A Reason for the Season

This movie has an unusual take on a Christmas pay-it-forward story, or perhaps a charitable Secret Santa. It is an appealing approach to an already appealing premise. The opening scene works right into that.

Then there is the scene with mom's ridiculous do-or-die requirement for Evie/Mary to earn her Trust fund. I wish the writers would have toned the whole thing down a little. It appears to Evie and the viewer to be more of a Hail Mary (no pun intended) effort rather than a fair opportunity to prove herself. The requirement is reinforced a couple of times. Mom even acknowledges at one point that the task is more than difficult and that she has already failed once to make it happen.

I like Kyle's approach moving forward from the beginning. And the story develops very nicely. Meanwhile Taylor Cole and Kevin McGarry build some nice playful chemistry. And the spoiled arrogant rich girl quickly turns into a smart and kind lady. The acts of kindness proceed and in general terms the result is about what you'd expect. Strangely, the story lacked, at least in my view, a key element of all Christmas rom/com stories. To identify it would be a spoiler so I can't say more. The movie managed to succeed without it.

A self-made billionaire mother wants her daughter to move out of her shadow and out of her cocoon and develop empathy with regular people

The mother delivered her daughter prematurely. She went into labor while driving and luckily stopped at a place with people who could help her medically. Now she wants the daughter to prove herself by helping out that group of people. Thirty-five years later. The daughter must find a way to help each of the reach a dream, or she will lose her trust fund and her inheritance.

There is no real crisis anywhere in this movie, just a progression of the daughter understanding the people of the community and growing closer to the local man helping her. Very nice movie.

Kevin McGarry and Taylor always do a great job in any movie and this one didn't disappoint. . I loved the fact that the move had no twists or turns in it. It was just a straigh forward holiday movie by Hallmark. Now I'm not a big fan of Hallmark movies anymore, but I did like this.

The movie was about a girl Evie who was asked by her mother to go to this small town and find the people that helped deliver her when she was pregnant.

I do like the fact that Evies' mother taught her how to give to others and not expect everything to be handed to her on a "silver platter". That concept along brings out the best Christmas movies. The mother wants what's best for her daughter, even though she has plenty of money and the daughter is about to get her trust fund, Evie had to learn the hard way what it really means to give and not receive. Along the journey, she finds love with Kyle who she hired as a lawyer.

The best part of this was the great chemistry between Kevin and Taylor. They look great together but there was a believable connection, not too overdone or scripted.

Another thing I liked about this one was that it was a hidden identity much like we get with secret royals and heirs in other movies, but this one didn't turn it into the 20 minutes left just before the 2nd to last commercial break conflict. In fact, that didn't really exist and it was so refreshing!

While it was big city vs small town there wasn't a huge issue on who is staying who is going long distance nonsense. It's purely that a small town can brighten the heart of the season.

They didn't do enough to explain really why he had to be the lawyer other than just tax breaks of gifting which he wouldn't need to actually help if that's the case. Also, cardinal rule of lawyers was broken- don't get romantically involved with your clients. I'll forgive it this time.

I thought all of the side characters were great, especially the mom and diner owner. The town is cute and it wasn't too over done town traditions (minus her as the elf but that wasn't too overplayed either).

I thought this was really well done for a hallmark movie. It was just missing a certain pizzazz that kept it from a higher rating that I save for my favorite of the year each year.

I would watch it again and I think the quality of the acting and absence of certain overdone cliches raise it above the average hallmark movie.

A Reason for the Season was such a feel good with all the sentiment of giving back! What a great ensemble cast with individual stories that tied to the mystery. Then comes laid back, eligible bachelor attorney, Kyle Newman who immediately has sparks with Evie but is not his main focus but uses his relationships in the community to help Evie. Both Kevin McGarry and Taylor Cole were magic together with wonderful chemistry and the ability to banter with one another with great sense of humor and care. No angst in this movie but an interesting mystery to solve and relationships to bloom and reconnect. Best of the season thus far!