' is admittedly very predictable with an easily foreseeable and too neat ending. While the music is not too bad generally, it could have been used less too and been less noisy.
Some of the dialogue is as said very corny and the cheese factor in some parts is high.
Overall, nice film as long as you don't expect to be blown away as such. 7/10
