A Kismet Christmas

There have been some pretty ridiculous plot lines in Hallmark Christmas movies, but magic cookies might be the new benchmark.

Apparently, if you sleep with the magic cookie under your pillow, you not only won't have a bed full of cookie crumbs and maybe ants, you will dream about your true love. It's Hallmark. We let it go.

Sarah Ramos has great appeal in her role as a writer who has become convinced that the whole thing was a lie when the guy she dreamed of married someone else. I hope she does more of these movies. She's just right for them.

To be honest, I have a very hard time buying Carlo as a leading man. Hallmark is making movies for the other team now, so... Nuff said.

Supporting cast is good, and this movie actually works if you let the plot go.

I'll probably watch this again next year.

Ok so from the ads I new that I'd like this one, but I'm surprised at how much.

First, I do really enjoy Carlo Marks. Something was wonky with his hair in this and it was distracting me, but he turned in a solid performance. He played a great single father without being too much and still a good romantic lead.

Here is where my surprise lies. Sarah Ramos. I whole heartedly disliked her on Parenthood. I found myself searching for reasons to dislike her in this. And to be fair, she gave me very little other than some nitpicky moments. Unfortunately the last scene was one of them, but overall I was pretty impressed. I think Hallmark may have a new actress here (hopefully not too used) but she is is nice looking without being gorgeous, can play hardworking, quirky, family oriented etc.

The daughter- typically the HM children are far too overly precocious. Did she have her moments? Definitely, but it didn't seem nearly as bad (I'm looking at you boy from bramble house). Her hugs were pretty darn bad but most of it was pretty good and didn't distract me!

I really loved the town used. The pretty staircase and 2 levels really made me feel like I was there and made for some scenes that appeared to have a higher production value that some movies. I got irked that the main house was supposed to be the grandmothers great grandparents home and it was definitely not that old- there was nothing historical or old world charm about it. It's a pretty cookie cutter house that may be a bit older but no way is this turn of the century let alone before.

Marilu Henner- obviously who doesn't love her! Also perfectly cast as Sarah Ramos's grandma. I enjoyed this casting. I needed a bit more of some background here for later scenes.

The agent is a bit much at the beginning but there always has to be that person and it calmed down and was much more realistic by the end.

I liked the grandmas friends and how their story fit in without being too much hit it also wasn't just thrown in for something.

Without spoilers there were a few things script wise that should have been changed and a few scenes that should have been reshot as the acting was much worse than the majority.

But I liked the story. I liked the acting. Overall pleasantly surprised with this one.

While it's 10/10 it's also not one I'd be eager to watch again. But I would watch it again. Give me a Carlo Marks and Bethany Joy Lenz movie now please!

This was a disappointment throughout. Marilu Henner raises the question of the producer's judgment . Hallmark taps some former stars who become distractions due to extreme plastic surgery. Although a talented actress, like others Hallmark chooses, the close ups on the surgically altered facial structure is, at best, unpleasant but at worse, frightening. It is past time to cease and desist from this practice. Besides this, the plodding and unsustainable story line drags on. There were just too many of the cringe moments. One is enough but this seems to be on cringe steroids. A better cast, no "Frankenface" and sharper writing is needed.

I wasn't expecting too much from this movie at first, but the story of a family legend was carefully introduced in stages, in a way that was not shlocky and not predicable, and which also incorporated some nice story twists. This set up an engaging movie with two very likable lead characters who were animated by some good acting. Both characters seemed plausible, real, and natural.

The movie was a pleasure to watch all the way through, and was not shallow fluff. I felt real joy for the characters at the ending.

This would be a good movie for kids and adults to watch together. It works well at both levels.

This is one is of my Top 10 favorite 2022 Christmas movies of 2022. You can see my other favorite 2022 Christmas movies by clicking on my profile link above; then look for "2022 FAVORITE CHRISTMAS ROM-COMs" under "Lists".

'A Kismet Christmas' (2022)

Opening thoughts: Have for a few years now been on a roll watching as many Hallmark Christmas films as possible. It has generally been an interesting and worthwhile project, while also very inconsistent. 2022's Christmas output is no exception, being as variable as the rest of the seasonal blocks. The story for 'A Kismet Christmas' didn't sound particularly mind blowing, but that wasn't enough to put me off.

The previous two 2022 Countdown to Christmas films 'Noel Next Door' and 'We Wish You a Married Christmas' already saw inconsistency in quality, the former was quite good but the latter underwhelmed. Luckily, 'A Kismet Christmas' (very different to what was expected, was expecting a Christmas story centered around the musical 'Kismet' for some reason) was closer in quality to the former and actually one of the better 2022 Christmas films thus far from Hallmark. Not perfect, but with a lot of good things.

Good things: Those good things will be started off with first. Sarah Ramos and Carlo Marks are engaging and nuanced leads with a subtly quiet yet charming chemistry that didn't feel rushed or aimless. Zesty Marilu Henner steals every scene she's in and Rubi Tupper is charming and sincere in a type of role that easily could have been played too precociously. The characters were interesting and easy to root for and the relationships feel real and honest on the whole.

It is also an attractive film visually, with beautiful scenery and colourful decorations. The music fits at least and is easy on the ears. The story is very charming and moving, not feeling dull.

Bad things: Having said that, it is also very formulaic, doing nothing new with familiar elements, and there is a conflict that is very artificial and lacking in sense. Some may say that thank goodness it didn't feature much, for me for it to have made sense more it did need more time to be fleshed out, it did feel also too rushed and throwaway.

While the script is not as cheesy or schmaltzy as many other Hallmark Christmas films, it is too talky and too much of the talk rambles and not all of it served much point.

Concluding thoughts: Overall though, quite nice.

7/10.