Ms. Christmas Comes to Town

The start of this movie is fun and has a few surprises before the leads in this film start their christmassy tour on wheels. The actors are talented and it is impossible not to have high hopes for this film. However the story takes a turn for the worse, it becomes sappy and unrealistic as the bus moves from town to town. The storyline is rather bland and the cast despite their long experience and acting skills cannot make this holiday movie anything but a wreck. That said, the leads got a cool and down-to-earth way of being. I would love to see all three of them in a different Christmas film as soon as possible!

This production caught my attention when I saw Brennan Elliott (virtually guarantees a 7+ rating, just due to his professionalism and relaxed posture on film). Then you mix in two more seasoned actresses, Barbara Niven (Chesapeake Shores) and Erica Durance, the movie had am emotional maturity (not just by age) that has been lacking in this season's movie offerings. Again, the storyline is only a small twist from a lot of Hallmark's formulae, ie. Travelling to small towns for the holidays. What makes this story gratifying is the interaction of the 3 central characters. It is believable, onscreen, how they care for one another, and the romance that develops between Ms. Holiday and Mr. Winter is quite conceivable, despite a very short backstory. The kiss is definitely warranted. Ms. Christmas is elegant, and earnest. She thinks of Ms. Holiday as her own daughter, and doesn't dump the dire news of her impending death on her or her high school sweetheart, who floats into the story as the secondary romance. The Christmas traditions are rolled into the screenplay, and fit in here (not forcibly), as a means of deepening the attraction of Ms. Holiday and Mr. Winter. All-in-all one of the best, so far, this year in strengthening your belief in the good of humanity (heartwarming). The movie closes, cleverly, by wishing us in the audience a Happy Holidays!

For the record let me say with each passing year I watch less and less Christmas movies not because I don't want to but because most of them follow the same repurposed plot lines over and over again. Well hello Ms. Christmas!! From beginning to end I wasn't bored, I didn't roll my eyes, and I didn't fall asleep! I thought Barbara Niven acted her role perfectly, she was believable, beautiful and cute as a button, nevermind she's 70, she looks fantastic. I also enjoyed BE & ED, I liked the fact they hit it off right away in the beginning of the movie instead of a build up to one small predictable kiss at the end. I say a job well done to all involved with this project and I truly hope Hallmark will not be quite so lazy when it comes to Christmas movies.... more originality like this one will keep me coming back each year. Kudos.

But nothing more. The cast was semi shockingly underwhelming; i had to rewatch it after i fell asleep. It's not the best in the world (it's competing with the worse) but if you want cheese, do watch this our buy a block of cheddar. I do wish I could get my life back after this garbage.

My primary issue was the acting. It was so bad. It's like they didn't even care to try. The story was, like, average or expected. However you wish to define it. The whole thing left me feel nothing but boredom due to it's lack or realistic characterization. Its so sad to see stuff like this; lazy and uncaring. It simply disrespects the viewer-base (i want to like it, but they're legit making it impossible to do so)

I was happy to see Erica Durance join the Hallmark lineup a few years back. I've always liked Brennan Elliott. So I was off to a good start before the first scene.

There are two romance stories here. Of course you knew as soon as James actually appeared that he would be part of the story.

The premise is a little different, but the story develops like many Christmas movies do but with the additional thread of Gale's illness. Travis and Amanda have an interesting meet cute and then get thrown together on the road trip and, oh my, on stage! Elliott and Durance have chemistry and watching their relationship is enjoyable.

The movie goes a little deeper than some with Gale's illness, but her secret becomes another plot device like so many others that throws a temporary obstacle between Travis and Amanda.

I agree with the reviewer that said that Travis' backstory was underdeveloped.