Missione di Natale

I may try later to finish this but so far it's just awful. I only watched for the male lead since I've enjoyed some others he was in. But when the female lead was all Bye with her dad on the first Christmas without her mom, oh bells no. No piece of art is more important. Not one single piece ever. Then the Master Sergeant and Generals felted forced and overused. I watch a lot of holiday movies every year, this one just doesn't seem worth the time. Skip it. There's better ones out there.

This is a good movie, that would have been great with a few adjustments and a better written ending. Mary Antonini did a beautiful job in her day view and I hope is the start of a great career. Michael Xavier is always charming, believable, and committed to his roles. They had great onscreen chemistry.

Not every Christmas story is the same, because everyone has a different heritage, with different traditions, and people in the U. S. (or Canada) come from different countries. While this movie has a familiar story line, the story itself is authentic, heartfelt, and beautiful!

For those complaining about the plot, Hallmark has made a living off of repeating story lines, usually putting actors in rolls with similar themes way too often at this point, and you've been supporting them for years!

Why can't Lifetime do a familiar story line with a twist? They're called universal themes for a reason, many can relate as it happens to almost everyone in "different ways".

We can all relate to the love of family, to holding on to true love, to how losing a loved one changes our lives, to cherishing traditions, and to practicing values such as service to others, the importance of the arts in human development and life, etc.

We also get to see the impact of military service in families, which only certain people understand, so is nice to get insight into this heartbreaking reality that families who serve go through.

These universal themes, human experiences and values, and happy endings are the reason people look forward to see these movies every year. This movie was cute and enjoyable!

I invite open minded people, who see everyone as "human beings" first and foremost, to give themselves the opportunity to watch this and other lifetime movies (especially those with minority leads and cast), and rate them in a fair, objective, and unbiased way, as it should be.

I'm very pleased with this beautiful movie, and others done since (especially in the 2021-22 holiday season), which have shown classy, and culturally diverse stories that celebrate family and love in all its forms.

Bravo to Lifetime for making a commitment to be a network that employs diverse casts and champions inclusion! Please continue to do so always, and continue making beautiful movies! Lord knows our nation needs to see our stories, our children need to see themselves represented in people who look like them, and our actors need the platform and the opportunities.

I celebrate and support them all! Bravo!

P. S.

This gem was listed under 2 names in 2021: First Lifetime showed it as: "A Christmas Mission".

Then Peacock streamed it as: "You Make It Feel Like Christmas".

Enjoy!

Greetings, salutations, and a seasonal welcome to all you movie aficionados. Here are my considerations and recommendation for A Christmas Mission.

Story: 1.50/2 - Direction and Pace: 2.50/4 - Performances: 1.50/2 - Enjoyment: 1.50/2

Total 7/10

There is a surprising amount of things to like about this movie. First, there's the story. It comprises one main plot and three side plotlines. The three yarns have been used separately in many a Christmas movie. However, the writers use them superbly to keep the story engaging for the viewer. The principal tale is about Emma King. Celebrity Mogul, Kate Margulies, has chosen Emma's store to host her Christmas Eve Event. It also means she won't be able to visit her Father at home. This inconvenience doesn't upset her too much because it allows her to block herself from remembering her Mother's death the year before. But plans are underway to change Emma's mind. Her Dad's accepted Aaron's help - He's the former boyfriend fresh out of the military and promising to bring her home for Christmas. Of course, their relationship will re-ignite but will they make it to Happily Ever After Land, like most of the other Christmas movie principals? Interwoven with this is her Dad's story. Tom's writing a novel about his life. However, it becomes painfully clear that he might not know much about his family. Then there's Kate's event and all the preparation that goes into it. This subplot could easily have disappeared within the dominant storyline. However, the writers create a superb over-exuberant character with Kate, and her persona enables the formation of her own plot line. Last, there's the story about friends and family: There's plenty of rediscovery going on in A Christmas Mission.

Another bonus the writers give us is the creation of robust and credible individuals that populate the narrative. As I stated, Kate is an extrovert. Emma's Father, Tom, and Aaron are both the sturdy and quiet types. Unfortunately, this personality trait hinders them in their relationships and ultimately gives a deeper depth to the story. When Tom realises he knows more about his brothers-in-arms than about his family, it's saddening - but no hankies are required. We then witness his growing wisdom and understanding when he narrates from his book. And though nothing is astonishing about the other characters in the story, there are just as potently written. And luckily for the viewer, they are superbly portrayed by the actors and actresses. Of course, I simply adored Stephanie Sy, who imbued Kate with just the right amount of energy. It could've been easy to undercook or overcook a character like her.

The one element that could've been slightly better - and it is only slightly, was the direction. The director used a standard style of filming. But a touch more pizazz at key moments wouldn't have gone amiss. That said, they chose the right style for this type of tale as it allows the story to unfold and flow better; it also permits the performers to shine.

So, if you're looking for a Chrimbo pic to entertain you, I suggest you give A Christmas Mission a look-see. It's an enjoyable way to waste an hour and a half whilst cuddled up with your beloved under a cosy duvet.

Please check out my HO! HO! HO! Christmas Belles list to see where I ranked the movie.

Take Care, Stay Well, And Best Wishes For A Merry Christmas.

Nothing too interesting about this one. Leads are good. Plot is ho-hum but the missing letter scene is touching. However, the wokeaverse will be triggered by the lesbian arc. 🙄

This movie falls foul of the common problem with LGBT shows that there isn't enough variety / balance of genders. The plot about the main couple and parents is ok, but the secondary characters, especially the design guru, aren't likeable and even embarrassing. This movie would have worked better with less characters and flashbacks showing the leads' history including some military scenes, contrasting with the artist's career.