As a Hallmark superfan, I've seen a LOT of their Christmas offerings. Some good, a lot mediocre, others bad, some I didn't even finish! But there are very few that I call masterpieces.
This. Is. A. Masterpiece.
The old Hollywood fan in me was so thrilled to see the little references here and there to the stars of the day, and even some recreations of scenes from popular films (Jack moving in sync with the elevator door once he sees Lucy again is an homage to the impeccable Cary Grant in My Favorite Wife!). I think what made this film so utterly sweet, charming and captivating, and miles above what we're usually treated to by Hallmark, is the amount of HEART it has.
Joy Lenz and Polaha have so much chemistry as Lucy and Jack; nothing feels forced. The supporting cast is funny and witty, and a perfect compliment to the leads. Above all, there are no gimmicks...no Christmas parades, no paper-thin reasons for giving up on the relationship, no overzealous, Christmas crazed townsfolk...just what feels like real people, fated to be together and deserving of a happy ending. The end made me weep openly, and I had no shame about it.
Thank you Hallmark for doing this film, and please do many more like this! Because you've got yourselves a hit.