Noel Next Door

I love these Christmas movies. They are usually a bit hit and miss, but I was pleasantly surprised. This one ticked all the boxes. The acting was really good, they had natural chemistry and I couldn't stop smiling the whole way through. Their reactions to each other felt organic and natural. The feelings it gave me is exactly what I want from a Christmas movie. The story line was believable and the romance was just enough. It was the acting that really sold it for me though. It may seem a bit daft commenting like this over a Christmas movie of this type, but compared to some I've seen it really was worth watching.

Once in awhile Hallmark pairs a couple of talented performers who have just the right chemistry to make any roles they play look natural and real. Think Kimberley Sustad and Paul Campbell. Here, Hallmark has done it again. Natalie Hall and Corey Sevier are excellent, playing neighbors whose lives become connected on two different levels due to the rather unique circumstances they are personally in. How they reconcile those levels is what makes this story refreshing and different. This is also an extremely well written script with dialogue that is clever and true-to-life. But, it only works because Hall and Sevier and the rest of the cast deliver their words and feelings in such a realistic and natural fashion. Callum Shaniker playing Hall's son is particularly good.

It is nice to see Hallmark branch out with a Christmas movie that contains some unusual subjects - here, Sevier is playing Jeremy, a recovering stroke victim who is a classical music composer, and Sevier does so very effectively.

To top it off, you really feel like it's the Christmas season because there is real snow, bare trees, and frost coming out of the actors' mouths when they speak. The outdoor scenes were NOT filmed in the summer/fall and then made to look like winter. And the settings are quite good.

Finally, director Max McGuire does a wonderful job here making a film that is intriguing, sentimental, and warm-hearted, yet still humorous. It all just snaps, crackles, and pops along, particularly due to the terrific performances by Hall and Sevier. This may be the best of Hallmark's 2022 Christmas crop.

Noel Next Door was excellent. A youngish recently divorced waitress meets handsome partially paralyzed stroke victim who is sweet and kind (he gives her a 200% tip on his takeout order) and they are instantly attracted to each other. Her name is Noelle. Yes, really. Meanwhile, her tween son has several run-ins with the neighborhood scrooge who has recently moved into the neighborhood. In addition to insisting the condominium complex take down their Christmas tree, slamming his door in the faces of some little kid carolers, and walking around with an angry disgusted face all the time, he yells at and threatens young Henry who continually kicks his soccer ball against the wall of his condo. Noelle's son is a nice boy at home but does have a bit of a bratty side. In other words, he acts like a real kid. Little do the two know, while they fall in love, that he is actually the Christmas-hating neighborhood grouch with an anger management problem, and she is the incompetent mother of a mean little punk.

The tension builds throughout the movie in anticipation of the two neighbors meeting in person and discovering each others' true identities. Meanwhile, they grow more and more attached and happy with each other. It is handled very well, as the big moment doesn't come until about the 75% mark and their reactions are pretty hilarious and well-acted. In addition to her work, her son, and her new relationship, Noelle has to deal with an ex-husband who is a one-man asshole parade. He threatens her with a lawyer when she won't surrender her court-appointed Christmas day with young Henry to him and his mistress at their old home. There is some blind date comedy (Are you one of those people who believes the Earth is round?) and some heart-tugging moments as well.

Both Corey Sevier and Natalie Hall were terrific. I still don't like Natalie's hair and makeup, but she did well in a more mature down-to-earth role than she is usually given. Joanna Douglas plays her sister and she was lovely and appealing as always. She needs to be given a lead role with Hallmark if she is even interested. Corey had the difficult job of being a bit of a jerk on one hand, and a sympathetic romantic lead on the other. It didn't hurt that they had a good script to work with. It dealt with serious situations with a nice blend of comedy, drama, and romance along with a good message and plenty of Christmas Spirit to spare.

This Hallmark movie actually has a heart! The tough situations are realistic - guy whose wife left him when he had a stroke; woman whose husband cheated on her; preteen who is struggling with the changes in his life. I'm so tired of the superficial holiday movies that are all the same. This was a refreshingly real change of pace. Of course, it's Hallmark, so it's cheesy, but I really appreciate the portrayal of a disability and inclusion of some mild grittiness. Also, kudos to Hallmark for poking fun at flat-earthers/science deniers - didn't expect that! The movie did a great job being sweetly funny. Overall, I am quite impressed and this will be a repeat watch each year.

8.1 stars.

Ah yes, very nice change of pace, change of atmosphere, and theme. I feel this is not solely a Christmas movie, it's a drama about an unfortunate chain of events that usurps a man's happiness. Not your garden-variety holiday film. 'Noel Next Door' is a reprieve from the mundane viewings I've been exposing myself to for the past week. This is my new second favorite of the 32 Hallmark Christmases so far this year.

The leading man is a very good looking well known Hallmark guy, but this time he's a stroke victim, his left arm doesn't function very well, and he uses a cane. Our main gal likes him very much, and the attraction matures in the midst of difficult circumstances. She has not seen his really grouchy side, but everyone else who encounters him knows him as the neighborhood scrooge.

As the story continues, more and more unfavorable incidents are piling up against him, various incidents of scroogery. When she finds out he is the ugly and unapproachable beast that everyone else knows him to be, will she have ample patience and heart to forgive him and restore the relationship?

There are at least 3 laugh out loud comedy moments, and equally touching, tearful moments. This is not a sad movie, it started with a shade of melancholy and delivers a most inspiring conclusion. What a trip. Bravo!

A must see every Christmas.