This Time Each Year

A somewhat unbelievable storyline leads us to a pleasant and dare I say heartwarming movie starring Hallmark veterans Niall Matter as Kevin and Allison Sweeney as Lauren, both of whom are very good in this movie.

They play an estranged husband and wife who must act like they're still married when Lauren's mother - to whom Lauren has had trouble breaking the news that she and Kevin have separated - visits for Christmas.

It's a story of second chances for a family unit at Christmastime. The ending, of course, was no great surprise, but there were some nice moments along the way watching Kevin and Lauren realise how much they mean to each other.

This movie was just too off kilter for me to really care much about it. First of all, how old was this couple supposed to be? Going by the dated Christmas cards at the beginning showing their engagement and the pregnancy, it is clear that they were supposed to be in their mid 30s at the most. This is a case of Hallmark straining credibility by shoehorning actors in their late 40s into scripts meant for younger actors. I thought Hallmark had gotten over that. I mean are you telling me that an adult family man in his 40s still hasn't finished his degree and whose chosen career is a bartender? An alcoholic bartender? Bad enough for a 35 year old. When he said he "lost his licence" I assumed he meant his medical license or teaching license, or contracting license. But his driver's license? They just couldn't bear to confirm that he was arrested for drinking and driving? Or that a professional business manager would buy a house without reading the contract and getting it inspected first? And it's so messed up they can't even live in it and are paying rent and a mortgage? Or she could be so mentally damaged by being called "Miss Mess" when she was a kid? I was expecting her mother to be a cruel old harridan. But she could not have been nicer or more supportive of her 35 (or 45?) year old daughter.

I love both Alison Sweeney and Niall Matter but Hallmark did them no favors by miscasting them in these roles.

I hate not giving this movie more stars, because we very much like both Alison Sweeny and Niall Matter. Plus Laura Soltis always makes a beautiful mother of the female lead, and she does that VERY often. LOL

Here Lauren (Sweeney) and Kevin (Matter) are separated, but she hasn't told her mother? So when her mother comes for Christmas, she wants to hide that fact? In the real world, their young son is going to inadvertantly give up that secret in a very short span of the visit.

The movie was so bland that within a few days of viewing it, I already can't remember very many details about it. Nothing about it was offensive, but nothing was memorable, either. Sad.

6.6 stars.

This was almost a great movie, but missed the mark on every level. We are left with a sub par story that could've been wonderful. There are so many little pieces missing that it's unfortunate, because the acting is great. The characters are endearing, the two adult brothers with their horseplay and man jokes, the cute little boy, fun grandparents...

Everything is great about this movie except the execution. It's slow throughout, the dialogue stalls, the romance is forced and depressing, although that's probably by design. Everyone seems so forlorn it's difficult to be excited about this film.

The story is about a man and a woman who are separated, their marriage is on the rocks. Both sides of the family are patient as they try to mend their relationship. Things are difficult and it seems like it's not going to work out. But as with all Hallmark movies, it works out in the end. But it was too sad for me and I had difficulty getting through this painstakingly painful narrative.

If you're looking for a funny romcom, this movie is not going to be it. In fact, there's very little rom and com in it. But if you're looking for something more real and less like the usual holiday fare Hallmark serves up this time of year, give this one a try. I had to watch this twice to appreciate all of the nuanced performances of every actor, especially the two leads.

Niall Matter and Alison Sweeney portray Kevin and Lauren, a couple who are at the one-year point of a marital separation and it's the holidays. Early on it is revealed why they're separated, and I'll leave it at that. They coparent a young son; and Lauren has just found out that her mom, who isn't aware of the separation, will be making a last-minute visit. Kevin and Lauren scramble to appear like a united family, but their tension and uncertainty are palpable. They also attend therapy sessions. Do they end up together? Watch and find out.

The nuanced, but palpable tension throughout by the family members also gives this movie realism. Alison Sweeney plays uneasy beautifully, and this surprisingly turned out to be one of my favorite performances of Niall Matter. In their capable hands, I found myself genuinely rooting for the couple as they navigated through uncharted, awkward waters. This one won't give you the warm fuzzies, but all the performances are solid and that's what I appreciated most about it.