Fall Into Winter

High hopes for this one and Lori's return to movies despite the many recent Christmas movie disappointments from Great American Family. Unfortunately, this was a huge disappointment with a distinct low-budget feel including: -Annoying background music throughout the entire movie -Terrible "winter" decor consisting of obvious fake snow carpets, cheap tinsel garlands, and odd leftover Christmas decorations.

-An unconvincing candy shop set with very little candy and no display cases, but plenty of diner-style counter stools.

-Absolutely no chemistry between the poorly matched leads.

-Awkward dialogue and a plodding storyline.

This was a big disappointment. I expected much more from Lori Loughlin. She was stiff and lifeless through the entire movie. Guess I thought she was a better actress than that. I get that her character was supposed to be introverted and - somehow, damaged??- but her portrayal was almost catatonic. There was a much better performance from the actress who played her friend. She brought some life into the story. The pace was very slow and plodding - I almost turned it off twice, but kept hoping there'd be a spark of something towards the end. Absolutely no chemistry between the 2 leads. This is an emphatic "no" for me - won't watch it again.

Okay .... so we have a locally-owned candy shop where the candy is handmade ... SLOWLY, and we virtually never see a customer in the shop. This place isn't going to survive a month, yet we have a savvy businessman with modern business ideals buying into it?

Nope.

Then let's take James Tupper. I'm sure we've seen him in some stuff where he showed some life, but that isn't in this movie. He put on the mantle of timid and awkward and apologetic for EVERYTHING and never took it off.

The romance is a typical antithetical romance, where at least one of the romantic leads seriously dislikes the other. Normally those are supposed to be funny. Nothing funny anywhere in this movie.

We were happy to see a resurrection of Lori Laughlin's career. We thought what happened with her was ridiculous. When California won't even charge someone who steals hundreds of dollars of merchandise with a crime, you're going to incarcerate someone who paid big bucks to get their kids into college? Great behavior? No. But save that cell for someone preying on innocent victims.

I don't understand the negative reviews for this movie. I almost didn't watch it because of the bad reviews, but I decided to anyway and I'm glad I did because I loved it. It's a movie I could watch over and over, and I don't watch many movies again unless they bring joy and hope to my heart. This one does.

I thought the two leads had great chemistry. I loved the growth in both of their characters, both personally, and as a couple. Yes, they've both had issues in their real life personal lives, but I think they've tried to make amends and they're trying to move on. Forgiveness is important for all of us. If you're bitter towards them (and it seems some of the other reviewers are), you need to forgive and move on. You're bitterness only hurts you, it's not hurting them.

I enjoyed the side characters as well. Great casting all around!

So don't believe the naysayers, give this one a try!

I'm glad to see Lori Loughlin back to work, but this movie felt like she mailed in her performance. I didn't feel like anyone or anything (except for Cherion Drakes) had much emotion. The story certainly didn't have any highs or lows or surprises. And didn't I see almost this same plot a couple of years ago. There are many of the usual formula plot devices including not one but two misunderstandings that threaten to torpedo the relationship.

I liked James Tupper in My Family Christmas Tree (which I've already watched at least 4 times) and after Brooks got past his change everything and squeeze every penny phase, Brooks was a pretty decent guy. But that's just it. Decent. But nothing special. I didn't think Tupper and Loughlin had much chemistry.

There's nothing bad about this movie. It is certainly Family Friendly which is one of the benchmarks (I almost said hallmarks which is the other network) of GAC Family. It is just too vanilla, not chocolate.