My Grown-Up Christmas List

This had to be the best Hallmark / Christmas movie I've watched this year Kevin and Kayla have so much chemistry this movie was touching and romantic definitely one of those movies more than once.

Taylor and Luke meet while he is dressed as Santa and she is mourning a loved one. They talk, he even sends a gift and they dont see each other until the next year.

This movie is about a long distance relationship that is 3 years in the making (I think that is a first for Hallmark). It's definitely not what we are used to.

I thought the movie was quite heartwarming, there were moments between the characters that I felt I was intruding. You can feel how much Kevin and Kayla adore each other and they were happy to be there together.

Now, on the other hand, it is quite slow and there were moments that bored me. I'm not that happy with the ending either. It felt rushed. I thought it was heading in another direction. I also had questions, are civilians allowed there? Is this relationship doomed? They have barely spent time together, physically. What about his career?

Anyway, A+ for the effort Hallmark. But not the biggest fan. However, I would love to see more of Kevin and Kayla together, specially Kayla as a lead.

First, I love Hallmark Christmas movies. This attempt was a miss. Story is a little far-fetched but acceptable because it's Hallmark.

What does stand out as a glaring mistake: The long hair for the military is way off. The low, low cleavage of the wedding dress was a "what was I thinking" dress faux pas.

Movie had some laughs for all the wrong reasons.

Better luck next time, Hallmark.

Overall the movie was good. The first hour was slow-moving, but I appreciated the evolution of their relationship. We have dear friends in the military, and the holidays are extremely tough for their families, especially if they can't be together. I wouldn't watch it again, but I didn't dislike it either. I prefer more humor, and the military inaccuracies were noticeable, but the storyline was believable.

7.1 stars.

There is a great chemistry between these two actors, but they did not get to explore it enough. The romantic scenes were very nice, and actually quite realistic, they didn't waste any time setting up his laid back flirtations and her reciprocations. She made the first real move to hold his hand, and soon they are proclaiming their love for each other. He goes oversees, now the second year in a row they are apart.

It's a long distance romance movie, and while the acting was expertly done, the script didn't leave us any room to enjoy a real romantic relationship. It's way too much anticipation, and hoping they will be together at long last, and not getting to realize it for the potentially great love story it might have been.

I know he's a heartthrob, I've seen him in various films. She is new for me, but she's absolutely adorable.

She seems a bit juvenile and reticent at first, but skillfully matures in the relationship. I was impressed by her adaptability.

Also there is a strange pacing to it, the romantic gestures happen so quickly and naturally, yet the rest of the events move in slow motion. What happened to the Christmas spirit and the Charles Dickens angles? They seemed to fade away.

It appears an unorthodox formula was used in this film, which I have to admit I somewhat enjoyed even though it was difficult at times to relate to the inevitable interpretation of a splintered story.