Un délicieux Noël

Kylie Watson (Lacey Chabert) is trying to start her own cake business and expecting a marriage proposal from boyfriend Alex. He brings her to a pizza place owned by her high school boyfriend Nick. Instead of a marriage proposal, Alex offers her a promotion. Disappointed, she breaks up with him. She gets into the American Gingerbread Competition and needs Nick's oven.

I actually like Alex trying to fix it. It's not the greatest move. It could have been funny. Of course, Kylie has to go with the hunkier guy and on top of that, he has a cute little boy. Lacey Chabert is super sweet and that's the central heart of this Hallmark romance. Otherwise, I don't think this would work. I don't really like Nick. She makes it work. She is so up that she uplifts the whole movie. In the end, that's all that matters in this type of movies.

As Hallmark holiday romances go, this abides by common storylines. A young woman (Lacey Chabert as Kylie) runs into her ex (Lea Coco as Nick) just as her boyfriend is revealed to be an unromantic, clueless dweeb. They catch up on old times while Nick assists her attempt to win a baking competition.

Lacey Chabert demonstrates why she is a Hallmark favorite, with her cheerful, affable demeanor. The amount of chemistry between the two leads is acceptable, making this a decent film, but not one of the best.

TV Guide this week labeled Lacey Chabert the current holiday champ of Christmas leading ladies and she doesn't hurt that reputation in this movie.

This movie is filled with the clichés of plot devices. 1) A contest the protagonist must win to either seed a business or pay debts; 2) The protagonist is invited to a special dinner where she expects a ring but doesn't get it; 3) The lady falls off a ladder into man's arms; 4) Snowball fight (2 in this one); 5) High school sweethearts parted for their careers; 6) A kid with an absent mother that one of the protagonists befriends. And so many more. But wait. The movie laughs with us at some of these. The best example is the aftermath of the failed special dinner - one potential suitor explains to the other why Kylie was mad when she left the dinner.

The story teases us with what we think is predictable, and is to a certain extent, but then slightly twists it. Yes it's Hallmark and yes it is a Hallmark ending, but it is still worth watching.

I loved Jonathan Adams as Ralphie. He added so much humor along with sage advice. I criticized Lara Gilchrist is All of My Heart: Inn Love, but I loved her here, again with Chabert, as Kylie's wise sister. Kylie and Nick are almost comical in their sad behavior and they definitely need wise heads beside them. I wish I could say I thought Lea Coco had great chemistry with Chabert, but to me it was just slightly above average.

This is a typical, cute baking storyline. The male lead is kind of forgettable, but Lacey shines and Johnathan (Ralphie) is a hoot! I love him on Last Man Standing. Anyways, I'll watch this movie if it's on but probably won't go out of my way to watch it on purpose.

Not sure if it's a 7 Star, but it's close. It's a nice, brand new heartwarming Christmas movie. Who doesn't like Lacey Chabert? She's the one who deserves the 7 Stars, for sure. I'm a big fan of hers on these Hallmark movies. She's got that Hallmark charm I love. And wow, those gingerbread creations were just amazing. Who does that? I've never created a gingerbread house or whatever for that matter. Some day, I might think about it. Maybe when two heads are in it together. That will be the day. Until then, it's only in film. Great 2017 holiday chick flick from Hallmark!