Holiday Road

Hallmark you've hit a home run! I had given up on most of the Hallmark movies...so tired of the same theme, just different actors in a different setting - -> for years on end. And, for a long time, featuring the same people in the leading rolls, even if their acting skills were lacking. This movie has delightful people who play their parts well. Love anything Warren Christie does, so that was a bonus. It created in me a whole host of feelings & emotions. This was a wonderful movie to lead into the holiday season right after Thanksgiving. It left me wanting more... I didn't want it to end. It was that good.

7.2/10

Hallmark finally has a new storyline, but of course it comes with a price, if you've got a heart for true to life stories at Christmas time. I recommend checking it out with a box of tissues nearby. Lucky for you the commercials give you a moment to catch your heart before it gets too heavy.

This is more than just a love story. It's a friendship story with a loving twist added in. While the movie claims to be based on a true story it isn't specifically based on any one persons experience. It's based on the stranded travellers experience of wanting to get home for the holidays.

There are nine main characters in this film and each character is unique with a few stories having overlapping experiences. I won't describe them because part of the fun of watching "Holiday Road" was learning about each persons life and how the holidays affect them.

This is one of those few stories Hallmark has nailed and can be proud to have made. "Holiday Road" isn't cheesy. It's well written and acted. The characters are relatable in some aspect, and it just pulls you into the holiday spirit.

Overall, I recommend adding this one to your Christmas Countdown list. My aunt was right when she said the humour was good, and the film itself was pretty good too.

That's all for now. Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Until next time.... Enjoy the show!

I know the romantic leads have to start off disliking each other, but this was too much. I hated Clay so much at first that if I saw him in real life it would not have been pretty. Dana didn't help things. Maybe she was provoked. Clay was ridiculous being entitled ordering his coffee without regard to anyone else, but Dana was pretty rude back. Clay did other things too. Then, miraculously, the animosity goes poof. They fall in love in 2-3 days.

There were a lot of other stories too. Two were married and two more mom and son, so the 9 people broke down to 7 stories, or backstories. Most of the backstories were really hard.

The trip along the way had some mildly interesting stops, but as the movie winds down each of the separate stories has a conclusion that fills in whatever blanks are remaining. A couple were blatant attempts to bring tears, and they kind of worked.

Along the way, the mom traveling alone (I can't keep 9 main characters' names straight) sang a touching rendition of a famous hymn. It left her in tears. When we find out why, it is even more so. Those of you who want to leave God out of these movies will be glad that the reason wasn't religious.

A heartfelt, well written movie about strangers who are forced by circumstances to travel together to get to Denver in time for Christmas. Done honestly, without silliness and with great heart and soul. The ensemble cast was great, with each story emotionally powerful. It was just lovely. I loved the current trend subplot of the vlogger. What delight. I was surprised and had sych low expectations after so very many silly movies so far this year. I had almost given up hope that we would see a heartfelt movie in the old beloved Hallmark tradition. Definitely a winner! There were even a few sweetbsurprises in the subplots. Watch this one.

When Hallmark put their mind to it, THIS is what you get: "Holiday Road", a heartfelt, thoughtful and heartwarming Christmas movie about a group of strangers from different walks of life stranded in Portland and needing to get to Denver for Christmas for a multitude of oft-complicated reasons.

With flights grounded due to a winter storm, they rent one of those big Mercedes Sprinter Vans and drive there instead...learning about themselves and each other along the way, on a trip that doesn't quite go to plan. (Based on a true story, at least according to the opening credits.)

So many wonderful scenes. Well-written and well acted by the diverse cast - the casting is top-notch - with a great soundtrack, and, crucially, avoiding most of the usual Hallmark tropes. There are some melancholy moments and some happy moments, and an ending that, although a little predictable, hits you right in the feels.

Really loved this.