Welcome to another installment of our GGR Hallmark Journal!
This year, Renee and Day are giving quick little reviews for some of the Hallmark movies coming out this year. And we will review some cookies along the way too, because what is better than tea and cookies and a Christmas movie?
Renee: Now, Operation Nutcracker is a pretty good movie…I love that we get to catch feelings slowly, like real people do, but we aren’t bored!
Day: Exactly! The tiny quests as they go after their goal (to find the missing nutcracker) and where they get to know each other feel very organic. And there is gentle teasing and give-and-take.
Renee: It was a love story and a classic “misplaced item” mystery at the same time. I really loved the interactions between not only the lead actors (Ashley Newbrough and Christopher Russell), but the side characters too!
Day: Absolutely! I loved Darryl Hinds as the father struggling to be there for his family.
Renee: And the little girl was darling!
Day: Mia SwamiNathan.
Renee: There was a bit of a lull about ⅔ of the way through, when both Day and I tuned out and when we came back we were both like, “Wait, what?” BUT it wasn’t too hard to get back into it again.
Day: If you’re looking for something unusual story-wise, this is not where to look. This film fits the traditional Hallmark Christmas movie mold – no real surprises in the story – but it IS a known story, done very well.
Renee: I’d give it 3.5/5 Christmas Cookies – If you like a mystery and you like solid relationship development give this one a try. The cookies we ate tonight were Caramel Butter Cookies–
Day: -from La Mère Poulard. They’re actual french butter cookies. Not as crumbly as the kind I like but it does make me feel a bit fancy. Everyone needs to feel a bit fancy sometimes.
Renee: They are thin and crispy, but melt in your mouth pretty easily. They are lovely with tea and have a great, almost smoky aftertaste. Not smoky in a bad way, but like that caramel that is about to burn but you caught it just in time and it is SO INTENSE you just wanna eat the whole thing? Yeah, that smoky…mmm.
Day: Yeah…nope. I ate the chocolate flavor ones. Choice of tea was Harney & Sons Earl Grey with vanilla cream. One of my all time favorites.
SCORE: 
NEXT CHANCE TO WATCH: December 3, 12am
