One December Night

I've been a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies since they did few enough titles a year that they didn't all look the same. "One December Night," thankfully, doesn't follow the recent formula.

I was curious to see how Peter Gallagher had matured; my image of him is from another favorite Christmas movie where he plays the immature brother, "While You Were Sleeping." Age has been kind to Gallagher, and his acting proved he's more than just a pretty face.

While the plot still contains a few too many, "Will they or won't they?" (when we all know they will), it's nice to see a story that revolves around older actors in this bromance. The young folks in this case are the side story.

While it's no "Christmas Card" or "Snow Bride," still, nice job Hallmark.

Films centered around music is not new territory for Hallmark, with it being used quite a lot in its 2021 output alone. Heck even the Christmas output had this sort of premise, and most of them are fairly samey formula-wise. 'One December Night' however was a music-oriented film from Hallmark that sounded different from usual and had potential to have more depth than is often seen. Peter Gallagher and Bruce Campbell are also always watchable, regardless of the state of everything else.

'One December Night' really impressed me and does a great job with its very promising premise. As far as the 2021 Hallmark films having music as a big part of the story go, this is one of the best and most emotionally investable and also is different to the usual formula. Which makes it stand out. As far as the 2021 Hallmark Christmas films go, 'One December Night' is also another one of the best, and one of the better films of the 2021 output with a scenario that is not as predictable as others that year.

Is it a classic? No. Did feel that the ending was not a surprise and that it was a little on the pat side.

Did feel too that Eloise Mumford's character was slightly underwritten.

However, the acting is very good. Terrific actually in the case of Gallagher and Campbell, both showing different sides and bringing edge and heart to them with no signs of being taxed. The chemistry between them also grows realistically and doesn't come over as contrived or anaemic. The same goes with all the relationships, with that between Brett Dalton and Mumford not being too sidelined and being genuine and not dull. The characters were ones worth caring for, with both flaws and strengths that never go overboard in either extreme, and any development doesn't feel rushed or aimless.

Visually, 'One December Night' is not lavish, but it is slick and attractive enough. The music is great on its own and is beautifully integrated into the film, it is always a good thing when music is like a character of its own in a film etc, which is what this premise calls for, and that is definitely the case here. Very nicely performed too. The script is not too sentimental, while being more serious and personal than can often be seen from Hallmark, while having enough lightness to avoid being over serious without being juvenile or cheesy. The story is heart-warming and moving, done in a way that's not difficult to relate to.

Concluding, very well done. 8/10.

A broken friendship in need of mending, grief for losses in need of closure, aging with failing health, a rekindled youth friendship, good music, and Christmas time. Here, all you need for a rich story to tell in a movie. What makes the movie enjoyable is that all the ingredients are honestly dosed well, with gentle touch, and rendered credible. What could have gone, as often happens, pretentious or garbled with cheap emotions, becomes, here, a captivating and moving production. The acting is good, the pace is just right, the pathos is real. Kudos to Hallmark for choosing a different and thoughtful pathway.

6/10 - music-themed Christmas flick does a nice job of balancing some originality while maintaining the familiar Hallmark spark that people tune in for.

It was refreshing to see some older actors get some front row roles in one of these holiday hallmark films. This was a reunion of a famous musical duo for a pre-Christmas live tv concert. Things aren't exactly as they seem it is also a story about Alzheimer's, being clean and sober, and reuniting families.

As mentioned it was thrilling to see Didi Conn who played Frenchie in the original 1978 film, Grease.

This was a little different than most of the holiday romances on Hallmark in that it focused less on the romance and more on reuniting these two former musical brothers.