silversurfersgp I only started watching some of Hallmark's Christmas movies recently and from what I have seen, they have definitely got the formula down to a pat, but it does seem that when they adapt the script from a book, the writing and dialogue is less formulaic and richer in tone.The Mistletoe Inn was adapted from a novel by Richard Paul Evans. For starters, the central premise and setting seems different - after being dumped by her pretentious and pompous writer-boyfriend (who has just one published novel to his name), a successful car dealer and wannabe romance writer struggling to finish her own first book attends a writing conference/retreat not only to meet her favourite romance novelist (once a bestselling author but who hasn't published a book in many years), but also to take herself lout of her comfort zone and push herself to see if she indeed has what it takes to be a writer by aiming to win a writing competition at the retreat. Her jerk of an ex ends up being at the same conference, but so is another interesting writer she meets there who is himself struggling from writers' block. Sure, the movie follows the usual route of her initially disliking this new guy but by the end, the two of them fall for each other; this is a Hallmark movie after all.Despite the many negative reviews (and I really don't get all the hate here), Alicia Witt is just terrific. Her character, Kim Rossi, is insecure and uncertain of her own abilities but it is her very vulnerability that is actually the key towards unlocking her literary talents, and her budding romance with Zeke, played by a very earnest and personable David Alpay, is sweet and believable. I thought the chemistry between the two leads was just wonderful. Also, the scenes that take place at the writing retreat seemed realistic as well.My issues with the third act aside (see below - spoiler alert!), I certainly enjoyed the movie, and I will definitely be keeping a look out for Miss Witt's back catalogue of Hallmark Christmas movies!Postscript (SPOILERS AHEAD!) I do feel the last act was a little rushed and raised a couple of issues which weren't properly sorted out. Firstly, Kim's insufferably smarmy ex who has grown increasingly jealous of her abilities does an absolutely shiitty thing in sabotaging her chances at winning the writing competition, directly implicating another good girlfriend she has made at the conference; it is never resolved, he is never found out, and this annoyed me to no end. Sure, she rejects him when he comes back to her at the end begging to be taken back, but I thought justice just wasn't served satisfactorily.

zyxnix I love Alicia Witt. This was not a good vehicle for her. She sort of seems to be veering towards a Doris Day type kooky lead girl. I don't like it. I wanted A Very Merry Mix-Up. That was top shelf. There are a few moments where she scored high praise...dressed up for dinner A+ and running in her tight yoga pants. Thank goodness Lucie Guest was in this movie. I hate this trend of Christmas/Not Christmas Movies. This is another plot crow-barred into a Christmas setting...Not fooling me...NO Christmas MAGIC

NJS I have watched 100's of Hallmark movies and most of the time I thoroughly enjoy them, no matter how corny or predictable they can be. Alica Witt is someone I've enjoyed watching, but she was downright annoying in this movie. In one scene she went out for a jog and had this silly lilting run as if she was almost skipping. Her interaction with the male lead was argumentative and pompous, and there was no reason for her to be that way. I did like David Alpay who played Zeke. The movie would have been enjoyable if Alicia Witt's acting was more natural.

mbudrock Personally, I find Hallmark's movies just the right start to bringing in the Christmas Season. Sometimes they have an edge, but mostly they are good stories well told and acted. Schsmaltzey, a little too sweet, perhaps, but that's what makes them endearing and what I think gives the actors some latitude in their characterizations. While some have characterized Alicia Witt's acting in this movie as a step above her earlier roles, I find it fitting for the role. As I do her earlier work. This isn't Shakespeare, it's a series of feel good movies that stand or fall on the actor's ability to create relatable characters. I think she and her fellow Hallmark studio actors, deliver on those points almost every time. It's what keeps me coming back anyway. What is driving me crazy this year though is the set design/special effects. This movie is an unfortunate example of a trend where things like snow is nothing more than blobs of suds, when it snows, the sun is always out and shining brightly, it's as if Hallmark just gave up trying. The actors are doing their part to make these stories real. The production department could at least back them up with realistic props and effects. Bad effects can kill a story just as easily as bad acting.