Letters at Christmas

This could have been a decent Hallmark-esque Christmas time movie, but it fell quite short from making it the level of being a feel good movie for the holidays. The acting throughout the entire movie was some of the worst I've seen in a long time, and the storyline/writing/plot is far from being finished. There were frequent times through the movie where lines were delivered in a way that made it seem forced and awkward, and then the actors would just stare at each other in awkward silence. Very cringe-y and uncomfortable. Overall, I would definitely say it's not worth the time for watching it.

Letters at Christmas is an incredible film about love and the hardships that come with it. With amazing acting, cinematography, and writing, this film not only got me in the Christmas spirit, but also brought up many more emotions.

The story takes place at a hotel, with a couple (Dean Cain, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard) wanting to sell it in order to have enough money to divorce. However, their children (Hanna Huffman, Raejon Jones), find old toys and love letters in a wall - letters that were written back in the 1950s. They attempt to get their parents to stay together by forging love letters, all while finding out more about the writers of the found letters.

One thing I adore about this film is the storyline about the writers of the found letters. That impacted me and I wanted the best for them, despite knowing how it turns out. The letters are written beautifully, especially one poem. The acting is quite good; I especially appreciated the acting from Dean Cain, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, who plays Jason and Nadia, and teenage Laura (Elizabeth Hemmingsen). Each of them brings their character to life in a believable way, so much that it made me empathetic whenever something bad happened. The comedic acting is also great, particularly in Junior (Steven Micheal Quezada) - I laughed out loud multiple times the first time I watched it. The cinematography is great - making everything look real, and still very pretty. The background music is well selected, adding to the holiday spirit. My favorite part is the relationship between the two parents. All of their scenes together feel extremely real, and the chemistry between them feels natural. The kids' roles are well acted also, showing how parents' relationships can affect their children. The ensemble works so well together that they feel like a real family.

The film's message is to never give up on love, despite the challenges and obstacles that are in the way. Be forewarned that some racism is shown - it is shown negatively, however it's still present.

I give Letters at Christmas 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It is currently available to watch on Prime Video. By Isabella V., KIDS FIRST!

When a film captures the essence of real-life struggles, portraying the depth of pain, the flicker of hope, and the resilience required to overcome the toughest challenges, it resonates on a profound level. When this journey unfolds within the framework of a family, it becomes even more impactful. And when you add the warmth and joy of a Christmas setting, it's hard not to fall in love with it! I definitely recommend adding this one to your family's holiday movie rotation! A unique and inspiring tale that shows how far love can carry you. We are excited about what is to come from Jim Burleson!

This is such a perfect film for this time of year. Forgiveness and love. The perfect holiday movie!! Enjoy with the whole family. Great job to cast and crew. A movie to truly be proud of!! Once you start you can't turn it off. This is now part of my yearly Holiday collection. Miracle on 34th, a Christmas story, it's a wonderful life, Charlie Brown Christmas. Now Letters at Christmas. I don't want to spoil it for you so I am trying to not reveal any part. Please go enjoy this, instant classic, with the whole family. Fall in love with the meaning of Christmas all over again!!! I was so pleasantly surprised at this independent marvel!!! Merry Christmas to all !!!

There wasn't anything keeping me in this movie while I watched it. I never got invested in anything. Junior is the most interesting character because I never knew what was going on with that guy, what's he gonna do next, is he scatterbrain or what? The actors seem good but aren't given great dialogue to work with. Some shots could end far sooner than they do. The premise is reasonable, a parent trap- kind of thing, but I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. I didn't think that any character liked anyone else that much, except Nadia and the kids. Maybe I wasn't listening with the volume up loud enough but I didn't seem to hear much background music and it made everything feel tense. I was reminded of Birdemic multiple times while watching but without the CGI and dancing. And birds.