Eight Gifts of Hanukkah

The anonymous gift premise isn't the most common and since this is Hanukkah, the traditional activities are different from all the Christmas movies, but there is still a charity function that all the romantic interests work on.

Jake Epstein's Daniel and Inbar Lavi's Sara (spelling as per the gift cards) have great chemistry despite supposedly being just friends. I'm beginning to really appreciate Epstein who seems to bond well with his opposite whether the story is about Hanukkah or Christmas. Lavi is new to me, but I liked her almost at once.

I think the viewer knows who the sender is almost from the first gift, but it's not long in the movie before he confesses to a friend. A lot of attention is paid to his frustration that all the other male candidates are getting.

We've seen a few Hanukkah-themed movies over the years, and think this is the best. Yes - the bar is kind of low, but this is a Hallmark movie not Oscar night. We particularly liked the portrayal of this holiday as being for family, the children, and the history of it. You get to see the family lighting and blessing the Hanukkah candles - it was touching and felt right.

I really enjoyed the online dating opening with Sarah going to meet online guys at a coffeeshop. Sarah is an eye doctor, she does meet one good one a top chef named Nigel. Also a client at her eye clinic also asks her out...things are looking up. If only she can get her confidence up from her breakup with Paul.

Hanukkah celebrating Sarah has been single for four months and is finally ready to try dating again. Her childhood friend, Daniel, is doing a remodel on her business and always has her back...this is where he comes in to bolster her confidence.

"I think this is my cue to remind you that he didn't deserve you."-Daniel.

"The bean counters are not just a garage band."-Sarah

The commentating on the dreidel spinning Hilarious!

This was one entire introduction to Hanukkah for Sarah's friend and Christmas celebrating business partner.

One the first day of Hanukkah Sarah receives an anonymous gift of white roses fro a secret admirer. This is followed by seven more gifts...leaving her to wonder who is sending these special gifts?

"Cardboard boxes are an unrelated medium."-Daniel.

"I'm like the Jewish Nancy Drew."-Sarah.

This would have to be one of my all time favorite Hallmark movies and I don't even celebrate Hanukkah. The Story is a great love story during the holidays. It is mainly about Hanukkah, but it throws just a little Christmas in as well. The story alone isn't what makes the movie so great though. It just makes the movie good. What makes the movie great is also having a really great lead actress INBAR LAVI(Prison Break, Imposters, Lucifer) starring as Sara who receives eight anonymous gifts, one each night of Hanukkah from a secret admirer. I watched this movie on tv and ordered it online the next day I enjoyed it that much.

6/10 - Hallmark's first unabashedly Hanukkah-focused movie (that Double Holiday movie that focuses more on Christmas does not count) is a really pretty sweet romance that perfectly follows the Hallmark formula.