Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year! Hallmark Holiday Movie Time!!!!
Whew! I wish we could keep up. There are so many good and not-so-good films to watch this year. We love doing our Hallmark Watch and wish we had the time to write up every single one we’ve watched, but life is always busy, especially this time of year. But I know we’ll view plenty and plan for even MORE next year. So let’s get to the review and also some cookies and tea! Welcome to our GGR Hallmark Journal.
This week we have a special guest – Mom!!!
Say hi, Mom!
Mom: Hi. Have you watched the movie yet? You gotta watch the movie is it so good.
Renee: Yeah, we are gonna talk about it right now. BUT hang on a second, let me set the stage –
Day: Or may be start with the film’s name? This is To Have and To Holiday. With Madeleine Arthur as Celeste, and Robert Bazzocchi as Jason, our two lovebirds.
Renee: So, Celeste and Jason decide to get married after a very short courtship – but Celeste’s dad –
Day: Who is played by Hallmark powerhouse Eric Close and he is UTTERLY BRILLIANT in this role.
Renee: Shh, don’t interrupt. Anyway, Celeste’s dad is having some issues accepting his daughter’s impending marriage and decides to put them through his “Marriage Bootcamp”.
Mom: He is so mean, it is so funny. I love Celeste’s dad!
Renee: Eh, I didn’t laugh very much…perhaps it isn’t my kind of humor?
Mom: You didn’t laugh? But it was so funny!
Renee: I don’t know, it just didn’t hit me as funny. And there were a lot of loopholes in the plot that needed fixing…like what we up with that ex-boyfriend? It was like they were going to have her end up with him but then decided no, but just left scenes with him in? Super confusing to feel like we are being set up for a love triangle, but then to pivot to just dad/boyfriend drama.
Day: I enjoyed it but I would have to agree on that point. There were bits of scenes about Celeste speaking up for herself? But I don’t think that issue was ever fully established. And there was no scene where they get a ring. That’s a big moment and suddenly – POOF! – having Jason just whip it out was a surprise; almost anti-climactic. It made me think there were several scenes that may have been cut for time or budget. Same for bits with the ex-boyfriend.
Renee: I still…I just don’t know. They only had a 3 month relationship, but at the beginning they made a big deal about doing all their favorite Christmas stuff together in 60 minutes? Also, really blatant Dearfoams product placement.
Mom: Those looked so cozy! Note, I want a pair for Christmas.
Day: Absolutely! It means the advertising worked. *chuckles*
Renee: It’s just, when I was done, I was left wanting…I didn’t really find it funny.
Mom: The scene with the golf cart is hysterical.
Day: And you have to admit, all the “side” characters were brilliantly played.
Renee: Omg, someone give the mom (Kate Drummond) another huge role very soon!!!! She was stellar – so natural and convincing.
Also, (minor spoiler) Jason’s parents (Allegra Fulton and Richard Jutras) are so wonderful — the chemistry between them is on point! Every time they came on screen I smiled…I knew they were going to be amazing and they always were.
Mom: See?!
Day: There WERE things you liked.
Tonight’s cookie was an amazing white chocolate raspberry cookie that our neighbors dropped off, it was so yummy I had to get the recipe so Renee can make more to pass out at Christmas! You can find the recipe here: https://bromabakery.com/white-chocolate-raspberry-cookies/
Tonight’s tea was not a tea but instead Trader Joe’s peppermint hot chocolate. I will say, this was my first DO NOT RECOMMEND beverage. I was drinking glorified toothpaste. But I wanted hot chocolate as it’s relevant to the film. (No spoilers but you’ll see, I promise). 🙂
We wanted to score this film higher but the chopped up script and what felt like missing scenes, motivations, etc. really impacted the emotional “oomph”, which is sad as the actors were just amazing. The score is as high as it is because of the on-screen talent.
Mom: And because we outvoted Renee!
Day: Ha!
SCORE: 
NEXT CHANCE TO WATCH: No scheduled dates. Check out Hallmark Plus.
