Il Natale di Julia

Just one of nice Halmark films about rivalries and final alliance against common enemy, all in the frame of love story. Not a version of Romeo and Juliet but a good option for Barta Heiner as the grandmother. So, just nice. And vechicle for a decent, in few scenes charming story.

6/10 - average family feud Hallmark channel feature makes for a worthwhile hour and a half

I like the leads together Rachel and Wes smile and act all lovey dovey. A lawyer and an MBA from rival inn keeping families join forces to outbid a big resort threatening their family inns. The solution to their troubles uses both their skills. If not for these likeable stars there might not that much to recommend this movie.

How did that happen? He's front and center a lot in this film.

For a story that's supposed to concern rivel/feuding innkeepers, there is virtually no tension whatsoever in this story. The one scene that's "sort of" an argument is trite and forced.

Most of the plot involves the typical "big company takes over small town" cliche. This is expressed mildly in a few scenes with vaguely worried expressions ... one of which occurs just before a commercial break -- soap opera style.

This isn't as insipid as some of the Hallmark movies have been this season, but at the 90 minutes mark my wife was ready to stop watching -- only continuing because there was only 30 minutes left.

We've all seen this a few dozen times under different titles. Sometimes whether we like a Hallmark movie depends more on whether we like the people in the cast than any plot (or lack of plot). This must've caught me in the right mood, cuz I liked it. Wes Brown plays Wes Brown in every movie, so no surprise there, and Rachel Boston brought a bit less sugar than usual, which helped a lot. Supporting cast was mostly good (I did get tired of the mayor making speeches), and in the end, Everybody's happy. If only real life could be a Hallmark movie just once. I gave it a 7.