A Christmas Love Story (2019, d. Eric Close - Hallmark)
This is it, the one I've been waiting for. Kristin Chenoweth. Scott Wolf. A Christmas Love Story (which, funny enough, is the alt-title for Love at the Christmas Table). Let's do it.
The sounds of a choral rendition of Gloria accompany a swooping aerial/drone/cgi shot of New York City, leading into the window of a music studio where Katherine leads the singing choir. For a moment I thought that maybe they were just going to keep singing "Glo-oh-oh-oh-oh,oh-oh-oh-oh-oh,oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ria" over and over again. It does seem like one "Gloria" too many, but that may be my misunderstanding. 14 days to showtime on Christmas Eve.
Quick exposition between Katherine and Brian, her business partner in the choir group, tells us that they have a writer for their Christmas choir's title song every year since its inception, and that he's late. Of course, even mentioning that they're worried about this song means he' ain't doing it and that Katherine is likely going to have to pull up her stockings and do it herself, or that her future love interest will do it.
At a fundraiser for the school that the choir calls home, more exposition: FACT: the school is open to anyone who wants to audition thanks to the fundraiser; FACT: Katherine was once a broadway star/playwright (but "Broadway never forgets" she is told...is that an actual saying? Guys, is Broadway an elephant?!); FACT: the title song gets sold and funds the subsequent year's Christmas choir, so there are stakes here. The nice couple she's talking to presumptuously ask "So, do any of your children sing in the Christmas choir?" Katherine expertly dodges with a subtle flash of panic in the eyes and then an easy bright smile "Yep, all 33 of them."
Smash cut to Greg, walking and talking with his best friend/business partner, Shane, in an architectural firm trying to be convinced to come to the corporate Christmas party. Expository talk with his personal assistant tells us that Greg loves Christmas but that the loss of his wife a few years ago has put a damper on his spirit, and that he's still single since.
Back to Katherine: OH NO, their songwriter bailed (didn't see that coming), and Katherine, having once written a successful Broadway musical (co-written with her ex, we later learn) is convinced by Brian and the choir kids that she can totally write the title song for "When Angels Land"... Yes, the title of their holiday show is "When Angels Land". All I can picture is Angels swooping in and landing on an aircraft carrier, getting the backs of their robes caught on the drag cable to stop them from falling over the edge.
Anyway, in walks Danny from Connecticut, who is volunteering, helping out with props and costumes and whatnot. His serial killer side-part haircut and fixated staring/leering at Katherine make me very uncomfortable.
After choir is dismissed, Danny plays piano and sings pretty well. Katherine invites him to join the choir.
There's a fake-out toy shopping (in a real, legit toy store) scene with her cousin and niece (in another Hallmark Katherine would need to look after her niece and then find a nice man who is good with kids, but not here) where she's reminded how awesome she is and she later texts Brian that she will write the song (as if there was any doubt). The next day, Katherine has her meet cute with Greg when she can't catch and blindly hops into the back seat of a "Driber". Their exchange is congenial and breezy and full of big, brite white teethy smiles.
[Commercial break. Georgio Armani perfume ad with Kate Blanchette. Let's put this on repeat. Homina.
Greg is not *that* thrilled with Danny's choice to intern at the choir, but Katherine wants to foster Danny's talent. Stuck with writer's block, she keeps calling Greg to talk about Danny joining the choir, who keeps letting it go to voicemail. So she heads out to Connecticut to their house to convince him. But Greg starts to see Danny's passion for music before she arrives ("Music was mom's thing") and is already ready to concede. But, you know, Katherine is super charming, sexy and adorable (even in her super bulky snowflake sweater), so it's not hard to really be convinced anyway. When she arrives, Greg invites her in and their toothy rapport continues (as does Danny's awkward leers... Jesus kid) over tea. But a sudden snowstorm advisory keeps Katherine at Greg and Danny's house (with just a slight tonal shift and a few dialogue, this would be a suspense-thriller where Danny is totally creeping on this petite mother figure, and now she's trapped in his house). It's time for tree decorating and cookie baking and other seasonal activities that, you know, you do with practical strangers.
