Writing skill, casting and chemistry between the main characters (with efforts from the supporting cast) make or break these generally formulaic Lifetime/Hallmark holiday films.
It is very interesting to me that many of these efforts, with similar small budgets, vary so widely in quality.
This recent made for TV production clearly didn't have the budget of the long ago big studio holiday films. Once upon a time, these had "A" list stars and the very best supporting actors in Hollywood. But, after all this is a made for TV production. So, direct comparisons are unfair.
My opinion is that the writers are not so much mediocre as...restrained.
However, mix some charisma and a little chemistry and reasonably witty writing together and you get a watchable story.
This one does better than average. It shows off Meredith Hagner at her best (perhaps by pushing other characters into a vanilla background).
This seems to be a "hallmark" of the Hallmark films. The female protagonist gets the lion's share of the story and the rest of the cast (with a few exceptions) fades into the scenery very quickly.
That would be the big diff between the holiday films of the past and those of the Hallmark channel. These current supporting actors are short-changed both in screen time and vibrancy of characterization.
Having said that, this is one of the better attempts.
