A Cowboy Christmas Romance

I thought it was a nice cowboy movie but I have seen better. It kind of dragged for me. It has the plot with the big city company trying to buy the cowboy single-father's ranch. It had a few romantic scenes, kisses but Hallmark has more these days too, just not the sleeping together on-screen parts which isn't missed. Other than some mentions of Santa, other Christmas things and a family dinner at the end there wasn't much Christmas. Mostly just the feud within and between 2 families over a ranch. The cast was good. I won't watch it again. But if you are into cowboy romances you might like it. My favorite cowboy romance is Hallmark's Straight From the Heart.

I must say I liked this movie very much. Was surprise it was rated very low by the critics the lead actress Kramer was very good and very convincing as a cowgirl. The lead actor not that good he seemed to play a old fashion cowboy but to slow for me The supporting cast were fine The mother was terrific she's a scene stealer The whole story though not original but I think they all did well. Lifetime is on the right track with these types of movies particular Christmas. They are competing with hallmark who's dropped down a peg or two and now GAC. Lifetime holiday movies are good and l am looking forward to future ones.

Some who are critical are so because it IS a rom com. The rating should be made among not just rom coms - and there are better - but among Christmas rom coms and there are VERY few that can match this one. The plot is actually fresh, albeit as I read the previews I thought this was going just another person returning to their home town at Christmas to broker a deal. It turns out that was the start and the storyline took a nice turn. Roles are well written and well played. The storyline has NO cookie baking, Christmas tree shopping, snowball fights. This is fresh for a Christmas rom com. In fact with the realistic romantic scene it is fresh among all rom coms this year and in all past years. Wake up Hallmark; grow up.

I am a faithful holiday romance watcher. This is better than average and among the best I have seen so far in the 2023 season. I saved the recording and would watch again.

Good: Chemistry between the two leads was good. I love Jana Kramer and she was well cast here. Spice level was mild enough for basic cable TV but better than the distinct lack of spice on the other more "wholesome" networks. Story was good, and most of the characters were believable.

Bad: The eldest brother seemed to be trying way too hard throughout the entire movie to be a villain without actually ultimately being a villain. That seemed unnecessary to me. The worst and most unbelievable character was Abby though. She was played by a girl clearly in her teens, but was written as though she was much younger. The dad has to sing her to sleep, she believes in Santa, talks very childish, etc. So, that was strange to me. They needed to write her as a teen or cast a younger girl, maybe 7 or 8 years old. That bothered be throughout the entire movie.

Neutral Comment: Apart from being set at Christmas time, this is not a Christmas movie. This could take place at any time of year and not change the story at all. Absolutely nothing was related to Christmas. That didn't bother me at all, not just felt worth mentioning.

Overall, very watchable and even enjoyable movie.

What's this? A Lifetime Christmas movie where most of the usual plot devices and festive activities are completely ignored? A Lifetime Christmas movie where there is swearing? A Lifetime Christmas movie where the two characters - literally in this case - have a roll in the hay? What's more, there isn't even

If you want the usual gingerbread house building and tree-lighting schmaltz (I say that in the nicest way possible, because I love big helpings of festive schmaltz!) watch something else.

If you want something - shock, horror - different, settle in and watch 'A Cowboy Christmas Romance', a refreshing, if sometimes bleak, story about legacies and mending family for Christmas.

Jana Kramer and Adam Senn are great in the lead roles and there is plenty of good acting across the board. I loved the Arizona desert setting and the more realistic conflict that the Crenshaw family go through. There is, of course, the usual happy ending, but like much else in this film, it's more believable than the usual.

Lifetime's best Christmas movie in some time.