T&K's XMas (2023) Advent Calendar: Day 1 - A Magical Christmas Village

And for another year, A Toast to HallmarKent begins !! I did kind of start early this year, but here we are, back for another cringe-inducing, binge of Hallmark Christmas movies, and so its not entirely painful, just Xmas Movies.

2022, Jason Furukawa (My Babysitter Is an Alien) -- download

The Draw: This was the last of the downloaded leftovers from last year, when I chose a theme of magic and/or baking. And also because I love Christmas Villages. I have always wanted one, but when I remember them being easily available, I could not afford even one ceramic house. But now that I can, I cannot find the perfect one to kick it off, and to be honest, I don't really have a mantle or large flat surface upon which to set them. But if I did, I can easily say the first piece would have to be a tavern or a coffee shop, and I LOVED that first piece highlighted in this movie's "fly over" was a pub with "Stouts & Ales". 

HERstory: In the PST of Bryson Falls, Summer (Allison Sweeney, Murder, She Baked; it was half way through the movie that I referred to her [in my notes] more than just Mom Lead) is a successful .... architect? Building Contractor? One recap calls her a Real Estate Agent. Its a problem I have with Hallmarkie writers, in that they don't seem to know what people really do in their jobs -- its comparable to Grandmothers knowing you are in IT and, not having any idea what that means, assuming you can do everything related to computers, from finance to programming to building server rooms. Anywayz, Summer can obviously do anything related to buildings so she is trying to save a local landmark building (Neulands) by renovating it into... I don't think they ever say, so let's just say into a Pretty Building. I believe it was once a General Store.

Pushy Grandma (Summer's mother; Marlo Thomas, That Girl) and her boyfriend have broken up, so she has to move in with Summer and Chloe because she's a hippy dippy, crystals & karma type who gave away her own house to an animal sanctuary or something. Also, Grandma is The Worst. She's pushy, overbearing, dismissive of her daughter's work ethic and sense of responsibility, outright ignores boundaries, and is oblivious to financial matters, claiming "the Universe" will take care of her. It hasn't. Not so much. Its her daughter that's been stepping in where the Universe hasn't. AND the actor, Marlo Thomas, is also the product of Vintage Hollywood Reconstruction and is... well, to be blunt, fucking scary looking. Like Catwoman Jocelyn Wildenstein scary looking. 

Meanwhile, Ryan (Luke Macfarlane, Person of Interest) is in town providing... proper architect / engineer / volunteer work for the renovation Summer is working on. But as in all Hallmarkies, he never seems to do any work beyond a passing comment about structural stability or a glance at blueprints, or whatnot. Probably makes a comment about how the building has "good bones". He's from The Big City but is more a travelling consulting engineer, and it brought him here for now. And he does something entirely unexpected for a Hallmarkie -- immediately asks Summer out on a date.

Wow.

Granddaughter Chloe (Maesa Nicholson, North to Home) has welcomed Pushy Grandma and her box of magical village buildings. Summer remembers it fondly but doesn't take kindly to Grandma pushing all the things she had on that side table ... onto the floor? At least to the side initially. And after a few items are setup she explains to loving granddaughter how it is magical and you can make Xmas Wishes on it. Summer is not impressed.

This movie is less about lovey-dovey meeting, and more about generational conflict. Sure, its a Hallmarkie so Summer and Ryan are destined to get together, but so much ends up hinging on exactly how Pushy Grandma keeps on pushing Summer's buttons. They do attempt to balance the books by presenting Summer as a bit overbearing in her own right, but seriously, the woman is just more concerned for the health & well-being of her family and not as much herself. Pushy Grandma is right to think she needs to do something for herself, but the way she puts it across is just ... wrong.

But Summer and Ryan are connecting all on their own despite Pushy Grandma and her utter inability to deal with Real Life. You can guess whose team I am on.

There is also a weird couple of scenes where Ryan keeps bumping into Pushy Grandma and gets unsolicited advice from her, which he does seem receptive to. Sure, sweet potatoes are good for you, but maybe he was having nachos? But these scenes help fill the gap on the uncharacteristically long haul to Xmas Day, which is not even the point of the movie. I guess they just hope to have Neulands reno building open by Xmas for toy drive, which Ryan has volunteered for?

But complication! Ryan has been offered a non-travel job in California. Summer also acknowledges she really does like her non-complicated, busy busy busy life. She and Pushy Grandma have a blow up over Grandma's complete denial of her dire financial circumstances, but finally make amends just in time for Summer to realize she does want Ryan, and rushes into the toy drive, dressed in the period regalia (no reason is given as to why they have to dress to give away... unwrapped presents) to admit she wants Ryan, and he admits (while also shoving a little kid out of his way) he didn't take the job, cuz he wants to stay in Bryson Falls. They kiss and live happily ever after.

NOTE: Chloe has been watching this all with amazement because finally Ryan and Summer look like the little miniature doll figures she has been pushing around in the Magical Village, which means... MAGIC !!

Fade to black as the Magical Village with no batteries lights up all on its own.

ALSO NOTE: I chose the poster because it so terribly photoshopped Ryan into a shot, because the original poster is just photoshopped Summer & Family staring at the village.

The Formulae: Picturesque PST and a Lead from the Big City who is convinced he really should stay for love. Summer works too much and kind of forgets the Real Meaning of Xmas. There is a kind of Xmas Event, but really its a weak kneed Toy Drive that is overshadowed by Ryan & Summer finally connecting. They literally push kids aside for laughs. There are Dead Parents, which is one of the tropes that really shouldn't be celebrated, but there we are. There is a Hot Chocolate Bar.

Unformulae: Summer keeps her job. 

True Calling? Yeah, there is a Christmas Village and it does have some magic about it, as it lights up on its own. And I guess the wishes made on its traditions do come true.

The Rewind: Honestly, its only really the gawking at their outside firepit that they sit around complaining about Pushy Grandma with the DOORS FUCKING WIDE OPEN. Its December, and I think the movie does make a weak comment on "unseasonably warm weather" but still, are you trying to heat the outdoors? Close the doors !!

The Regulars: Both the leads are staples of the Hallmarkie world. But I am pretty sure this is my first for her. The rest of the cast, including the unremarkable sister and incredibly forgettable backgrounders are probably all semi-regulars.

How does it Hallmark? You know, I bought into this one. If the goal is to give us "aww shucks" romantic feelings, then the connecting of Ryan and Summer via actual dating is rather nice. But as an Xmas movie, I am entirely disappointed, because other than the village's place in the movie, the rest of the Xmas exposure is an afterthought. Xmas deserves to be at the forefront of these!!

How does it movie? At least I saw believable chemistry between Summer and Ryan, but .... meh.

How Does It Snow? The usual mixture of cotton batting and shaved ice. I did not bother rewinding to see if there really was a good reason to have doors open in December and no attempt at snow or snowy situations in the movie.