A New Year's Resolution

Michael Rady and Aimee Teagarden have wonderful chemistry. I loved watching every scene with them (prior to the conflict). I wish there had been more. The acting is mostly good all around. Important characters seemed natural to me.

I've said several times that in Hallmark type rom/coms it is necessary to suspend a demand for realism to some extent or another. This movie has two huge plot holes. The first is when a pretty young woman appearing on TV saying she won't turn down any invitations. I'm glad the movie didn't go into the gutter on that one, but in reality that would have been a disaster. The second is the obvious conflict of interest which would have torpedoed their story in the real world. Here's a case of the writers "hanging a lantern on it" when Kelly brings that up and they almost immediately dismiss it. So we'll give this movie two Mulligan's instead of just one and move on.

Disregard those problems, or find a better way around them, and this is a good story. I can't remember a story quite like it (at least recently). There is some real conflict and some angst. There are some great situations. There's also some good dialogue. Some is funny. Some is a little highbrow. Some gets a little philosophical. This movie goes a little more sophisticated than a lot of what we see on Hallmark, even given the two plot holes I pointed out.

Looking at actors' pages on this web site, this movie shows up as both 2019 and 2021. I can't believe I missed it in 2019. Wonder what happened.

It seems so cool and fresh/ refreshing, inspired, romantic and just seductive than becomes, scene by scene, more than the expected Hallmark. A beautiful chemistry between Aimee Teegarden and. Michael Rady, nice dialogues, charming resolutions, honest hopeful. Just admirable work.

Regular Christmas Hallmark movies are so cliche, like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This movie is more of a quiche - some work put into it, a variety of ingredients and leaves you satisfied at the end.

I love that both the female and male lead have relatively successful careers and neither one of them has to give it up in order to be with the other. They also don't have to go to some quaint small town to find their purpose or love of their life. The seriousness of the bank fraud was a little glossed over, but then again we're watching a romance not the Panama Papers.

Hallmark romance movies are pretty hamstrung in their formulae. Heroine comes into or back to a charming (or her childhood) small town for a short period of time, and must get back to her fantastically successful career ASAP. Usually, although the heroine has everything going for her, she is still (or recently) single, and willing to give up said achievements in a heartbeat once she is looked at twice by the recalcitrant hero, who often has less to offer than she does. Hero is set up as an initial adversary for the heroine. Timing between initial meeting & ultimate clinch (usually accompanied by a proposal of marriage after one or possibly two kisses) is lightning fast. It was refreshing to see a Hallmark film that's a little bit different. This one came without gasps of amazement at the lighting of a Christmas tree (Seriously? When was the last time you craned your neck in a crowd, mesmerized at such a commonplace site? Yet Hallmark trots out that lame trope in every winter holiday flick). The lead actors here actually have chemistry. The supporting characters are believable too. No lame gingerbread cookie or house competition here. No community festival that the entire town can't seem to live without. No children or teenagers breathless with anticipation at decorating for the holiday (rather than whining about being taken away from their video games &/or social media for a chore and tradition they care little about). The hero and heroine here actually seem to get along. The conflict between them is credible (since it was pulled from an actual news story). Granted, the male lead seems more that a bit naive in his faith in corporate executives, but his blinders aren't on for long. And the final resolution, although it seems to have skipped a few chapters from breakup to reconciliation, also didn't stretch the imagination too far. And the actor playing the hero sure knows how to act charming.

After what feels like months of watching Hallmark holiday movies that have one common plot and a series of attractive leading actors going through the same stories, along comes this mature, sensitive, and truly original movie! Hats off to the writers, producers, and actors who offered tired viewers a stimulating, intelligent story with interesting, well-developed characters.

Both leading actors are excellent in their roles. Both are truly gifted actors. Aimee Teagarden as the busy tv producer who needs a life change is delightful to watch. Her emotions are real, they are displayed with all the vulnerability, caution, and, yes, moxie that a woman of her profession might possess.

Michael Rady is a guaranteed pleaser! He is an actor. He knows his craft. He has a style that is consistent in each of his films. His facial expressions are spot on. He has a wry little smile that is captivating. And he knows how to act! He is not just another handsome fellow in a familiar plot.

The story presents many challenges for both leads. Life changes, professional ethics to face and deal with, and love. Love is what has eluded these two really intelligent people. and they move towards it with caution, with maturity and with great charm.

It is wonderful to see them find resolution to their individual and mutual problems. And to see a Hallmark film that transcends a hometown reunion, a Christmas parade that needs to be rescued and a big city successful woman returning to her roots for love.

This movie does away with all of that and lets us see much more mature and realistic side of life. Thank you, thank you, writers and producers of this movie.