A Family Christmas Gift

7/10 - I love some Holly Robinson Peete and Patti Labelle, so enjoying this one was no surprise!

Watched this because of patti labelled but I love the story. Good job hallmark

I LOVE this movie. I think it's one of the best that Hallmark has this year. I've seen it several times already and will see it again. I think the acting was very good and Patty Labelle is just outstanding. If you wanna really fun movie, this is it. I think the negative reviews on this site are absolutely horrible and not warranted at all.

A Family Christmas Gift (2019) -

As with so many of these films it was far too late for Amber, played well by Holly Robinson Peete, to turn up and save the Christmas Concert and the Music Programme at her old High School. It didn't help that I'd turned off a very similar film - 'My Favourite Christmas Melody' (2021) - only a week or so before this one, which was basically the same, but without Holly to save the day with her acting ability. And she was really the saving grace here, because Patti LaBelle as her Aunty Dora was surely only chosen to appear for her singing ability, assuming it was still any good, because honestly I didn't get that far.

Dion Johnstone in his role of Allen wasn't much cop and his character wasn't too appealing either.

In actual fact I've seen the "Save the school concert" schtick a thousand times and done much better, which might be why I did eventually give up on this one after about half an hour. I did feel for Holly, because she really did deserve a better supporting cast, script and even some of the production elements were a bit twee and kitschy.

Unscored as Unfinished.

Amber (Holly Robinson Peete) is a New York publishing executive who gets passed over for promotion.

To get over it she returns to her hometown in Colorado to spend Christmas at her Aunt Dora's (Patti Labelle) inn. She is a is a legendary soul singer who retired to run the inn.

Before long Amber uses her skills to take part in a much needed school fundraiser as the music program is being cut.

Amber gets close to single parent Alan who she initially mistook as an airport pick up driver. Only later being told that Aunt Dora had sent him.

Both fall for each other but Amber gets another chance of getting that promotion back in New York.

Too formulaic but at least this has Patti Labelle singing. I felt that even the director gave up on this one as it abruptly finishes.