The Christmas Ornament

So many things to like about this understated holiday movie:

1. It's sweet without being sappy, a real relief to see a Hallmark holiday romance where the story is not over the top mushy and crowded with cliché.

2. the actors look and dress like real people, and their houses are closer to normal family homes than Hollywood-scale sets. A little crowded, a little dusty, with short sight-lines.

3. Kellie Martin (who plays Kathy, the widow running her late husband's dream shop) has a face that's lived a life and felt sorrow. She's not touched up to look like a typical young TV widow who has never actually wept or frowned (except beautifully). She moves flawlessly between strong and vulnerable, sadness and humour, tidy and a bit of a mess. She looks and sounds REAL.

4. Cameron Mathison as Tim is cute, in a harmlessly rugged kind of way. A former soap opera actor, he is muted and believable in his character and, unlike so many romantic-movie leads, marked but not terribly traumatized by his past life experiences. He doesn't need to be redeemed through the love of a good woman. There's a bit of believable tension and confusion, both internal and (as expected) external, about an old love affair. He behaves like a nice man, someone you would want to meet or have as a neighbour.

5. The secondary characters seem like real people with their own lives, not the story kind who live their whole lives in service of their cooler or more troubled friend. They never distract from the simple, touching story at the heart of the movie. Jewel Staite is great as Kathy's best friend Jenna, warm and cute and concerned, but clearly has her own life. There's good, credible friend-chemistry between the two, a level of comfort and non-competition that many women wish for and never find.

6. It made me want to go skating again (and eat Christmas cookies, but that I do anyway).

Anyway, without being a great classic in the making, this is a very nice way to spend an evening in the holiday TV season, with ordinary people working through ordinary situations. I know that sounds dull, but if you're tired of the kitcsch and hype of the usual TV fare, this is a nice change of pace that maintains the seasonal glow.

My talent is not writing but I want to say something about this movie.

I was expecting it to be an average movie or worse, so I watched it last of three movies on Sunday evening. It should have been the first one I watched.

I watch a lot of these kinds of Christmas movies and I personally rate everyone for myself, from 1 rating to 5 rating. Most of them, I rate about a 3. This was a 4 rating.

I don't know if it was mostly the director, writing or acting that made this movie better than most. All of the performances were good, particularly the lead male actor. For him, "Natural" was the word that came to mind as I watched him. Even the small parts were good, like the Christmas tree sale helper.

One of the messages of the film is very important of which everyone should heed.

"Discover what you love to do and figure out a way to make money doing it."

This is a well made film. I can not believe how special it is. This film is really all about "Love". Finding love and letting go at the same time.

What is nice about this is the film is about how real people act when possibly falling for somebody and hoping they feel the same.

In this film Kathie runs a bike shop. She and her husband opened it up in January but he dies shortly after that.

Tim owns and run a Tree Lot. When Kathie meets Tim the click but she is afraid of admitting that and she at the same time feels guilty for that. (This is not said by Kathie but if you watch this more than once you will understand what I am saying).

What is great about this film is that it captures real emotions and how people get scared of change and sometimes getting in their own way on the road to happiness.

Love This Film!! Can not say enough nice things about it.

Personally I think it's always a good thing when you recognize the leads of the movie, that gives me hope that the movie will be of good quality!

Kellie Martin and Cameron Mathison headline this movie about a widow that is going to attempt to skip Christmas as it brings up too many memories of her late husband. Jewel Staite from Serenity/Firefly also stars as the best friend.

Kathy's plan to skip all things Christmas doesn't go as she plans after she meets local Christmas tree seller, Tim. Is Kathy ready to make new memories and room in her heart?

Cute, warm and funny. worth a view.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY REVIEWED ONE FILM. THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.

Put "The Christmas Ornament" on your must watch list! In this film a recently young widowed is facing her first Christmas without her husband. Cameron Mathison plays a man who owns a Christmas Tree lot and the two of course fall in love.

What is believable about this film is that is shows no matter how old you are you never lose the nervousness you have when you "Like someone" and hope they like you. What was perfect about this was the two leads do not start off as adversary's. I love the fact that each one is a "Little Gun Shy" and is afraid of being hurt.

Most adults over 30 will "fully understand" and can relate to both of these people. My favorite moment in the film happens when they turn on the Snow Machine on the Christmas Tree lot. Try not to smile when you hear the man say "I Love Christmas". It is a magical moment