A Storybook Christmas

Firstly, good plot. Just good. Ali Liebert is just amazing, she definitely is a fan favourite. She always makes her characters work. First time watching Jake Epstein in one of these movies (I've previously seen him in Suits), and he did great. While I did think the leads had a good vibe going on, I didn't thought of it as the romantic kind. They just seemed really good friends.

Secondly, the fiancee in this movie served no purpose, we could have done without him. He did nothing but talk about his job and always had an excuse, but at least he wasn't... how do I say it? Most Hallmark boyfriends tend to be repulsive to me, because they don't even try in their relationship. This one did.

While we knew what to expect at the end, in my opinion, it felt kind of rush. The problem and the solution took place in all of ten minutes? Other than those, I actually really enjoyed it.

Very watchable for a Christmas movie. These are always predictable so need to be entertaining along the way and this was. I didn't take to the child, and certainly not as quick as she did to the nanny. I would have expected a bit of suspicion especially as it was a man, and acceptance was too quick imo.

The acting was good.

It's like watching a recording of a soccer game when you know the result. You know how it ends and only worth watching for the entertainment.

Okay, my review is too short apparently and I need to have more content. So I will add the numerous scene with the snowman building. Quite funny.

This movie is a combination of inexperienced-nanny-fixes-controlling-executive, and another common plot line that isn't fully revealed until late, so I won't explicitly say what that is. There are enough clues as to what's going to happen at the end so most viewers will figure it out, certainly before Celeste does. (Even if it is easy to figure out, I wish reviewers would not give these things away without tagging spoilers.)

Ali Liebert isn't as controlling as I think she was meant to be, but then Liebert is just too sweet to be that rigid. There is a heartwarming aspect to the story as shown by Celeste's devotion to Finley reinforced by their backstory. Liebert does the role so well, and with tenderness, that it's hard to maintain her character as overly rigid.

Unlike a lot of Christmas movies where the female lead bonds with the male lead's child, the genders are switched, but the idea is the same. Jake Epstein has good chemistry with both the child, Habree Larratt , and aunt turned mom, Ali Liebert.

The story includes the token existing fiance which leads to some competitiveness in things like building a snowman, but the fiance never really seemed viable.

But I did wonder how old the little girl Finley was meant to be ! In some scenes she acted like a 6 year old, then with her hairstyle, pearl earrings and wearing lipstick all the way through the film made her look years older - like a miniature 30 year old. A pleasant enough watch

That nice Christmas film who you expect. But not enterly the familiar mix of cookies and cocoa and one of motifs is the good acting, the chemistry between lead actors, the other, the story itself, proposing a game of roles and the romance , expected but more seductive builded. And, sure, the clues for the end. So, nice. In lovely manner.