A Christmas to Remember

Loved this movie - for the third time.

Favorite line - Paula: "Brad is your boyfriend." Maggie: "I don't think so."

One thing many of these romances miss is enough interaction between the leads. It's not easy to show believable relationship building, but the scripts which try, and which get it right, are a cut above the rest.

This one tried and hit a home run.

Cameron Mathison always plays well as a guy "who has it together". Here he and his kids find a woman who's wandering on the highway after a wreck, and she's lost her memory. She's stuck with them during a blizzard (yes, contrived but it keeps the characters in the same place).

"Jennifer's" identity remains a mystery to "John" and the small town he lives near. In the meantime she melds into the family as the romance builds.

We watch this one every year. Highly recommended.

I truly enjoyed watching this movie. I liked the premise, I liked the chemistry between leads, and it's always nice to see Brenda Crichlow... she's very likeable and I think she's a good actress. Everything about this movie warmed my heart from the kids to the cabin to the artist/painter who stops in for dinner all the time lol. I thought MS and CM did a great job together! Well done to all involved.

Throughout my whole Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas film completest quest undertaken namely late last year through to early this year, an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with Hallmark's output. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. One could see that with most of Hallmark's output but not all.

'A Christmas to Remember' as far as Hallmark's Christmas films go fares quite well and is definitely worth watching and remembering. It is not flawless or a classic, but have come overtime to not expect any of those things watching a Hallmark Christmas film and have always tried to not judge them too seriously. Have seen the two leads in other things and they have shown that they can be good with the right material, which they do have once 'A Christmas to Remember' gets going.

It is a bit slow to begin with, the set up taking a little too long and Mira Sorvino's character is not easy to warm to at first.

Some of the dialogue early on is pretty ropey too, the cheese really stinking up the room. The music could have been toned down too tonally and in placement, too constant and too loud.

However, it is worth sticking with 'A Christmas to Remember' if in any initial doubt as to me it did get a lot better. The production values still manage to be pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. Some of the music has some pleasant nostalgic moments. The dialogue is not great to begin with but improves when the plot properly kicks in, not being too sweet and it flows at least.

Furthermore, the story is light-hearted and really warms the heart without going into over-saccharine territory. The characters were on the most part ones easy to get behind and carry the film well. The acting is well above average, with Sorvino being very engaging once her character became easier to warm to and expressive. Even better is charming Cameron Mathison and the two have genuine and natural chemistry together. Hallmark have a variable track record when it comes to child acting performances (Lifetime more so), but the children here are great. They are not too cute and are not bratty either.

Concluding, worthwhile and worth remembering if not quite a must watch. 7/10

(I've put enough negative reviews here on Hallmark Christmas movies, so I really need to comment on one that I like.)

By keeping the story small--meaning just the family spending time in the house with the few forays into town--there weren't opportunities for multiple implausibilities. I know that's a negative way to put it, but by contrast with other Hallmark Christmas movies I've seen, this one didn't have so many distractions. Mira Sorvino is very winsome in her role. It's easy to see how this family would come to love her. And Cameron Mathison plays the suitably low-key , gentle, and supportive man a lost woman would be glad to have helping her in such a situation.