Anyway, a good time is had. Greg makes dinner, they drink wine and have good "getting to know you conversation" and it's clear these two tiny humans personalities are very compatible. She stays the night (I'm pretty sure it was in the spare room but the smiley face note Katherine leaves in the morning *could* *possibly* insinuate they did a little something more. I mean, it's a Hallmark movie so definitely not, but still, a guy can dream, right?) and Katherine is inspired, the song starts coming together.
Katherine and Greg spend more time together. They go to see the Rockettes with Danny and Katherine's cousin, they go have Christmas cake from one of the street vendors, they talk more, origin stories. After another date at Greg's business party, Katherine reveals that she gave up a child for adoption, but she's always been certain it's the right decision. It's one of those reveals that shows a sign of trust in the person you're with, and their response tells a lot about who they are. Greg's response is perfect. So sweet. They kiss. At the 1h 20minute mark! Too soon! What else can possibly happen?
The adoption seems like something Katherine hasn't really thought about for a long time but having brought it up has stirred up a feeling in her, and she contacts the adoption agency to see if she can locate the child she gave up. The night before the big concert, at rehearsals, she approaches Danny... HE'S HER SON!
I wanted to pitch a fit...what an outrageous reveal! But, is it? The movie has been legit setting up this reveal all along. Danny came to her, he sought her out, and all those weird looks he's been giving her make total sense now... he was just eyeing up his birth mother with extreme curiosity. He was only planning to be there for a day, and now he's going to be singing the big title song duet with his birth mom.
"Can you ever forgive me," she asks.
"There's nothing to forgive," Danny says back.
"I'm so glad Megan was your mamma, your angel. She will always be your mother, but, if I may, I'd like to be friends."
Oh my god, the feels!
The reveal, however, makes things incredibly awkward between Greg (who is still oblivious to this development) and Katherine. And it makes sense. Of course it's weird. They've developed feelings for each other, but his son is her biological son...that adds undue pressure and expectations. Greg doesn't understand why Katherine has suddenly gone cold. That evening Danny tells Greg that he sought out Katherine, his birth mom, and Greg understands the awkwardness (Scott Wolf's reaction, of stupification and understanding is literally the best moment of acting I've ever seen in a Hallmark movie, just nailed that moment...but then Party of Five had these kind of moments twice an episode so he's well verse in this type of emotional acting).
The Christmas Pageant is a success (it wasn't to my liking... Danny's voice has a kind of a country music twang that I don't appreciate, and the musical accompaniment is still home studio synth rather than full orchestra). Afterward, things are awkward, but Danny lets Katherine know that he told his Dad. While it could easily just remain awkward, Greg says all the right things to Katherine (in the only scene in a Hallmark movie to ever make me cry...much to the ridicule of my wife).
"I know... that this has all been a little bit crazy...and unexpected, and... sure, uncomfortable at times...but..."
"I...I don't know what you're trying to say here"
"just...bear with me...Maybe it's all just been...meant to be."
It continues, but it's really sweet and charming, but Greg invites Katherine out to Christmas in Connecticut. Cut to Connecticut on Christmas and Katherine and Greg are caught under the mistletoe. Kisses. And then singing.
Long term, I'm not sure that Katherine can give up New York living for Connecticut, certainly not for the house that her boyfriend raised her son in with his dead wife, but with such a big hurdle already addressed, and the awkwardness acknowledged, it seems like they will have very honest conversations going forward and will probably be able to make something work.
Damn, that was a good one.
The Draw:
Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies, American Gods - come on. Naturally, I'm all in on that. And Scott Wolf, it's been a while man, but those charming dimples are still there. This is big timing it for Hallmark.
The Formulae:
A New York City opening establishing shot. Dead wife. Snowed in. Christmas tree shopping (the perfect tree!). Decorating + cookie baking. Drinking way too much hot chocolate. Mistletoe pointed out. Honestly, this one avoids most of the usual Hallmark tropes.
Unformulae:
Normally an establishing shot of New York City means we will meet a woman who is on the precipice of big things for her career but then goes back home for Christmas and finds true love and the real meaning in life, but not here. We're in New York for the long haul. And it's legit winter in New York.
Drinking! There's not a lot of drinking ever happening in these (hot chocolate and occasional eggnog excepted), but we see Greg and Katherine drinking wine at dinner and having drinks at parties. Like real people do.
