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Lots of sizzle but no steak. There is a lot of whimsy, romantic banter, and excitement about the Garrison and McClain's families Christmas's of the past, but since today is the present, I was expecting to see a resurrection of these so-called nostalgic Christmas's. Instead the storyline is based on a whole lot of wishful thinking and the goodness of the North Bay townsfolk's spirit of Christmas.

I prefer not to give away any spoiler but this is a Christmas based film so it's not hard to figure it out. As I said this family themed Christmas film has lots of sizzle, .....just no steak.

I rate it a 5 out of 10. Worth a watch but just once.

We are approaching the halfway point for Hallmark's run of Christmas movies in 2019, and for me, it has been more miss than hit. This movie is a winner though, and the best of 2019 so far. First of all, I like both the lead actors, and they look like they should be a couple. Secondly, their characters are both immensely likable, and you want them together before they even meet. The writing and acting is solid. There isn't anything really spectacular; everything just works and doesn't screw up the good things that are in place. All the supporting cast is decent and have well-written parts. The daughter, Jesse, is probably the best of the supporting. The only real conflicts in the movie are the two established from the beginning- the imminent closing of the mill and Ann returning to New York. In somewhat typical Hallmark style, unfortunately, both conflicts and the romance is wrapped up in the final two scenes. Again, much like the rest of the movie, the final resolution is nothing spectacular. However, there is nothing silly going on either. Besides the already mentioned good chemistry between the actors and the likability of their characters, another positive in this movie is that the leads spend a lot of time together, so there is nothing that happens too suddenly. There is another guy in the movie, but we never see much of Ann and him together, and that plot thread is wrapped up rather neatly. The other positive that also adds something unique to this one is the idea of the carved Christmas Santas. It is a very cool idea that adds something interesting to the movie. Altogether, this is an entertaining Christmas romance.

Hallmark are very variable when it comes to their Christmas offerings. Some are surprisingly good and did impress me, as long as one does not expect anything award worthy (it's not that kind of film). Some are decent. Some are mediocre at best. Some are very bad. And then there are some that are in between. While the story did not sound like anything special and uses a familiar setting, Brooke D'Orsay has been good in other things so thought to myself why not give it a go?

There were no regrets watching 'Nostalgic Christmas', regret is a very rare emotion actually after watching a Hallmark Christmas film. At the same time, it was pretty much what was expected from reading the synopsis and from watching many other Hallmark Christmas films. Meaning that expectations were mixed prior to watching and my feelings on 'Nostalgic Christmas' were pretty much mixed as well, a few of the flaws being common with Hallmark.

'Nostalgic Christmas' does have good things. Is a nice-looking film, the scenery being especially attractive. The music is suitably festive and doesn't overbear, the use of old favourite Christmas songs/carols didn't come over as too obvious or over-the-top nor inappropriate for the scenes. The film does have its charms and it doesn't get too over-serious or jokey.

D'Orsay is a charmer in the female lead role, as a character that endears and doesn't have too many negative traits exaggerated. The supporting cast are better than average.

Was less keen however on Trevor Donovan. He definitely has lovely moments but is a little too lightweight and not always at ease in a fairly dull and cliched role (a very familiar type of character for Hallmark). Was a bit mixed on the chemistry between him and D'Orsay, it is sweet and genuine later on but it took too long for it to get to that stage. The script tends to have a lot of cheese and schmaltz and the supporting characters are basically Hallmark cliches.

It's the story and pace where 'Nostalgic Christmas' most fails. The story is more eventful in 'Nostalgic Christmas' than the ones in most Hallmark Christmas films, it did feel like there was too much crammed in and not all of it was necessary. The pageant and mill subplots could have been excised, as they didn't engage that much, and it would have meant that the central relationship would have had more time to breathe and develop. It was also excessively predictable throughout, from following the most standard of Hallmark plot formulas and doing nothing new with it or the kitchen sink of Hallmark plot and character tropes and cliches. The pace is erratic, starting off quite routine and aimlessly and then feeling too hurried in the final third. The ending is far too rushed and contrived and while the toy setting was nice and nostalgic to look at, again it's familiar territory done with no freshness.

Concluding, mixed feelings. 5/10.

5/10 - a by-the-books Hallmark flick that has little to make it very memorable

The golden haired couple look nice together but the story has nothing to differentiate it from dozens of other Hallmark holiday movies. The same move back to small town and give up the big city thing. The pageant story isn't interesting. Nor is the mill story.

Why bother.