User reviews

This was a pretty good story. It has many of the familiar things including plot devices, but they are just a little different and even a little fresh.

I am not a Jodie Swetin fan, and I've seen a few with her, but she impressed me in this one. She really fit the part.

6/10 - cute, but not overly memorable Christmas fun with Hallmark

Jodie Sweetin plays Candace Livingston, the daughter of an American cooking/author/crafting legend - Liz Livingston. She is due to take overt he family business and as a little introduction to it, goes to a small town(it is always a small town) to help a young girl prepare to welcome her father home from his tour of duty(there is always a father or mother in the army). The only problem is Candace is pretty rubbish at all the things her mother is brilliant at, she takes after her father and is good with finance and organisation and being a really good person, kind of everything you need to run a business that doesn't involve cookery or crafting!

The little girl's Uncle has escaped from Roswell, sorry is Roswell's Brendan Fehr, and his day job, when he is not being an awesome Uncle is the town's news reporter. A reporter who is suddenly close to an pretending to be someone she is not, I do not know where this could be heading! Oh of course we do, but Hallmark is not there to shock or surprise us, it is there to give us nice Christmas films and this one looks good, Jodie Sweetin is a charismatic heroine, who is extremely likeable, just like her character. Brendan Fehr is still Michael from Roswell, but we all want Michael to have a happy ending don't we!

A cheery and happy Hallmark movie as our star tries to not be found out and our reporter faces a mini crisis when he finds out. But seriously, like he is going to ruin his loves future! That wouldn't be a Hallmark film, it is more Christmas Hammer Horror if he does that!

2018 was rather up and down when it came to Hallmark's Christmas output. There were winners, such as 'Marrying Father Christmas', 'Once Upon a Christmas Miracle' and 'Christmas Bells are Ringing'. There were also misfires, namely 'Christmas at Graceland', 'A Gingerbread Romance' and 'Last Vermont Christmas'. Most ranged between average and pretty good. 'Entertaining Christmas' did sound quite charming despite not being particularly big on Jodie Swetin.

'Entertaining Christmas' for me is not quite one of the winners of the 2018 batch, but it is closer to that than the misfires categories. It is one of the pretty good outings with many great things that make it close to being one of the best of the batch, but it is let down by a few things that were not developed enough and a couple of the story flaws found a lot in Hallmark's Christmas offerings. Not a great film, but definitely worth watching. 'Entertaining Christmas' is also one of not many films where Swetin was one of its best aspects, so that was a nice surprise.

As said, a lot is good here. It is very professionally filmed and the locations look lovely too, sure the snow effects are artificial but that has been done far worse in other Hallmark films. Some of the soundtrack has a nice nostalgia and captures the festive spirit quite nicely. Swetin is a very likeable and charming female lead and after seeing so many female lead characters in Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas films recently that have exaggerated and over-emphasised character flaws it was great to have one that was easy to root for. While having problems with his character, Brendan Fehr does a good job with what he has and what there is of their chemistry when it features is sweet enough.

None of the supporting cast bored or irritated and while they are not meaty the characters at least felt real. The script is not too cheesy or schmaltzy and the flow isn't awkward. The story has maturity with a mature subject matter done quite movingly, while also having a charming light-heartedness and not coming over as too serious.

Did think however that the central relationship was underused and wasn't developed enough, there is chemistry but the actual romance in the story felt too like the writers had forgotten about it until quite late into the writing stages. While Fehr is good in his role, John as a character felt underwritten and has too little to do.

The story is a bit too more of the same, with not enough freshness to typical material. There could have been a little less of the scoring which intruded at times, while having moments.

Overall, pretty good. 6/10.

Jodie Sweetin as Candace (really...that's the name chosen...gag!) the heir apparent to "Martha Stewartesque" empire. Except Candace is not a perfect crafty princess. Cute enough..but they go over the top with a few of the tongue in cheek moments.

Jodie Sweetin did a very good job her name should have not been Candace please.More like an Elizabeth.. Brendan Fehr good lead lot better than her other movies David Hayden-Jones another good male lead Andrew Walker. Good supporting cast Jane Moffat and Eva Mai Hoover Give this movie a chance. She is not over the top thin actresses that Hallmark casts she is beautiful and normal acting. Thank you Jodie

Review Date 5/14/2019

I Have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films and Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

This is a modern day version of "Christmas in Connecticut". This is however has non of the charm or characters that has made ""Christmas in Connecticut" endure.

In this film a modern day life style guru (Think Martha Stewart) announces her retirement. She wants her daughter to "Take over the company" once she leaves. The board however has its doubts. Unknown to them the daughter can not do anything right. The daughter not a fraud but her own gifts are being set aside.

The daughter gets a chance to prove herself to the board that she is capable of handling the company. In a small town a little girl wrote a letter wanting to have a perfect Christmas Party for her returning dad who happens to be a veteran.

