La Formule secrète de Noël

Quite good in like a took me by surprise I was absolutely not expecting this to be good at all way. I just put it on before my Hoopla check out expired and was immediately captured. When do we get flashbacks of centuries in the past in made for tv Christmas movies?? Not since The Spirit of Christmas, and that traumatizing gem is not rewatchable, unless I wanna be drowning in tears and fear. Anyway, loved the father-daughter dynamic, they were super cute. And the chemistry between the main leads was really great and exciting to follow. Now I want a candle tbh like what even is berberry or whatever plant they talked about.

I want to use a metaphor of a building structure to describe how this movie is the same but different from so many other Christmas movies. I wish I could us a candle structure, but I think a building is a better illustration. The basic foundation and structure of this movie are like those of others. Ellie is hoping for a promotion to Paris, but returns home for Christmas. She must save her family candle business. There is a quest, actually two. She needs the lost ingredients for a Christmas candle. And a missing locket may hold clues to her family's storied history. Logan, a blogger, helps her on her quest. Even some of the benchmarks on the way through the story reflect other stories including the conflict and the inevitable HEA.

Back to the metaphor. The structure is similar, but somehow the materials are unique. The quest is interesting with fresh discoveries along the way that build a compelling legend. One of the mysteries is resolved fairly early and the other held to near the end. There is some complexity to the story as these mysteries unfold. Nazneen Contractor and Mykee Selkin have chemistry, if slightly subdued because Contractor does exude natural emotion in her character. The romance is almost secondary. One of the obstacles along the way before the real conflict is lame enough to be funny. Part of the HEA is likewise lame in the same way.

It is hard to find unique plots in Christmas romance movies. I think my metaphor shows how this one is both common and different.

Few obvious nice ingredients are the good points of this film who proposes not exactly romance story but small slices of roots, fondatory legends, ironic perspective about scent industry and a passionate bloger, imigrant and his daughter affection.

Decent crafted, decent acted, it is a charming Hallmark, offering few new ingredients with not bad result and seductive effect.

A story about green candles and the memory of late mother and the secret ingredient saving a business . And well used supporting actors.

In fact, enough for a real pleasant Hallmark, with chances to seduce for a couple scenes.