The stakes aren't usually this emotional. I mean, there's the big set-up of a Christmas concert, but that's all going to go off without a hitch. Even the song that Katherine needs to write seems like an inevitability, and not something that ever in jeopardy. The big kiss comes early, the big twist not too long after that, leaving lots of time for the big concert and resolution. And maybe I've not seen enough of these, but I've never seen a twist like this, one that felt earned and honest.
Eric Close (Now and Again, Dark Skies, Without a Trace) plays a surprisingly goofy sidekick when normally he would be a leading man, but he also directs this sucker - his fourth Hallmark movie (three Graceland movies) - and he puts some real production value into this. He does close-ups, and cut-ins, and tracking shots... he's trying to make a good movie, not just get the scene and move on.
True Calling?
As stupid as the title of that Christmas choir show is, "When Angels Land" would have been a more apt title. A Christmas Love Story is so generic. It doesn't spoil the big reveal but it says nothing about the movie. There is a love story in here but I think that takes a bit of a back seat to the truth bomb that goes off.
The Rewind:
Oh, getting a look at that "Driber" app for sure.
The Regulars: None. I don't know any of these people from Hallmark movies. But Chenoweth and Wolf are both fantastic here, just endearingly charming. I wasn't too hot on Kevin Quinn as Danny, but that's because I thought he was misplaying those early scenes. Keith Robinson as Brian doesn't get a lot to do, but some of the scenes he has with Chenoweth are golden, particularly the one where she's introducing to him what's she's written for the title song, and he effortlessly joins in (but not joins in as if it's been rehearsed a thousand times, but joins in as if he's catching on to her vibe). And there's Jennifer Aspen as cousin Julie, who gives us an absolutely delightful pratfall at the end of a take where she's chasing after kids who hit her with a snowball. She was great (she's also Chenoweth's costar from GCB [aka Good Christian Bitches]).
How does it Hallmark?
Even though it ignores almost all the usual Hallmark tropes, and is shot better than almost every other Hallmark film, it still feels totally like a Hallmark film, just the epitome of what a Hallmark film can do in terms of delivering a genuinely emotional movie (and not just playing on sentimentality). It just may well be the best Hallmark movie ever made. Not my favourite, mind you, but quite possibly the best. Certainly the best second half of a Hallmark movie ever made. I was so invested. As I said, I cried. I rewatched it while writhing up this review, and I cried that time at the scene where Katherine and Danny talk. Beautiful, genuine, human moments. Well done!
How does it movie?
Close. It's close to "movie". As noted, even as possibly the best Hallmark movie, it's still a Hallmark movie. As great as Chenoweth and Wolf are in this, I couldn't see this being on a big screen in a theatre as is. It's a TV movie all the way. And while I don't think it would work quite the same, because Chenoweth and Wolf are really great, you could possibly swap out the cast with bigger names and add a bit more polish to the finished product (and maybe a better song at the end) and it would be a big screen feature for sure.
 |
| Stop creeping, Danny. |
There's a fake-out toy shopping (in a real, legit toy store) scene with her cousin and niece (in another Hallmark Katherine would need to look after her niece and then find a nice man who is good with kids, but not here) where she's reminded how awesome she is and she later texts Brian that she will write the song (as if there was any doubt). The next day, Katherine has her meet cute with Greg when she can't catch and blindly hops into the back seat of a "Driber". Their exchange is congenial and breezy and full of big, brite white teethy smiles.
 |
| Teeth! |
Turns out they're going to the same place, only Greg thinks he's going to his son's business internship at "a startup", just to find out that, oh, he's at the Christmas Choir too. That's right, Danny, with his creepy leering and dopey smile is Greg's son.
 |
| STOP CREEPING, DANNY! |
[Commercial break. Georgio Armani perfume ad with Kate Blanchette. Let's put this on repeat. Homina.
