A '90s Christmas

When I saw a 90s Christmas movie coming to Hallmark, I was all in. I graduated in 98, and that decade is everything, especially music-wise.

This movie was not even close to what i thought it would be. Lucy was not likable at all. She treated her family and friends poorly. And really didn't learn any lessons until the movie's last five minutes. It was vexing.

Lucy knew she treated those people poorly but didn't really try to remedy that. I get the death of a father. It sucks, and everyone grieves differently, but isolating her mom and sister was rough to watch.

The chemistry between her and her ex was lacking. Overall, the storyline wasn't strong, and it is not worth a rewatch.

This movie has a nouveau Hallmark feel to it; it's progressive, aka, featuring same-sex couples, and the humor is edgier and more modern.

It starts with what I would estimate is a 30-something attorney, who has just made partner at her firm. (Turns out, she is allegedly 43, but this actress is not a day over 34.) As she contemplates her mom/sister's invitation to go back home for Christmas (she currently lives in Chicago), she stays staunchly married to the idea of avoiding it. Eventually, she takes a ride-share with mysteriously intuitive driver (*cue the magic chime sound*), then falls asleep. It's then and there that the movie drifts back to 1999, complete with her living at home in her 90s bedroom.

As just about 80% or more of most Hallmark or GAF Christmas movies tend to do, there is a need to suspend reality and go boldly into 'pretend'. Nothing is meant to be truly realistic, except for the moral of the movie -- which does a decent job of exploring what matters vs. What may not (in life). I loved the actress playing her Mom, who is also in "To Have and to Holiday", and I also appreciated the super funny references to old dial-up sounds, the fact that we all considered "ask jeeves"-type search engines to be THE authority of information, and the truth that Mambo #5 was absolutely a one-hit wonder for...whomever that was.

There were almost no slow or boring moments, and the chemistry among the actors was palpable. It looked like they had fun making the movie.

I did wonder what happened to her assistant, as just about every character had a new life outcome, but he just didn't get shown or mentioned again. Maybe his role was to establish the progressive feel of the movie.

I will say that the one thing I didn't love was the Friends reference to "Lobster". I can still hear Phoebe's voice in that scene, and I'm so over Friends now; most of all, I would much rather the writers of this movie come up with their own creative terms/ideas, vs. Leaning on old Friends humor.

I loved Maxey, the dog, and the adorable trick he did mid-movie. The ending montage was enough to make me - a perennially dry-eyed hallmark watcher - tear up.

On my personal ranking scale, this was nearly a DND for me. ("Do Not Delete" from my DVR)

"Next Stop, Christmas", "Christmas at the Plaza" and "A Biltmore Christmas" are my three favourite Hallmark Christmas time travel movies.

"A 90's Christmas" - despite it's Joshua Jackson, Lou Bega, Palm Pilot and Y2K references - isn't quite on the same level as that trio, but it's a fun film that admittedly takes a little while to get going. The finale is worth the wait.

Eva Bourne is great as workaholic, friendless but professionally successful lawyer Lucy. She is given a chance by a mysterious ride share driver Grace (Katherine Barrell) to go back to her home town of Milwaukee for Christmas 1999 to right some wrongs.

There are some fun moments and some poignant ones, and the montage right near the end of the movie - no spoilers here! - was touchingly done.

Glad I stuck with this one, despite an uneven first fifteen or twenty minutes.

Perfect Christmas time travel movie.

This is about a successful lawyer who revisits her past. It's all very mysterious as to why or how this is happening.

The music is excellent and moves the story along. The acting is spot on perfectly executed. Is emotional at times but never over the top Not so complex that you have to be glued to the screen. Is an easy viewing. I recommend giving it a chance. Nostalgia can be a lot of fun. And you might not be able to time travel. Although if you have lost touch or neglected an old friend or relative you can call and reconnect and let them know you care.

The look of all the 90s "kids" really took me out of the story. Not only Lucy and Matt but also the sister and best friend look like they're at least in their mid-twenties. None of these people look like they should be playing teens OR 40+ year olds. I had fully expected different actors when we jumped back 25 years(!!) in time. One really has to wonder why it was done this way, because it's baffling and utterly distracting.

I'm not even getting into time travel paradoxes here, because for something that had the 90s as a hook, it was quite sloppy on that end as well.

The premise wasn't bad but the result is.