Of course you know where this film is heading and so that makes this film taxing to watch at times. The love story you see coming a mile away and there is nothing original that happens in this film that has been covered in superior films.

The film is watchable but you will forget the film once the credits are over.

The townspeople in this movie are jerks, and Jodi's character is too nice, She is gracious enough to stick around and play along when they expect her to perform like a show pony at every turn. I would have immediately responded with, "Am I your guest or here to entertain you? Please leave me alone." I used to be a performer, and every time I would attend a party, some jerk would put me on the spot and loudly try to pressure me into getting up to sing. I would promptly excuse myself, grab my coat and leave. Don't be one of this movie's townspeople.

Jodie Sweetin and Brendan Fehr very good chemistry. Refreshing story. They are good together so much better than her and David Hayden-Jones.Also good fit for Jodie Andrew Walker. She never gets a fair shot in Hallmark movies I really liked it.Love Jane Moffat and Eva Mai Hoover.the older actresses are wonderful such love and compassion .

This film has a Christmas spirit due to the tradition and custom it offers!! ... cakes, reunite the family?etc ... Nevertheless, I will have to explain the technical, artistic choice of outdoor scenes?? That spoils all the magic of this film by making it even ridiculous at some point !!! (You can see the coats very badly concealing white fabrics that cover the lawns, on the other hand nothing on trees and cars).... Now let's talk about the scenario, in itself I find interesting the story of this little girl who wants to surprise her father. I did not like the character of Liz who the more the film passes, the more one discovers that she is unable to be as gifted as her mother. (But where is the importance of wanting to look like him, in short). No, what disappointed me is that in the end, she is unable to do simple things..... After the acting is fine, but a pity for the imperfections.

What was up with the carelessness of the snow and lighting. Why use cgi tree lights ? Why use all the fake snow it can not snow during December ya know. Acting was good I liked the story line and etc other wise.

Sorry to deliver a not so favorable reveiw during the holiday season.

However-No chemistry between main actors. Secondary cast save the production. They were great. A good story wasted on actors that could not carry the story.

Hallmark please make better casting choices.

In what I believe has been a rather lackluster season of Halmark Christmas, this movie was my favorit. I have three reasons that make it stand out.

First, the plot was deeper than most. The real issue in this matter is the female lead finding her relationship with what was expected of her. The best Halmark movies are those were the romance is part of the plot and not the whole story. It was more of a regular movie than a set piece Halmark Christmas Story

Two, it helps to have a little larcency in the heart of the story to make it funny. See Snow Bride for an example.

Three, it had good supporting actors and roles who rounded out the movie.

I would agree with some of the criticisms to the movie that the romance seemed forced to a point, but I see this movie more of the lead finding herself than finding love which is probably why I thought it stood out among the Halmark fare this year.

No chemistry, male actor was wooden. And the NAME Candace? Really couldn't come up with something other than Candace? Not my favorite Hallmark movie.

Jodie Sweetin is always sweet and watchable, but this was not one of the better Hallmark Christmas films for me.

A bit slow in terms of pacing, two leads without much chemistry - neither thing helped.

Such a beautiful story. Wholesome content. Loved it. We need more films like this one. Brings us back to reality. And it has such beautiful scenery and music.

This is the umpteenth movie remake of Christmas in Connecticut, omitting the acting skills, charisma and charm. Even the original plot was a bit flimsy, and this update quickly wears thin with the constant bombardment of sticky situations that should have been resolved or forestalled long ago. Since a simple admission from an accomplished, intelligent, experienced woman with an advanced degree could eliminate the awkwardness, it's pretty hard to sit through all the contrived scenes without irritation. Skip it.

I really hate it when Hallmark takes a classic and makes it into their own interpretation. It always turns out to be a bad and pale imitation of the classic.

This one is no different as they turn 1945's Christmas in Connecticut into their own Hallmark narrative.

I vaguely remember watching this movie, but I do remember fast forwarding through it because it was super boring.

Brendan Fahr seemed super un-engaged with the story and he always looked bored. He also lacked chemistry with Jodie. Jodie playing a character named Candice is really a fun tid bit but that's about it when it comes to having fun with the movie.

Just skip it and watch the real classic on TCM. Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan are real magic together!

For me, one of good Hallmark Christmas films. First - for the fair portrait of the pressure of name/fame of parent. And the need to answer to the expectations of the others, comparing always you with the father/ mother. For nice meet of Brendan Fehr ( after Roswell, who I like very much, his career, for me, was an enigma ). Not less, for the supporting cast who was just admirable. And for the kitchen , for the chance of young man to have a small role as receptionist, for the cherry branch and for the remind of importance of generosity for others. The big problem - it can be considered a friendship film but very difficult an authentic romance. But it works more than reasonable as nice story about family, community - almost , the obsessive Cedar Falls - and self definition.