sjvalarik No surprises, no twists, no real conflicts, strange conversations... 100 % predictable. Of course every Christmas movie have the same cliché but I was expecting... something.Also the story messed up my brain a little. Beth has the little house medal in New York and called her mom to say thank you for it... then LATER there is a scene, when her mom actually gives her the medal. What was that?

Miss M I actually had very low expectations about this movie. The title didn't make me excited, a neither did the plot or the few images I saw. I thought the same thing the first 15 minutes of the movie, but as it continued I found myself enjoying it. Both leads do a pretty good work, and so does the supporting cast. It's not the best Hallmark has made, and the end is very predictable, but it's a lovely movie to enjoy in a boring afternoon.Fact: The actors who play Barry and Dean perform as brothers in Hallmark's "Chesapeake Shores", and I think this was shot before or during the production of the show so it was nice seeing them, even though they are not goofing around.

cammietime Leading lady lives in New York City - check. Leading Lady is from a small town - check. Leading lady visits small town in movie - check. Leading Lady falls in love with some guy in the home town - check. Leading lady has a big fancy job in New York City that causes conflict - check. Santa appears with magical items - check. Leading lady gives up her lifelong dream - check. Mother of leading lady is really good at baking and encouragement - check. You get the idea this movie follows the same plot formula as all other Hallmark Christmas movies. The only things this movie does not have is that the leading lady is NOT a Marketing Director, this time around she is an actress. Also, the confident wise old grandpa character that spews philosophical sayings is missing from this movie, and this of all movies could have really used him. After watching this movie, I do have to ask - why are small towns better than NYC? Why are part time teaching jobs better than a Broadway acting career? Why does the leading lady always have to give up her career ambitions and dreams every time in these Hallmark movies?Beth seems a bit bored in this movie, or, really more so confused as to why she is even there. It seems to make no sense to her. Dean, the love interest is pretty wooden and does not really do much more than spout sweet nothings at Beth, or lecture her about what it means to be great. Both Beth and Dean are a bit odd, and maybe that is why they sort of have chemistry in this movie. The mother character is a bit overbearing in this one, and less endearing than other movies like this I've seen. The Dad is gone and like I already said, there is no grandpa, and both of those characters would make sense in this movie given how much everyone likes to give Beth advice about life and what is truly important.All in all, not a bad movie to have in the background while you make cookies or something, but certainly not something to spend a night focused on.

heatherdavidson-45195 Spoiler... Why do Hallmark movies in general feature a woman who either gives up her dreams or changes who she is to please a man?In this case she drops her life long dream because the 2nd man in her life isn't willing to make sacrifices or move to support her dream, so she has to drop what she's always wanted to stay in a podunk town so a firefighter, who could easily get a job in NY, doesn't have to give up a single thing. Are these movies written by people who are jealous of those who made it out of their redneck small town? They make it seem like anyone who leaves is missing something and can't have love and happiness outside those small nosy, dead-end streets. I grew up in a tiny town and there is nothing, not a single thing, as idyllic as they try to make it appear. Especially not worth giving up your dreams for. What a condensing, annoying movie.