A Lot Like Christmas

Should you look for originality, you may take a negative view of this film. Big business crushing "mom and pop" enterprises, business competitors attracted to one another are themes that abound in shows. This time, though, they are developed with the appropriate tones. Love and hate situations, resentments among friends, hopes and dismays are rendered soberly, therefore credibly. Maggie Lawson and Christopher Russell are a good match and make their story appealing. Good will and kindness prevail, as expected in a Christmas movie. The result is not a home run, but a solid Holiday movie, one that it may be worth watching. GAC seems to have found the thread lost by Hallmark in many of its recent productions.

Typical in many ways, but the cast is what makes it enjoyable. It's a Holiday rom-com and easy going.

Maggie and Christopher mess well.

To the person that was critical of the use of Route 12 and 90......."Route 12 is real" and 90 may not be a "US" but is actually the NY Thruway.

Both real roads through beautiful areas.

Christopher Russell plays against his usual type as a big city corporate big wig. He usually plays rugged back to nature types. He has come to Maggie Lawson's small town to open a big box store, which threatens to put the local Mom and Pops out of business. Most especially Maggie's Christmas Tree lot. They meet and are immediately attracted to each other without knowing whom the other is. Disaster looms.

Christopher Russell is excellent in this: funny and sincere. Maggie was OK, although her character comes across as trying too hard with the hot new man in town. But really, who can blame her? He is gorgeous and nice. If not handled well however, this enthusiasm can come across as desperation. Unfortunately the story was dull with nothing on the horizon that could remotely be of interest. When she learns his true identity, she turns on him and will do anything to beat him at his own game. She commences to cut off her nose to spite her face. Christopher remains good-hearted and easygoing, which makes her antics all the more unattractive. When her little brother explains to this genius that she has bankrupted the business with all of her expenses outstripping their sales, it finally comes the inevitable sad end. Did she just blame Christopher for her own stupidity?

But wait! Thanks to her sudden inspiration of turning her farm into an event venue, the farm is miraculously saved. Like the next day. When very clueless (but still lovable) Christopher learns that the corporation he works for is based on lies, he decides the small town life is more his speed, and the romance is saved as well.

It's "Clay" (Christopher Russell) who arrives in a small town just as the animated snow is falling onto such an obvious studio set - so now we know what we are in for. He's there to help set up a new superstore that's going to be just what the townsfolk need for jobs and prosperity. Meantime, the "Roberts" farm is facing a tough time. "Scott" (Matt Visser) keeps telling sis "Jessica" (Maggie Lawson) that they are on the brink of bankruptcy! The last thing they need is the new shop, especially one run by his old pal "Xavier" (Ian Collins). Scene set? Well now we have to create the gently convoluted scene in which she and "Clay" meet, then there's the bit when the start to fall for each other before the bit about him about his owning up to why he's there. Will she forgive him? Can they have a truce as the all important Christmas market will be crucial for her family and his job, yada yada... The denouement? Well come on now! I didn't hate this, and for the festive season it's your typical cheesy drama with some very light humour (mostly contained at the very start) and just the hint of a frustrated bromance between "Scott" and "Xavier" that's disappointingly undercooked. Nope, there's no way you will ever recall watching this, but it's harmless fodder to shove on in the background whilst you wrap, or stuff, or snooze through December.

6.2 stars.

Clay, a regional marketing director of a garden supply store (sorta like Home Depot or Lowe's supply center) is sent to utilize his skills in Hudson Springs, a town that doesn't necessarily respond to that sort of big business. The town is full of people who enjoy small town ideals and good old fashioned Christmas spirit. Jessica and her brother run the Roberts Farm, a Christmas tree farm in this town and they are now dealing with this rival big store that competes with their sales of trees, plants, and gardening supplies. Jessica likes Clay but is unaware he represents the superstore. He does his best to be cryptic and keep that information from her, because they are attracted to each other, and he knows it will ruin their chances at something more. When the truth is revealed it's a very big explosion of anger and seething disdain.

Her hatred for him is laughable if I'm being honest. I don't think this is a realistic response and do people do this in the real world? The whole first half of the film is the two of them barely getting acquainted and the second half comprises the war she wages on him and his company. The last two minutes is nice, otherwise this is a bland movie with a very limited plot. I had a difficult time getting through this movie and it didn't feel 'A Lot Like Christmas'. The title, is clever. They own a Christmas tree lot, ha ha. They wasted some good actors, cinematography, and music on a dead end plot.

Tidbit of trivia: the Roberts farm has an old red pickup truck used in another movie by the same actor, but in the other movie it was his delivery truck for his bakery business. About every 5 Hallmark movies, I see a house, building, street, vehicle, costume, or other object that is reused. I suppose Hallmark could do worse.