Holiday Hearts

source: Holiday Hearts

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"Looked like he was running from something." "What?" "...like a female reindeer who was trying to tell him she had feelings for him or something." This couple instantly seemed to fit with one another and our child star, Peyton, steels the show. The Christmas Eve theme seems to come organically. Filled with fun Christmas activities...some with a little twist, like a snowman doing a handstand. Filled with Christmas decorations...and monster trees (I am guessing from Balsam Hill). Basic story is about Peyton, who works for her family's inn as an accountant, but would like to become the event planner so she takes on the planning of this year's 25th anniversary Christmas Eve Ball, which is the talk of the town. With all the pressure she is 5 days from the event and does not yet have a theme. While running errands she sees a reindeer and runs in to her old flame, dr. Ben. Dr. Ben is on the eve of heading to Honduras for a job interview with a three year contract. They both end up thrown together looking after their collective best friend's daughter, Lily, because her father has an accident and needs knee surgery. Together they try to make Christmas special for Lily and thus find Christmas and each other...not to mention Peyton's Theme. Best line of the film, "snowflakes are kisses from heaven"- Lily.

I really enjoy Hallmark movies but I fear that they have now fallen into the virtue signaling, politically correct trap. Why do the current crop pf Christmas movies use the terms holiday party and holidays?

I do enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies. Yes, they tend to have similar themes and topics...what do you expect, there's tons of them?! That being said...I really wish they would do 2 things in their movies. 1. When they have musicians playing in the scene...ACTUALLY DO!!!! Don't fake it! It's obvious when you are using real or fake musicians in background scenes! 2. Please consult actual medical personnel for certain things. If someone actually had ACL surgery, they wouldn't be sent home in a silly ace type wrap on their knee!!! They would've had a knee immobilizer!!! The details matter! It makes for a stronger movie and more believability.

I loved the movie as always. I also wish that Humphrey the Swimming Reindeer was a real book.

Characters in Holiday Hearts themselves do the same thing that creators of most Christmas movies do - cross off items from a checklist of Christmas related things (Christmas decoration, the tree, cookies, presents...). You won't find anything outstanding here, but it's a feel-good movie without unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings. Ashley Williams is all smiles, and Paul and the little girl aren't bad either. Ideal when you're in the mood for simple and lighthearted holiday fun.

Nobody should watch Hallmark films with massively high expectations, their Christmas output particularly. If a Hallmark fan or wanting to see as many Christmas films as possible, expectations would understandably be higher. They are very formulaic with most of them being more of the same narratively and structurally, apart from sporadic attempts at changes of pace. There are a fair share of them though that are surprisingly above average and even good amidst the many average and less ones. 2019 was a very hit and miss and somewhat unimpressive year for Hallmark and their Christmas output. 'Holiday Hearts' to me, and many others it seems, managed to be one of the best from that year and actually among their best Christmas films in general. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch, then again is that expected from Hallmark, or flawless. But 'Holiday Hearts' does show that Hallmark do have a good film in them if given a chance and not taken too seriously. Like other Hallmark Christmas films, 'Holiday Hearts' is a bit of a slow starter. Some of the dialogue in the early parts did make me cringe and the story didn't grab me straight away when it was very slight. Anybody expecting innovation are best looking elsewhere, as when it comes to the story it is one of those stories that you've seen in some shape or form in other Hallmark films. While other Hallmark films fared worse, the music is on the intrusive side. However, for me there was a lot to like about 'Holiday Hearts'. Ashley Williams is very photogenic and has a lot of charm to her, she is a lot better here than she was in 'Northern Lights of Christmas'. She doesn't overdo any mannerisms and she doesn't hold back. She has a suitably sympathetic but never on the wrong side of dull leading man in Paul Campbell. Both the characters were for me easy to connect to and grew in development, with any rushed or senseless motivations. Their chemistry comes over as genuine as well. Lisa Durupt is good fun in her role. It pleases visually too, especially the appropriately festive locations that are not drably shot or too drab in colour scheme. Once 'Holiday Hearts' gets going and things get better, the dialogue is tighter and less stilted than a lot of Hallmark Christmas films and the cheese and sentiment isn't as much. The story is very predictable admittedly, but it still engaged me and was charming and heart-warming while not taking itself too seriously. It is not as slight as most Hallmark Christmas films too, again though once it gets going. The characters may be well worn cliches, but they came over to me as likeable enough and any negative character traits didn't come over as over the top like can be the case in Hallmark Christmas films. Actually cared for these characters, not the case with a lot of recently seen Christmas films. Overall, worth seeing if not a must. 7/10

Love Ashley Williams and Paul Campbell great chemistry.beautiful movie scenes are great

Many motives to love it. For story, party, romance and two ex school mates together, under the looks of a girl and her Miranda. A book about Humphrey and the first Christmas party of a inn after 25 years of precious tradition. A earm film. Yes, a Halmark one. But a very, very, very nice one.