Ma petite maison de Noël

On the positive side, the story isn't a checklist of all the usual stuff. The story is more than a simple romance. In fact, positive relationship building between Blair and Mason is much less than 30 minutes and that includes any commercials. It seemed to me that the politics and business issues were at least as much the focus of the story as the romance. So I won't even talk about chemistry between the leads.

Blair is not that likeable. She starts out arguing with almost everyone especially Mason. She has some whiny moments. In the second half of the movie, she is more pleasant. Mason spends much of his time as if to say "what did I do wrong?"

The only thing about Christmas in this movie is the deadline and a lot of decorations. The acting is fair. The dialogue is more fit for drama than a rom/com.

So much of the tone of this movie is negative from imminent demise of Blair's company to the dirty tricks and politics in the climax. There are a couple of small sentimental moments, but it just isn't a holly jolly movie. If you are looking for something different from the usual formula Christmas rom/com, this movie has possibilities, but more in the drama sense with a little romance thrown in. Reshoot this without Christmas and it would make more sense.

I'm a bit surprised by the other reviews, I quite liked this movie.

Is it my all-time favorite? Well no, but it's pretty decent. Especially for a Hallmark production.

I liked that the formula is changed up a bit. Not all the usual activities on the Christmas list and a story that is different. And while I agree that there is no obvious Christmas in this movie other than the decorations, I disagree that the tone of the movie is negative. No, it's not all super light and airy, but it's far from gloomy either. And for me, a Christmas movie doesn't just have to be all laughs. The warm ending and the helping people are what does it for me.

I did expect to see more of the construction project, I would have loved to see a bit more of the goodwill and in the beginning the leading actress quickly assumes the worst of the leading actor, which is indeed a bit much. But overall I don't agree with the other reviewer that she wouldn't be likable.

As I said, I enjoyed it.

I thought this was a hallmark movie since it's playing during the July Christmas month but it doesn't seem to be. Like other reviewers said, this couple lacks any chemistry. I don't know how they were selected to be together as they are awful on screen together. They interact more like side characters than main characters. The main actress has been in a lot of movies and usually it's always two guys fighting over her. Here if almost happened but the other character seems to be forgotten about. Actually the main guy seems to disappear for great lengths and you completely forget he's even in the movie. When he's on screen he doesn't act like a main character. He gives a dramatic performance of yelling at the manager but that's it. I expected more tiny homes and instead it focused more on the fake HGTV. It didn't even feel Christmasy, just a generic winter movie with everyone wearing thick jackets. They had the opportunity to make it more heartfelt but the actors just didn't deliver on it. It's came off very boring and I'm surprised I even finished the movie for a very blahh ending. Guess hallmark needed some movies to fill in the gaps of the 24/7 Christmas marathon but I rather rewatch some of the better movies than this one. Skip this one.