A Biltmore Christmas

I have tried and tried to like this movie. I read the reviews praising it. Review after review said this was the best Hallmark movie ever. Some said it was so good because it was so different from previous Hallmark movies. That's true it is different. It stinks. This is the most improbable movie and I'm not talking about the time travel. Who drops the one thing that controls time travel? The money she found in the purse can't possibly pay for everything she has spent. She suddenly wears outfits that just materialize out of nowhere. And she didn't get them from wardrobe. The acting is stilted and awful in both time zones. I thought the modern day, Biltmore had bad acting with her sidekick and the manager, but then she went back in time and the bad acting continued. I have watched many Hallmark movies multiple times, but this is definitely a one off.

So sappy, and some of the worst acting I've ever seen. I really don't understand how others gave it such a high rating. Movie is boring, predictable and poorly directed and performed. Cardboard acting. Only redeeming quality is/are the sets. Biltmore is nice and appears to have been filmed there, as most of the scenes look to be filmed right at Biltmore Mansion. The part at the train station in Hendersonville NC also was actually filmed there, or so it seemed. The romantic nature of the film was way over done, and none of the characters were believable in the least bit. I would be embarrassed to say I acted in this piece of trash.

The acting was superb. I love Kristoffer Polaha in all of his shows his acting was great in this show. He's the best in all he does. The lead lady actor Bethany Joy Lenz was awesome as always. She is good in everything she does. Jonathan Franks was not familiar to me but he was a good actor. The rest I don't know them. Acting was good. The show not so much. I'm not a fan of going back in time so I would rather watch other shows. Not a fan. The show was boring and slow. So slow I had to do other things to get through it like Facebook and Instagram. The place itself was gorgeous. Just not a fan.

I guess I have to write "Perfect" a 100 times to reach the IMDB minimum but worth every single one. I was working but wanted something fluffy in the background - did not expect this totally adorable stunningly shot movie. Biltmore is so incredible beautiful. And the cast is amazing - Kristoffer Polaha kept me blinking that this is actually a modern piece. And the chemistry with Bethany Joy is just magic. What a beautiful flow to the film. Best film in this genre for me since "The Spirit of Christmas" which though a very different theme somehow reminded a lot of that evolving love that is purely organic and not forced, Bravo!

When I learned that two of my favorite Hallmark stars were paired up in a time travel story, I had high expectations. This wonderful movie exceeded those expectations. Bethany Joy Lenz is always great, but she just glows as Lucy Hardgrove, a screenwriter working on a remake of a beloved 1940s movie. Kristoffer Polaha plays Jack Huston, one of the stars of that old movie which, in this movie, is shown in black and white for authenticity. Polaha probably has one of the smoothest sounding voices in the world and he's very effective as a 1940s movie star. This movie was a lot of fun. There's a magic hourglass, a mysterious hotel worker, feuding cast members, a sweet enthusiastic fan, a writer/director who drove away the love of his life, elaborate period costumes, old cars, a sweet rendition of Jingle Bells, lots of eggnog, a surprise cameo, a Jimmy Stewart impersonation, lines about TCM and His Girl Friday, and a character who says her name is Sandra Bullock. Hallmark movies are (unfairly) criticized for being "all the same" and "predictable", but I honestly had no idea how the movie was going to play out. That's a tribute to the writer, Marcy Holland, who wrote the "Time For 'X' to Come Home For Christmas" movies. If they gave out Emmy Awards for best Christmas movie screenplays, she'd win for this one. John Putch, who directed last year's excellent "A Holiday Spectacular", which was also set in the past, beautifully recreated the past in this movie too. And it was a Christmas movie in the sense that "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie; it takes place during Christmas and there are lots of holiday decorations. The essence of the story, however, was the chemistry between John and Lucy and the theme of taking a risk for someone else. I just loved this gem of a movie.

The Biltmore may be the drawing card for this movie, but it's Bethany Joy Lenz, Kristoffer Polaha, the script, and the entire production that are the aces. Lenz is always very good, but here she is outstanding as Lucy, as is Kristoffer Polaha as Jack Huston. Plus, the chemistry they have on screen is quite remarkable, maybe because their characters are so endearing. Yes, this is a fantasy involving intrigue and time travel, but it so convincingly written that it becomes almost realistic and believable because of the dialogue, the locations, and the performances. The intermittent use of black and white camerawork is a brilliant idea and serves to enhance the story and the characters of Jack, Ava, and Claude, the three movie stars in 1946's fictional movie "His Merry Wife !". Colton Little and particularly newcomer Annabelle Borke are wonderful as Ava and Claude. Everything here is perfect : the direction by John Putch, the writing by Marcy Holland, the music by Tommy Fields (which has already been nominated for an award), the production design, the art and set direction, the costumes, and the cinematography. Mention must be made of Tracy Kilpatrick who had the insight to put this cast together. And don't think that the character of Margaret is too bizarre. Here, in Michigan, we have Mackinac Island where "Somewhere In Time" was filmed. The fans of that film flock to the island and many are just as zany as Margaret, played nicely here by A. K. Benninghofen. This film is so interesting and of such exceptional quality that I would have paid to see it at the show - it far exceeds some to the movies that are released in theaters nowadays. Even better than "Somewhere In Time," too.

I had almost given up on every Hallmark movie... if I had seen another baker, big real estate guy taking the small shop, or royal nonsense I was going to just quit altogether. But Christmas at the Biltmore had such high reviews, I thought, well if I don't like it I don't have to invest much time. Little did I know that I would be completely surprised and entirely entertained with this story. This is such an improvement upon old/typical Hallmark storylines, and while those can be endearing at times, I tend to lose interest. The acting was superb with great writing and well developed story. The two leads were terrific together and had such chemistry. Give this one a try if you're looking for something new!

Wow! I never thought I'd see a Hallmark movie that I felt deserved top marks. Well, "A Biltmore Christmas" is the one, and so I have rated it 10/10. It follows Lucy, a screen writer tasked with rewriting the script for a remake of a beloved classic Christmas movie from 1947. I'm screaming already! 😱 Lucy is unenthused with this assignment, so her boss pushes her into a trip to the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC, where the original movie was filmed, to get some inspiration for the rewrite. After she tours the house, some unbelievable things begin to happen, and the plot takes some neat twists and turns. And that's as far as I'm taking you down that road! I HATE SPOILERS! Ms. Lenz and her co-star Kristoffer Polaha have terrific chemistry together. To be honest, each of them always exudes good chemistry no matter who they're starring with. Suspend your disbelief and just go with it! *I grew up in NC, so I may be biased, but Biltmore House, gardens, grounds, and winery are fantastic to tour, especially for Christmas. If you do it right, it's an all-day affair. 👍*

This one was not what I expected, and I absolutely adore everything about it. My husband even enjoyed it, and he's not always a Hallmark movie fan. Bethany Joy Lenz Never disappoints. Whether a romantic comedy or drama, she is always incredible. Kristoffer Polaha was dashing and debonair. The era was magical, as was the Biltmore. I've visited the Biltmore, and it is an enchanted place. The verbiage and fashion were on point. I don't usually cry watching Hallmark movies, but this ending sent me right to my box of Kleenex in a good way. The surprise appearances toward the end were also a lovely surprise.

Good movie!