This is a good movie, that would have been great with a few adjustments and a better written ending. Mary Antonini did a beautiful job in her day view and I hope is the start of a great career. Michael Xavier is always charming, believable, and committed to his roles. They had great onscreen chemistry.
Not every Christmas story is the same, because everyone has a different heritage, with different traditions, and people in the U. S. (or Canada) come from different countries. While this movie has a familiar story line, the story itself is authentic, heartfelt, and beautiful!
For those complaining about the plot, Hallmark has made a living off of repeating story lines, usually putting actors in rolls with similar themes way too often at this point, and you've been supporting them for years!
Why can't Lifetime do a familiar story line with a twist? They're called universal themes for a reason, many can relate as it happens to almost everyone in "different ways".
We can all relate to the love of family, to holding on to true love, to how losing a loved one changes our lives, to cherishing traditions, and to practicing values such as service to others, the importance of the arts in human development and life, etc.
We also get to see the impact of military service in families, which only certain people understand, so is nice to get insight into this heartbreaking reality that families who serve go through.
These universal themes, human experiences and values, and happy endings are the reason people look forward to see these movies every year. This movie was cute and enjoyable!
I invite open minded people, who see everyone as "human beings" first and foremost, to give themselves the opportunity to watch this and other lifetime movies (especially those with minority leads and cast), and rate them in a fair, objective, and unbiased way, as it should be.
I'm very pleased with this beautiful movie, and others done since (especially in the 2021-22 holiday season), which have shown classy, and culturally diverse stories that celebrate family and love in all its forms.
Bravo to Lifetime for making a commitment to be a network that employs diverse casts and champions inclusion! Please continue to do so always, and continue making beautiful movies! Lord knows our nation needs to see our stories, our children need to see themselves represented in people who look like them, and our actors need the platform and the opportunities.
I celebrate and support them all! Bravo!
P. S.
This gem was listed under 2 names in 2021:
First Lifetime showed it as:
"A Christmas Mission".
Then Peacock streamed it as:
"You Make It Feel Like Christmas".
Enjoy!
