2021, Sean McNamara (Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa) -- download/Hallmark
The Draw: Entirely because of this.
You see, their Uncle Dave (Kevin Nealon, SNL, in pretty much a less-than-a-cameo role only seen in memories, photos & family videos) passed away in the last year or so, leaving his beloved movie theatre, the Madison, empty. It was one of those hometown cinemas still running on an old film projector, selling popcorn & candy from a concession stand, and a place where everyone in town had their first kiss; and probably a few other firsts not family-friendly at all. The place is now run down, and Mom just wants to sell it off, as the memories inside are just too painful. Uncle Dave, ever the bachelor and childless, seemed to be a rock for the family. Its all been too much for Sister Meg, so Jenn offers to take care of it, so Meg can be alone with her grief, in the city.
The movie does do a brief opening in Salt Lake, to let us get to know the sisters via a couple of family traditions (red hats??) and a terrible "Meg plays the french horn tuba" toss away scene and then its off to the PST.
"Classic Aunt Meg!" <insert laugh track>
Mom & Dad run the cornerstone bakery in Hazelwood, but there also seems to be money in this family. Big money. Typical Hallmarkie upper-upper-middle-class money. Eric (Mark Deklin, Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa), the Leading Guy, is a single dad working with the town council to preserve the Madison in its original state, while also monitoring the deal between the local broker and the Big Cinema Chain rep. For a moment there, I thought there might be a Story B between the rep and the broker, but I guess they realized that would be too confusing, considering they are already being rather experimental by having a Story B in another movie entirely. Anywayz, Eric and Jenn are exploring the dilapidated cinema (she's handling the sale, to give her sister and mom a break from the grief it dredges up) when Jenn becomes obsessed with doing a "one more movie night" for the family, which after a brief confused moment, becomes a "one more movie night" for the entire town.
Like most of these movies, the Story A ("one more movie night") provides continuous interruptions that bring the two leads together. Like, at the tree lot, they argue about whether the movie nite should happen, as the ton of renos might jeopardize the sale, which is already in jeopardy as Big Cinema Chain rep guy (who always looks cranky; didn't he get get the "always be smiling" memo?) is the only potential buyer. Surprisingly, they are light on the potential romance, as each has a Dead Spouse, live in different cities and have lots of baggage. Usually that doesn't interfere with the making of the goo-goo eyes, but this movie lets it develop slowly.
Come the movie night, everyone is excited. They chose a random movie, the only film they could find that would run through the broken down projector, there is no heat and... ZAP, the power is shorted out and the popcorn machine catches on fire. Hearts broken all around.
But Jenn's not throwing in the towel just yet! Her son Simon finds a digital projector, and all the supporting tech, in a back room in boxes. Apparently Dave had been preparing to update the theatre when he got sick. Movie night is BACK ON ! I won't let my tech background comment on how difficult it would be to install a full digital system, but they finally have their chance to do it all right. Jenn and Eric share a kiss, and acknowledge they could have a chance together. BUT...
But, Meg shows up with news about Jenn's resto. Apparently they let the head chef up and quit on the week before Xmas. Suuuure, they are all about supporting their staff, but to let the chef just walk away during such a key period of the year? Way to go Meg ! Jenn is very (understandably) upset and rushes back to Salt Lake to take care of things, which pisses off her son (dude, its an hour away) and disappoints Eric (DUDE! its an HOUR ... AWAY) just as he was opening his heart. But don't worry your little heart, as a little intervening by a plot point from the other movie (we have the perfect underdog chef choice and he runs a... food stand?) and everything is back to being perfect. Everyone rushes back to the PST for the perfect digital movie night, which is not even dashed by the cinema chain deal falling through, because Jenn and Meg have an even better plan! Jenn will setup a movie theatre resto combo in the PST, while Meg will run the old resto because...some how she's qualified?
The Formulae: So so much! We got career gal Jenn (she owns a well known, profitable resto in Salt Lake) running back to her hometown PST to be challenged by a "well known seasonal event in jeopardy". And while dealing with said challenge, we get visits to tree lots, charity cookie deliveries, endless mountains of xmas cookies, a quaint little hometown bakery, a dead uncle, a dead husband AND a dead wife! We get decorating montages, we get pretty little red vintage truck toys in the background, we get red coats AND blue dresses. We get plenty of coffee cups held in two hands, AND we get hot chocolate galore. We get a mild misunderstanding, which is quickly reconciled so the two leads can kiss and be perfectly happy forever after.
Unformulae: Well, primarily in the experimental structure of the movies that are happening at the same time. Beyond that, everything is by the books.
True Calling? Why yes, as both sisters swap where they normally spend Xmas for the other's place.
The Rewind: "Classic Aunt Meg!"
The Regulars: Well, Kimberly Williams-Paisley has only really started doing these movies while her sister Ashley IRL (as well as in the movie) has done... well, fewer than I thought she had. She really got started with the first movie in the Evergreen Cinematic Universe, Christmas in Evergreen, and has been going strong since. Mark Deklin has also done far fewer than I expected. So... all new regulars, I guess?
How does it Hallmark? Again, despite the experimental release format of this and the other movie, the Hallmarkie formula and sincerity is strong in this one.
How does it movie? I think I need to start shoe horning this post category into the, "Would I watch it again?" and honestly, maybe just maybe on the very cusp of, "If it was on in the background while I am baking cookies."
How Does It Snow? The snow in some scenes, like Hazelwood, all look inserted and fake and cotton batting land, but on occasion, usually when cutting to the shared-scenes between the two movies, we see real snow, as in properly shot while there was snow on the ground in The Big City. I almost feel this doesn't count for the movie set in the PST.
I remember there being a bit o hubub about these last year when they came out, and I was curious. But, by the time they aired (they were late seasoners if I recall), I had had enough Hallmark by that point.
ReplyDeleteThey aired in the opposite order that you're watching them, but as was said, doesn't really matter