A Merry Christmas Wish

6.4 stars.

Sure, this has Jill Wagner. Even she can't resurrect a dead story. This is a standard Christmas movie across the board. The only problem with this standard movie is that it has absolutely nothing exciting or interesting, or original about it whatsoever. Take all the usual ingredients of a standard Hallmark, and it's simply that - standard. But the standards of this standard film are below average. The dialogue is mundane, and everything is cookie-cutter. This is why I called it the cookie cutter of cookie cutters, because it's literally nothing. Even the title is perfectly vanilla. This film is like a low end two-door Nissan sedan fresh off the assembly, no bells or whistles. Nobody brags about owning a Nissan sedan.

This movie doesn't have ideas above its station, and I like that about it. It ticks all the twinkly Hallmark Christmas boxes, and the plot is cohesive enough, the actors skilled enough, the settings realistic enough to make an enjoyable, frosted-but-not-sickly slice of escapism.

Several scenes are quite heartwarming (particularly the one in the attic), and the city slicker love interest having more than a two-dimensional personality was a nice touch. The country boy love interest's relationship with his young niece is charming, and the character of his sister as the glue that holds everyone together works well. I concur with other reviews about the wonky timeline, but it was easy to shrug off. Overall, this is a movie I would watch again.

Note: If you like honey, have some ready as a snack before watching, because this movie will make you want some.

A refreshing take on the city girl moves to the country theme so prevalent in holiday movies. The heroine is a decent human being who genuinely cares more about her family than the money she could get. Only thing that doesn't make sense is the title.

Janey is an advertising agent in New York when she learns a great uncle she stayed with as a kid has died. She returns home and reconnects with past friends while deciding what to do with her uncle's farm. In the process she has to choose whether to continue a town tradition.

A very humble movie that doesn't get caught up in itself. Also, best holiday kitchen and bedroom decorations for the win!

A Christmas movie with the classical theme of the unplanned return to the home town in the Christmas period. Janie Collins who works and live in Manhattan has to come back to Wodland Falls because of the death of her great uncle Randall and surprise she becomes owner of the farm of Randall: a great surprise for her. Then another surprise in a letter Randall asked her to rganize the Winter Wonderland in the barn of the estate.

Janie meets Dylan, the brother of her best friend Nicole, little by little she knows other people and prepares the Winter Wonderland with the help of Dylan, at the same time Jane has some memories (the song that she was dancing with Randall). Dylan is full of humour and very careful with Janie. Janie has also moments of doubts about her stay in Woodland Falls.

I enjoyed the performances of Jill Wagner, Cameron Matheson Morgan David Jones and Jeanna Jarvis.

Overall a good movie to watch, but go in knowing that the plot and surroundings are typical Hallmark-like. No mystery as to what the final outcome will be (including so long, old boyfriend!). Positives include the well known stars, other excellent cast members, and the pleasant winter setting (in reality, northward in Ontario) and Christmas decor.

However, there is one major flaw in the timeline of the story, which could easily have been avoided by the writer. Namely (and this is all known early on in the movie, so not a spoiler), Jill Wagner inherits a farm in "upstate New York" from a great uncle with whom she had a close summertime relationship until age 10, in 2003. There is no specific mention to my recollection as to why no contact after that or anything about her immediate family. Now it's 20 years later, i.e., age 30-ish. Well, as attractive as the stars are, they aren't 30 years old anymore! The script could have described the close relationship until 2003 at age 17 or 18, after which a youth would more likely lose contact; then 20 years later would more closely match the actors' real ages.

The other always unbelievable timing in Hallmark and now Great American movies is the sudden need to plan, organize and put on a major event in something like a week, which would in reality takes weeks or months. But they can always do it!