A Reason for the Season

The best part of this was the great chemistry between Kevin and Taylor. They look great together but there was a believable connection, not too overdone or scripted.

Another thing I liked about this one was that it was a hidden identity much like we get with secret royals and heirs in other movies, but this one didn't turn it into the 20 minutes left just before the 2nd to last commercial break conflict. In fact, that didn't really exist and it was so refreshing!

While it was big city vs small town there wasn't a huge issue on who is staying who is going long distance nonsense. It's purely that a small town can brighten the heart of the season.

They didn't do enough to explain really why he had to be the lawyer other than just tax breaks of gifting which he wouldn't need to actually help if that's the case. Also, cardinal rule of lawyers was broken- don't get romantically involved with your clients. I'll forgive it this time.

I thought all of the side characters were great, especially the mom and diner owner. The town is cute and it wasn't too over done town traditions (minus her as the elf but that wasn't too overplayed either).

I thought this was really well done for a hallmark movie. It was just missing a certain pizzazz that kept it from a higher rating that I save for my favorite of the year each year.

I would watch it again and I think the quality of the acting and absence of certain overdone cliches raise it above the average hallmark movie.

A self-made billionaire mother wants her daughter to move out of her shadow and out of her cocoon and develop empathy with regular people

The mother delivered her daughter prematurely. She went into labor while driving and luckily stopped at a place with people who could help her medically. Now she wants the daughter to prove herself by helping out that group of people. Thirty-five years later. The daughter must find a way to help each of the reach a dream, or she will lose her trust fund and her inheritance.

There is no real crisis anywhere in this movie, just a progression of the daughter understanding the people of the community and growing closer to the local man helping her. Very nice movie.

Evil Lane was born on Christmas Eve in a diner while her mother was on the road. Now, being almost 35 to get access to her trust fund, her mother decides to test her by granting the 5 strangers who helped her a Christmas wish.

Kevin McGarry and Taylor Cole are both Hallmark stars and fan favorites and you can see why. The chemistry was great, yes, but they also charm the viewer on their own. You get to love every character they play and wish you can see them again soon.

The movie was beautiful. I was reminded why I love Christmas movies and enjoy Hallmark movies in general. I liked that even though there was a tiny secret thrown in the mix, no one made assumptions, no one was offended and no one heard conversations they weren't supposed to listen to.

Such a beautiful movie that one must definitely watch. I was reminded on how I felt when I first discovered a Hallmark movie: like nothing was wrong in the world and like I MUST visit a small town during Christmas time.

This movie has an unusual take on a Christmas pay-it-forward story, or perhaps a charitable Secret Santa. It is an appealing approach to an already appealing premise. The opening scene works right into that.

Then there is the scene with mom's ridiculous do-or-die requirement for Evie/Mary to earn her Trust fund. I wish the writers would have toned the whole thing down a little. It appears to Evie and the viewer to be more of a Hail Mary (no pun intended) effort rather than a fair opportunity to prove herself. The requirement is reinforced a couple of times. Mom even acknowledges at one point that the task is more than difficult and that she has already failed once to make it happen.

I like Kyle's approach moving forward from the beginning. And the story develops very nicely. Meanwhile Taylor Cole and Kevin McGarry build some nice playful chemistry. And the spoiled arrogant rich girl quickly turns into a smart and kind lady. The acts of kindness proceed and in general terms the result is about what you'd expect. Strangely, the story lacked, at least in my view, a key element of all Christmas rom/com stories. To identify it would be a spoiler so I can't say more. The movie managed to succeed without it.

This was really solid for HMM and I appreciated the uniqueness of the story. I also thought I had it well predicted until I didn't. Kevin rarely has a bad pairing and Taylor was no exception. These two were great together. It was interesting that Evie's father was never brought up which is a bit different for Hallmark. Also appreciated the older characters and letting us know the lead was turning 35 and all the ramifications of that.

I did want a little bit more from the ending but nothing that takes away from my overall enjoyment of this movie. One of my favorite movies of the season so far.