Greg is not *that* thrilled with Danny's choice to intern at the choir, but Katherine wants to foster Danny's talent. Stuck with writer's block, she keeps calling Greg to talk about Danny joining the choir, who keeps letting it go to voicemail. So she heads out to Connecticut to their house to convince him. But Greg starts to see Danny's passion for music before she arrives ("Music was mom's thing") and is already ready to concede. But, you know, Katherine is super charming, sexy and adorable (even in her super bulky snowflake sweater), so it's not hard to really be convinced anyway. When she arrives, Greg invites her in and their toothy rapport continues (as does Danny's awkward leers... Jesus kid) over tea. But a sudden snowstorm advisory keeps Katherine at Greg and Danny's house (with just a slight tonal shift and a few dialogue, this would be a suspense-thriller where Danny is totally creeping on this petite mother figure, and now she's trapped in his house). It's time for tree decorating and cookie baking and other seasonal activities that, you know, you do with practical strangers.
Anyway, a good time is had. Greg makes dinner, they drink wine and have good "getting to know you conversation" and it's clear these two tiny humans personalities are very compatible. She stays the night (I'm pretty sure it was in the spare room but the smiley face note Katherine leaves in the morning *could* *possibly* insinuate they did a little something more. I mean, it's a Hallmark movie so definitely not, but still, a guy can dream, right?) and Katherine is inspired, the song starts coming together.
 |
| Bow chicka wow wow. |
Katherine and Greg spend more time together. They go to see the Rockettes with Danny and Katherine's cousin, they go have Christmas cake from one of the street vendors, they talk more, origin stories. After another date at Greg's business party, Katherine reveals that she gave up a child for adoption, but she's always been certain it's the right decision. It's one of those reveals that shows a sign of trust in the person you're with, and their response tells a lot about who they are. Greg's response is perfect. So sweet. They kiss. At the 1h 20minute mark! Too soon! What else can possibly happen?
The adoption seems like something Katherine hasn't really thought about for a long time but having brought it up has stirred up a feeling in her, and she contacts the adoption agency to see if she can locate the child she gave up. The night before the big concert, at rehearsals, she approaches Danny... HE'S HER SON!
I wanted to pitch a fit...what an outrageous reveal! But, is it? The movie has been legit setting up this reveal all along. Danny came to her, he sought her out, and all those weird looks he's been giving her make total sense now... he was just eyeing up his birth mother with extreme curiosity. He was only planning to be there for a day, and now he's going to be singing the big title song duet with his birth mom.
"Can you ever forgive me," she asks.
"There's nothing to forgive," Danny says back.
"I'm so glad Megan was your mamma, your angel. She will always be your mother, but, if I may, I'd like to be friends."
Oh my god, the feels!
 |
| She holds Danny's face so tenderly and lovingly. It's such a familiar gesture, and it strikes such a perfect chord for the scene. THE FEELS! |
The reveal, however, makes things incredibly awkward between Greg (who is still oblivious to this development) and Katherine. And it makes sense. Of course it's weird. They've developed feelings for each other, but his son is her biological son...that adds undue pressure and expectations. Greg doesn't understand why Katherine has suddenly gone cold. That evening Danny tells Greg that he sought out Katherine, his birth mom, and Greg understands the awkwardness (Scott Wolf's reaction, of stupification and understanding is literally the best moment of acting I've ever seen in a Hallmark movie, just nailed that moment...but then Party of Five had these kind of moments twice an episode so he's well verse in this type of emotional acting).
 |
| Stunned & processing. |
The Christmas Pageant is a success (it wasn't to my liking... Danny's voice has a kind of a country music twang that I don't appreciate, and the musical accompaniment is still home studio synth rather than full orchestra). Afterward, things are awkward, but Danny lets Katherine know that he told his Dad. While it could easily just remain awkward, Greg says all the right things to Katherine (in the only scene in a Hallmark movie to ever make me cry...much to the ridicule of my wife).
"I know... that this has all been a little bit crazy...and unexpected, and... sure, uncomfortable at times...but..."
"I...I don't know what you're trying to say here"
"just...bear with me...Maybe it's all just been...meant to be."
 |
| The reconciliation. |
It continues, but it's really sweet and charming, but Greg invites Katherine out to Christmas in Connecticut. Cut to Connecticut on Christmas and Katherine and Greg are caught under the mistletoe. Kisses. And then singing.
Long term, I'm not sure that Katherine can give up New York living for Connecticut, certainly not for the house that her boyfriend raised her son in with his dead wife, but with such a big hurdle already addressed, and the awkwardness acknowledged, it seems like they will have very honest conversations going forward and will probably be able to make something work.
