Midnight Masquerade

A superb romance drama television movie that hits the sweet spot of drama and lightness. Great resolution replay on the big television monitor also helps. This predictable romance includes a carefully crafted plot with just the right hint of reveals that do not reveal too much without feeling manipulated. This great feel good movie elevates itself with good pacing and a strong corporate and rich female lead along with the humble but smart and hardworking lawyer. The script incorporates all the stereotypical elements of the standard romance drama but handles them with a respectful class never overdoing their place in the story. Overall, wonderfully and emotionally pleasing.

This Hallmark film has a sort of Halloween meets Cinderella theme, and that works really well.

It helps when you have a leading lady as good as Autumn Reeser involved, and while who the 'Queen' of Hallmark is remains up for debate, Reeser would be a good shout.

The story holds up, there's some lovely moments - when Hallmark get it right with these films they really get it spot on.

I really liked the Sam character too, and liked the little subplot with him, as it gave the film something a bit extra.

This is charming, this is warm, and that's really what I'm looking for from this sort of film.

I love this one. I gave it a "10" years ago and have seen it multiple times since. Autumn Reiser is lovely and charming and because of this movie I have always given her the benefit of the doubt in subsequent roles. Christopher Russell is adorable and sexy in the "cinderfella" role. His appeal usually rests with his chemistry with his costars and it couldn't have been better in this, one of his first Hallmark roles. He usually is a bit passive in his starring roles, but it really works in this one.

As the Cinderella story line requires, Rob is bullied and taken advantage of throughout most of the movie. This is quite painful to watch and almost took a little shine off of the romance. When he finally grew a backbone and stood up for himself and did the right thing, it was a huge relief. As his Niece/Fairy godmother says, he is just too nice.

The parallels with the Cinderella story with the role reversal were cleverly done. Autumn Reeser can't stand her high-heels, so she carries them around with her. As the prince figure she is the daughter of a corporate magnate who is training her to take over the business. She is strong and smart and down to earth. The wicked stepmother and step sisters are the head partner and his two sons of her corporate attorneys. Oooooh, they are horrible and evil! Rob is a lawyer that slaves for them while they take all the credit for his hard work. Again, that part was maddening.

Anyway, the writing, the plot, and the cast all come together in this Hallmark in which everything works. Not a weak link in it!

I really enjoyed this movie. It was a sweet story with a bit of a twist on the old Cinderella story. The characters were well-cast and the story flowed nicely. Even though I had a good idea how it would end, it was still enjoyable and held my attention throughout. The only reason I didn't give it 10 stars was that I had such a hard time getting past Rob's hair. It looked like a bad wig. Was it just a bad wig, or poor styling? I realize this movie is 9 years old, but still. I don't know anyone who had such strange looking hair, even back then. All in all, I spent an hour and a half with a movie that has done Hallmark proud.

In this reversal of the traditional Cinderella story, Rob Carelli (Christopher Russell) is a Pittsburgh attorney who gets all the work and none of the credit in his firm, run by a father and his two arrogant, bully sons. Rob falls for the head of a client firm, Elyse Samford (Autumn Reeser), but is too reserved to do anything about it.

Russell has that Christopher Reeves-as-Clark-Kent vibe going: ruggedly handsome, but socially awkward, and hiding his true feelings. When he wears a mask, you have to accept that no one could possibly identify him.

This Hallmark romance is one of the better ones. The chemistry between the two leads is strong, and both are very likable. Over and over again, Rob proves himself to be a caring, principled man. The meaty role of his niece Ruby is played by Helen Colliander. And Neil Crone plays the part of Sam, the over-qualified and somewhat cynical office security man Rob befriends.