User reviews

This was ok, not great, not much story really and it all appears to take place within a couple of days. I was however very surprised by what happened towards the end and then felt silly given the title. That whole "situation" made this Hallmark movie worthwhile to watch.

The story follows a young (high school) woman who falls in love with a soldier about to ship out just before Christmas. Her overprotective mother wants to spare her heartache similar to what she felt when her husband was killed on active duty, so she tries to persuade her daughter to end the romance while at the same time also not allowing herself to open her heart to a possible romance that's been right in front of her for years.

Decent enough acting for what's involved here, The daughter did come across older than high school age, very together and kind of mothering the mother (Catherine Bell). I also enjoyed Victor Webster as the potential boyfriend.

...and maybe, more. because it is a realistic portrait of family, relations, love and insecure feelings. because it has few nuances defining it as different by many Hallmark Christmas films. and, not the last, it is a good picture of the fears, dreams and hope at different ages, after different experiences of life. so, after the final credits, few scenes are more present in memory. about options, solutions, reactions. and this does it a good support of reflection. sure, it is not original and predictable. but few nuances are enough for defining it as different. or special. or, only, a decent Christmas film.

Enjoyable movie. The plot is predictable, but we already know this! This is Hallmark!! And we love it.

Hallmark.. are you trying to kill me? My heart can't take this type of movies!

I have seen this movie a handful of times. Matter doe fact I just got done watching. (Christmas in July on HMM) Even though I know what is going to happen and how it will end. It still gets me every single time. I just always end up crying. It never fails. This movie has everything, a love story, a man in uniform, a protective mother, a strong support system. Every time I see it, it reminds me of the first love especially if it was this strong, overwhelming feeling that came out of nowhere.

This movie just makes the feelings of my first love come crashing back. I just wish mine has that same ending as this one. First loves Dan be so special. I'm glad mine was something that will always hold a huge place in my heart. That time was so special.

I would recommend this movie and I'm probably going so watch it again before HMM Christmas in July is over.

I wonder if I'm the only one who would like a part 2 to some of their Christmas movies.

Same as the song by the Dixie Chicks. It is one of my favourite Dixie Chick songs, and the movie was fairly good in following the song.

I love Catherine Bell, but her character in this movie was a wretch!

I do however agree that a high school senior beginning a relationship with a soldier shipping out isn't the best of ideas.

Love the actors, but they deserve better material.

Until you go through a real soldier being deployed you have no idea of what families go through. This film portrayed it pretty well. From the family of a soldier deployed several times to the middle east.

In an effort to make this take place over the Christmas season, there's a ridiculously gaping plothole of a timeline that can't possibly make sense at all which takes away from the movie rendering it annoying more than heartwarming. Plus the mom is infuriating half the time and maudlin the other half. The actress that plays Betsy is great though and Tyler is a cutie.

This is a real tearjerker so watch it with a box of tissues. Betsy and Tyler were perfect. Tyler is an absolute sweetheart and every girl's dream come true. I have to say that there were times when I didn't like the character of Jane very much but she ultimately redeemed herself. Don't miss this one.

A truly relateable story with ties to the military and the happy ending you would wish for in real life. Movies and TV are sources of entertainment that are turned to in order to get away from our real life drama. This movie was written from a truly empathetic point of view, the cast delivers a strong performance, and it will take you on an emotional and thought provoking journey.

Terribly melodramatic, sappy story with awful dialogue. I guess they have to tick certain boxes to make a Hallmark movie, and this got them all: mother and daughter at odds, mother doesn't like the boyfriend, boyfriend is too nice to be true, boyfriend goes overseas, daughter learns in the end that mom is right. Oh brother. Can anyone write an original thought anymore?

Catherine Bell had the worst dialogue, don't know how she got through it. Maybe some actresses can pull off something so overly dramatic, but she's not one of them.

I gave it 1 star.

This was a bit different from the Christmas movies of which I have seen so many. It was not all warm and fuzzy hot chocolate and Santa Claus.

This is a story about a woman, played by Catherine Bell, who has some deep scars because she lost her soldier husband not long after she was married. Bell does a great job showing an independent woman who is trying to teach her daughter all the good things, but meanwhile is struggling not just with the loss of her husband, but also the impending empty next when her daughter goes to college. My son is 32 and I know that you never stop worrying about them.

Jane's life becomes more intense when her daughter meets Tyler, a soldier from the local base. The two young people fall in love and all the emotions step up a notch as Jane struggles not to stifle her daughter, but wanting to protect her from the same kinds of hurt she suffered.

This is only the beginning of the emotions the movie takes us through and saying more would be spoilers. The story is excellent.

I've already mentioned Bell's performance. Matreya Fedor and Anthony Konechny do a good job as the young couple, especially Fedor who displays some deep emotions as well. Victor Webster is solid, but despite Jackson's love interest with Jane, his character is secondary to the other three.

For quality of the movie in the Christmas genre, I'd make this about 9-1/2. My final rating is personal enjoyment and while I am glad I watched this, I probably will not want to do repeats.

Whoever wrote the character for this movie basically ruined it. Catherine Bell is absolutely Unlikeable in this movie and it basically ruins the whole story line

Oh yaa I watched it three times. It never went too far in any direction, it stayed pretty much spot on emotionally and socially. And it was very relatable.

Well i enjoyed the movie to the fullest. I cried my heart out to the climax and plot twist. Well its a hallmark movie, so didnt expect it would give me so much tears, but you know hallmark always makes one happy and this movie will make one happy.

I have seen this plot a number of times but still love it. Acting was good by everyone, yes the mother is annoying.

Like mother, like daughter this so called Christmas themed romance film has little to do with Christmas other than the movie title is the biggest "Spoiler" of all time. The writer, producer and director were certainly all on the same page as they had both mother and daughter in a depressed state at Christmas and I have never seen two worse Debbie Downer's than this mother and daughter pair.

The mom, Jane McKendrick (Catherine Bell) constantly speaks in whispers throughout the film as if we have to hang on to every single word she is saying. Jane is hiding a secret from her male friend Jackson Hart (Victor Webster) and from us the audience and she is overly protective of her daughter Betsy McKendrick (Matreya Fedor) who is in a new relationship with a young man named Tyler Sloane (Anthony Konechny) who is destined for an overseas tour of duty just before Christmas. The positive side of this film is the realistic behaviours of the two young ones deeply in love with one another Tyler and Betsy.

It's an okay time waster but the movie title is misleading as the film has next to nothing to do with the holidays other than it takes place around the holiday season and provides the biggest spoiler alert ever!

I give it a 5 out of 10 IMDB rating.

I never thought I would say that a Hallmark movie surprised me, but this one did. Twice! Basically this is a story of an over protective mom, played very intelligently by Catherine Bell. She was left a young widow due to her own military husband dying in action. She has refused to open herself up to love with her friend, an extremely eligible and attractive man who is in love with her, due to her tough experience. Now she sees her own daughter, who has a bright future, possibly putting that in jeopardy and opening herself up to pain and heartache by her own budding romance with a soldier about to be deployed. The script is good, and is a good bit more daring and multi layered than most Hallmarks. Bell's character is over protective, but she never goes too far. I was never angry or too frustrated with her. This is partly because the daughter, Betsy, has a good head on her shoulders, and gives her Mom as good as she gets. The actors are great, all the way around. A special shout out goes to the casting of the young soldier. He was super appealing and this movie would not have been so affecting unless you were half in love with him yourself. He was the young man any Mom would hope for in a son, or would want a daughter to marry. And by the way. Pay attention to the title, It's important.