Christmas Around the Corner

I normally rely on the Hallmark Channel for most of my Christmas movie viewing, but I stumbled across this on Lifetime and watched it for one reason:

Alexandra Breckenridge

She is a truly captivating actress and a joy to watch on Virgin River. She's also great in this movie, as is the very talented Jane Alexander (her performance in the heartbreaking movie Testament was very powerful).

Although there are some nice moments, there are too many awful or ridiculous moments starting with the "Mistle-Toe" IPO. It's one thing to focus on Christmas themed traditions around the holiday, it's quite another to name your company after a plant associated with just one holiday month out of 12 when there's nothing Christmas related about the company. And I suppose somebody thought it would be clever to focus on the word "Toe" in the company name given that the business supposedly offers people online manicures and pedicures. But, again, there's nothing Christmassy about that.

Was anyone really surprised when the IPO went down in flames?

And in what alternate universe does a venture capitalist give up her life to run a bookstore unless the guy that came with the deal was truly special? Here, the guy was just perpetually glum, unpleasant and unreasonable (although it actually made sense for him to sell that place and get on with his life somewhere else).

Bookstores are quaint lovely places but let's face it, in the age of Amazon, and used books on eBay, it's virtually impossible to make a living owning and running a small bookstore in a small town unless there's a big space with other things for sale and a cafe. And this place seemed tiny.

I live in a town of 15,000 and the last bookstore here (there were once several) went out of business years ago. Running a small bookstore in a small town today would have to be a labor of love by somebody who doesn't have to worry about how to pay the bills.

This was enjoyable because of Alexandra Breckenridge and Jane Alexander, and there were more than a few nice moments between them. I also liked the surprising commitment to helping the Book Thief. There was also a nice uplifting theme of overcoming adversity. But if this hadn't starred Alexandra Breckenridge, it wouldn't have been worth watching.

I was happily surprised with this Hallmark movie. It turned out very well, and the acting was superb. This one is worth seeing!

How dare they have Andrew wash Claire's hands, that intimate moment between them ruined this "family" movie!!! All sarcasm aside, this was really cute! I'm so happy they added an LGTBIQ couple: I think it's a first for these kinds of movies.

My two favorite things about this was the development of Barb, the coffeshop owner from grinch to the most festive person ever!. And definitely the joy Claire brought to the town and to the movie. The actress did an amazing job. Regarding the chemistry between the actors, I didnt feel it at first, maybe towards the end.

I do think Alexandra Breckenridge brought life to this movie.

I enjoyed most of the movie until the gay priest with a baby. That's fine that they had a gay couple, but it's really pushing the limit when it's a priest.

Ably directed with flair and warmth by the famous for Anne of Green Gables Megan Follows, this Hallmarkesque entry is why I slog through dozens of hallmark dreck every Christmas: to get to ones like this. Even without the added gift of the award winning and still luminous Jane Alexander, this one would shine. Alexandra Breckenridge as Claire was lovely and gave a charming performance. She was so very likable. The only weak spot was the actor they cast as her love interest. He brought nothing special to the role whatsoever. Plus, to me, he was not attractive. The romance was not believable. Why would a probably 6 figure venture capitalist give up her life to run a bookstore unless the guy that came with the deal was truly special? Plus, his character was very whiney and unreasonable. I would have given this heartwarming tale a 9 or a 10 if the casting had been a bit better there. Icing on the cake was the church aspect with the (I'm guessing) Episcopal priest married to his same sex partner. Great to have a gay marriage so directly addressed.