Big names in the Hallmark Holiday romance...Joan Cusack, Dermot Mulroney, and Danny Glover star in this uplifting story about a cynical journalist, Tom, who takes the train from Washington, D. C. to Los Angeles for Christmas. It is a four day train ride and his goal is to write a story...so he starts talking to the passengers. There is an eavesdropping busy body named Agnes, a film director Max Powers who is their with a writer trying to write a script, an elder gentleman John who is reading A Christmas Carol because he promised his wife he would read more classics, Missy an intuitive passing out advice, a young couple who are going to be married on the train, an older gentleman Higgins who used to work on the train, and a bartender Kenny who serves hot cocoa with candy canes and a drink called The Grinch. As it turns out Tom knows the script writer, Elenor and they have a romantic past that didn't end well. Will Elenor be inspired to write a script and will Tom write his article? Will they heal the wounds from their old romance?
This is a second chance romance, with a great cast, a beautiful Christmas train backdrop and some fun supporting characters. Not your usual Hallmark holiday fare...maybe a little higher quality. I highly recommend that you see this at least once.
"Chugging down the tracks in two thousand tons of pure steel, I always hoped I'd see her again."-Tom
"Trapped in a tin can with the one person I never wanted to see. I need to get off this train."-Elenor.
Small things start to go missing on the train and the couple's minister has an accident and doesn't make his connection to the train...
"No secrets on a train, especially the Christmas train."-Agnes.
Tom's long distance girlfriend shows up, boards the train and says she wants to get married...Tom wanted to tell her he wanted to breakup! What could go wrong?
Wonderful music and a fun plot...the best part is the side characters, and Joan Cusack really steals the show (as she often does!).
"Happy endings are for movies, Max."-Elenor.
