Time for You to Come Home for Christmas

This Christmas offering by Hallmark starts at a Christmas Ball from twenty years ago, where a young man surprises his sweetheart who is so busy baking cookies she missed the ball, but he shows up so they can have a dance together anyway.

I was excited to see a Christmas movie starring Allison Sweeney (who I loved in Murder she Baked...ok I love her in everything!...she would have chemistry with cardboard!) and Lucas Bryant (who I loved in both Haven and MVP...ok, I have loved him in everything I have seen him in)...which is why I was really looking forward to seeing them together and they didn't disappoint!

Alison Sweeney plays a single mom/widower, Katherine (Kat), who lives in Boston with her son working at a bank. She takes time off to spend Christmas with her son, Will and her mom tries to talk her in to coming home for a small town Christmas, since it has been two years since her husband's passing. Seeing her son's lack of enthusiasm for staying in Boston convinces, Katherine Moss to go home to Virginia where she will have to face the memories of her late husband.

Before she can even get on the train with her son, Katherine has a meet-cute with what appears to be a street musician when she accidentally drops money in to his actual coffee cup, much to her embarrassment. They end up spending the train-ride together, musician with his "mystery patron". Katherine's son, Will, is quite the artist and they share stories over Christmas cookies on the train. Our musicians name is Jack and he ends up in the same small Virginia town for Christmas. Jack, alone, and Katherine to face her demons. Jack says he is going to "see an old friend".

Kat's mom is struggling to keep up the demands of all of the holiday baking at her bakery and is considering selling the business. She had always thought Kat would eventually take over. Meanwhile a mystery unfolds as to why Jack is in town and coincidentally Kat's husband's band gets back together...with Jack filling in as his replacement for the annual Snow Ball. Meanwhile Jack is talking to a mystery woman named Norah on the phone.

"Small world"-Jack to Kat

Jack works for the USO, post two army tours and an injury...and he can quote Casablanca. As it turns out Kat's husband, Tyler's death is linked to the reason why Jack is in town.

"You are so well put together, it is nice to find a flaw."-Jack

Classic film highlighted: Beyond Tomorrow

Beautiful story that made me want to read the original book it was based on. This is a Christmas highlight.

Alison Sweeney is always wonderful and I hope she will continue to make more HM Christmas movies.

One note, did anyone think the music at the Snowball at the very end of the music was a little ill-timed or distracting? I was trying to focus more on the couple dancing but the music comes through very strongly in that scene.

I thought that the relationship between Alison's character and her son was very sweet and realistic. Thank you Hallmark for this wonderful movie!

Hallmark delivers the best movie of the season. Alison Sweeney (Katherine) and Lucas Bryant (Jack) are superb in their roles. The movie is about the loss of a special love and finding a conclusion to a time of pain. Each character finds resolution and growth. Love is the answer.

A stand out cast, terrific story, with great directing & music. Just the best from Hallmark.

"Save a dance for me scene" tells it all.

Happy Holidays, Everyone! Enjoy

This was by far the best Christmas movie of 2019. The story line was suspenseful and believable. The leads had perfect chemistry together. I know of AS, but I'm not sure who her counterpart was but I thought he was terrific. Kudos to the little boy who played the son, he was fantastic!! Hallmark, I sure hope you use him more. I'm also not familiar with the woman who played the mom, but I loved her as well and the dad, I've seen him in a few Christmas movies and have always enjoyed his work plus he has a great voice! Well done on this one, AS shines in this role, very good acting chops here.

It is just special. Sure, a Halmark but proposing more than the sweet- easy romance in the Christmas frame. Something old fashion defines it from humor to acting. And wise meet of story and perception of Christmas as good moment of memories, gratitude . Short, smart ( special sounds better ) .