2009, Michael M Scott (The Christmas Takeover) -- download
It is also known as Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle, as its based on a ... book series? Well, at least something by a well known romance "novelist".
HERstory: This is a proper Their Story, not more about her than them.
Reba (Erin Karpluk, Being Erica) is a successful travel agent happy in her job but dealing with family trauma related to her sister. Seth (James Van Der Beek, Don't Trust the B*** in Apt 23) is trying to raise two hellion twin brothers on his own, and can't keep a decent live-in nanny/housekeeper due to their antics.
Then Mary Poppins Mrs. Merkle (Doris Roberts, Everybody Loves Raymond) shows up. She immediately puts the kids in their place but with charm and wit, instead of discipline. The kids buy into it and she is dubbed Mrs Miracle. Yeah, there is something up with this lady but if it works, it works. Seth is relieved so he can get back to the work work work -- he's always carrying around drawings, so he must be an architect or engineer. Proper Man's Job!
Yeah Mrs. Miracle is magic. Her first interference is injuring the director of the kids Xmas Event, so that Reba can be forced into assuming the duties. Before her life was derailed by family drama, she was doing something musical related, but now just runs a successful business on her own. But her best friend is a teacher at the school, so she is somewhat easily roped into running the show, and TBH she does fall into the role with ease. She likes kids and is good with them.
Miracle's next act of magic is to make Seth bump into Reba (I was never sure if her name was Reba or Reva) via a remote controlled shopping cart. They begin dating. The dates are going well. Seth even is understanding when they bump into Reba's sister, and the story about how sis stole Reba's fiancé the night before the wedding. Reba's family is of the opinion she should move on and forgive, but Seth and me are on Reba's side -- fuck her sister.
Things are going well until Mrs Mircle's next act of magic where she sends the piano player for the Xmas Event on a 1,000,000th Winner vacation trip. These things always happen so immediately, I am not sure how they would have anyone accept the gift -- who has a life that can be dropped immediately. Piano Players apparently. And this is done to rope Seth into playing, BUT Seth doesn't do music anymore. When his wife died, he stopped playing as it only gave him painful reminders of his late wife, and he doesn't do painful memories.
Thus the conflict. Reba asks him to play, and is entirely unfair in asking him to set aside his reasons and "move on". His response is to throw her sister drama in her face, suggesting maybe YOU move on. Wow, that was hurtful. On both sides. They break up. The Xmas Event will be ruined.
But Mrs Miracle shows up in front of Reba's car with some wizardly advice, and maybe a bit of Charm Person spell, which sends Reba off to chat with her sister. Amends are made, but I have to say I was not happy that REBA begged forgiveness. It should have been enough to say "I am ready to try to work on this..."
Miracle the Wizard does her thing again with Seth and he finally opens the box of Dead Wife Memories, and shows the kids the photo album of them as babies and their mom. Let the healing begin. And on the night of the Xmas Event, just as the play is about to begin, he is seen behind the piano. Bad feelings are set aside and the play is a Big Success. Not quite Christmas Lobster success, but everyone loves it. Seth and Reba apologize and kiss and will live happily ever after.
BUT not the ending! Mrs Miracle says "my work here is done" and packs, and leaves, only to fade out in the background. Onto the next House in Dire Straits.
The Formulae: I imagine during this era of Hallmarkies, the tropes were not as solidified but they were still strongly carried over from the romance novels they emerged from. This is a PST of course -- I wonder if I should add a "yeah, that's Canada" to the trope list? There is also an Xmas Event, that is sort of the instigator of much of the activity. And there is a Dead Mom and a Left at the Altar dual lost loved ones thing.
Unformulae: There is no Big City vs PST -- they are both from Here, but just haven't ever had an opportunity to bump into each other. And being an early example, the other-worldliness of Hallmarkie Land is not in play here; this feels like a real place and just two people living her. They both like their jobs and both KEEP their jobs and there is no "forced lost opportunity". Also, the Xmas Event happens BEFORE Xmas eve as it should, as these are kids and the holiday break would be happening. In fact, Xmas Day and all that is just not a part of this movie at all.
True Calling? Yeah, despite my wizardly remarks, Mrs Merkle is meant to be an angelic figure, so the small magics she performed could be called "miracles" in the right Christian mindset.
The Rewind: A proper #snort and rewind moment, as Seth walks back to his car, is about to step on the "snow" and instead hops over it, not wanting to leave an impression in the so very cotton batting snow.
The Regulars: I admit, I am terribly disappointed that Van Der Beek did not become a regular in these. Now that I know Karpluk has done a few of these, before and AFTER this one, I will have to seek them out, as I still kind of have my Being Erica crush in play. Roberts has only done a few of these, including a "sequel" to this movie -- Mrs Miracle's work is never done. The rest of the supporting cast, being Canadian actors, all have a few more under their belt, as you know, the bills gotta be paid.
How does it Hallmark? Despite my snarkiness above (I know no other way), I rather like this one. I really felt the caliber of the two leads, especially after watchin so many other Hallmarkies. They really just sell the role, and despite people being somewhat critical of Van Der Beek's post-Dawson roles, I thought he did pretty good as the charming, sad Dad. And I entirely bought into the emerging romance between the two which didn't do the "conflict leads to I Just Met You But I Love You" aspects from so many others. I would have preferred a bit more Xmas in my movie but it was still present, pun intended.
How does it movie? If the movie had focused a bit more on proper Xmas, I might have thought of it fondly like those Xmas Movies that would play in the background on TV at my Granny Coombs place, that despite my adolescence, I would have probably been caught watching. My being charmed by romance started early, not that I would have ever admitted it then. And would I rewatch this now if it was playing on the TV as I walked by between doing dishes or wrapping presents? Probably.
How Does It Snow? #SNORT. Not really. There is a bit of real snow and shaved ice rink slush in some scenes, but there was never a proper amount to consider it snowy, so they just kept laying down so very obvious cotton batting.
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