Damn, that was a good one.
The Draw:
Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies, American Gods - come on. Naturally, I'm all in on that. And Scott Wolf, it's been a while man, but those charming dimples are still there. This is big timing it for Hallmark.
The Formulae:
A New York City opening establishing shot. Dead wife. Snowed in. Christmas tree shopping (the perfect tree!). Decorating + cookie baking. Drinking way too much hot chocolate. Mistletoe pointed out. Honestly, this one avoids most of the usual Hallmark tropes.
Unformulae:
Normally an establishing shot of New York City means we will meet a woman who is on the precipice of big things for her career but then goes back home for Christmas and finds true love and the real meaning in life, but not here. We're in New York for the long haul. And it's legit winter in New York.
Drinking! There's not a lot of drinking ever happening in these (hot chocolate and occasional eggnog excepted), but we see Greg and Katherine drinking wine at dinner and having drinks at parties. Like real people do.
The stakes aren't usually this emotional. I mean, there's the big set-up of a Christmas concert, but that's all going to go off without a hitch. Even the song that Katherine needs to write seems like an inevitability, and not something that ever in jeopardy. The big kiss comes early, the big twist not too long after that, leaving lots of time for the big concert and resolution. And maybe I've not seen enough of these, but I've never seen a twist like this, one that felt earned and honest.
Eric Close (Now and Again, Dark Skies, Without a Trace) plays a surprisingly goofy sidekick when normally he would be a leading man, but he also directs this sucker - his fourth Hallmark movie (three Graceland movies) - and he puts some real production value into this. He does close-ups, and cut-ins, and tracking shots... he's trying to make a good movie, not just get the scene and move on.
True Calling?
As stupid as the title of that Christmas choir show is, "When Angels Land" would have been a more apt title. A Christmas Love Story is so generic. It doesn't spoil the big reveal but it says nothing about the movie. There is a love story in here but I think that takes a bit of a back seat to the truth bomb that goes off.
The Rewind:
Oh, getting a look at that "Driber" app for sure.
And when Greg sees the webpage for "Berklee" on Danny's computer (I think we're to intone that Danny's interested in going to Berkley to study performing arts, but if you look up "Berklee" it's an online degree school... Hallmark writers and set designers and whatnots really need to learn how to google stuffs).
The Regulars: None. I don't know any of these people from Hallmark movies. But Chenoweth and Wolf are both fantastic here, just endearingly charming. I wasn't too hot on Kevin Quinn as Danny, but that's because I thought he was misplaying those early scenes. Keith Robinson as Brian doesn't get a lot to do, but some of the scenes he has with Chenoweth are golden, particularly the one where she's introducing to him what's she's written for the title song, and he effortlessly joins in (but not joins in as if it's been rehearsed a thousand times, but joins in as if he's catching on to her vibe). And there's Jennifer Aspen as cousin Julie, who gives us an absolutely delightful pratfall at the end of a take where she's chasing after kids who hit her with a snowball. She was great (she's also Chenoweth's costar from GCB [aka Good Christian Bitches]).
 |
| pratfall! would be better as a gif |
How does it Hallmark?
Even though it ignores almost all the usual Hallmark tropes, and is shot better than almost every other Hallmark film, it still feels totally like a Hallmark film, just the epitome of what a Hallmark film can do in terms of delivering a genuinely emotional movie (and not just playing on sentimentality). It just may well be the best Hallmark movie ever made. Not my favourite, mind you, but quite possibly the best. Certainly the best second half of a Hallmark movie ever made. I was so invested. As I said, I cried. I rewatched it while writhing up this review, and I cried that time at the scene where Katherine and Danny talk. Beautiful, genuine, human moments. Well done!
How does it movie?
Close. It's close to "movie". As noted, even as possibly the best Hallmark movie, it's still a Hallmark movie. As great as Chenoweth and Wolf are in this, I couldn't see this being on a big screen in a theatre as is. It's a TV movie all the way. And while I don't think it would work quite the same, because Chenoweth and Wolf are really great, you could possibly swap out the cast with bigger names and add a bit more polish to the finished product (and maybe a better song at the end) and it would be a big screen feature for sure.
No comments:
Post a Comment