Deux coeurs à Noël

I watch a lot of Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies. So much so, I'm fairly jaded about them. Purely from the "TV Christmas movie" perspective, this is a decent one-time watch with a typical Christmas/snowy setting and appealing leads that had good chemistry together. The plot was minimal and unoriginal. A romance writer goes on a holiday retreat to help cure her writer's block. It turns out the inn's new owner looks just like the hero of her romances, as depicted on all the covers. He's also a single dad with a cute little girl in the mix.

This movie would have rated a 6/10 for me as a perfectly watchable TV Christmas romance. But it earned an additional star for having a female lead who is in a wheelchair. Interestingly, that never came up at all in the plotline. It was not a consideration in the romance or even mentioned by the love rival. I think that was a good call.

This movie will mean a great deal to many people. Thank you, Lifetime.

Greetings, salutations, and a seasonal welcome to all you movie aficionados. Here are my considerations and recommendation for Christmas Ever After.

Story: 1.50/2 - Direction and Pace: 2.75/4 - Performances: 1.25/2 - Enjoyment: 1.50/2

Total 7/10

Christmas Ever After is a coincidental tale of romance and family. And having experienced plenty of chance meetings and fluke opportunities in my life, I have a warm place in my heart for this type of story, especially if the coincidences smack of truth, which these, on the whole, do. I also adored how the writers portrayed romance novelist Izzi Simmons. Though confined to a wheelchair, the only disability she has is the inability to choose the right man: Because Izzi is looking for perfection in Mr Wright. But, like I always say, "I'm perfect because I know my imperfections". Perfection is an impossible yardstick to measure by, but it's amusing to watch her try. Will she change her Mr Wright wishlist? When she meets the doppelgänger of the Icon of Romance himself, Matt, Izzi finally realises the truth of the human soul; we are imperfect, and that imperfection may be just what the author needs. The director has a marvellous talent for imbuing the picture with warmth, whether it's through relationships or visualisations; Christmas Ever After was a joy to watch. I especially like the typing scenes where the narration appears on the screen. The director chose the correct font to accent the romance and the right colour to tie in with the warm tones of Izzi's romantic writing room. It emphasises how much work has gone into the picture. And the exceptional work comes not only from the writers and director but also from the splendid cast. No one outshines the other, as they're on an equal skill footing. And for this style of story, it's perfect.

If you are looking for a charmingly heartwarming movie this Christmastime, you could do much worse than Christmas Ever After. It's witty, well thought-out, exquisitely directed, and marvellously acted. It's a fine film to cuddle up with your loved one while sipping a mug of hot chocolate on a cold and dreary day.

Please check out my HO! HO! HO! Christmas Belles list to see where I ranked the movie.

Take Care, Stay Well, And Best Wishes For A Merry Christmas.

As someone who consumes these holiday movies - Hallmark, Lifetime and now Netflix, every year, I will say Christmas Ever After is definitely one of my favorites this year. Great diverse representation, cute story theme with an out-of-town novelist, and single dad, both in their own waves looking for an opportunity to experience or re-experience love. I enjoyed the quirky banter between Izzi (Ali Stoker) and Matt (Daniel di Tomasso) - I think Daniel did a great job of showcasing Matt's almost shy hesitancy to acknowledge his growing feelings for Izzi. The actress playing Matt's daughter was adorable and hilarious. Also, the fact that the movie featured a heroine in wheelchair without making that the center of the story was so well done. The only thing I thought could have been done better was the ending, it was a bit rushed or perhaps I just wanted to spend some more time with these characters. I have had this movie on repeat on my DVR and recommending it to friends as well!

I don't know why they bothered to put the main character in a wheelchair and then put her in the middle of such an inaccessible town! From the inn with stairs and no wheelchair ramp, to the boxes blocking her access to the Christmas tree, to the lack of ramps around town, whoever created the scenes had no consideration for people with disabilities. There aren't many scenes of her doing things adapted for her disability, like putting on a coat. I'm also disappointed that the location where it was shot didn't jump at the chance to be made more accessible. The plot was cute, if a little schmalzy, I was just so distracted by the flaws that it took away from the story. And I'm an able-bodied person! I don't know why more people haven't seen what I see.

I have loved Ali Stroker since she guest starred on Glee & then she made it to Broadway in the revival of Oklahoma! Ali stars as a romance writer that is unlucky in love, but then stumbles upon a man that looks exactly like the artwork on her novels. Is this swooning hero for real? Cute holiday story!