The Sweetest Christmas (2017)

Best movie of this year hands down!

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Some reviews for these types of movies come across so harsh. Sure they're predictable but, isn't that what we're looking for when we tune in to Hallmark movies? They give us exactly what we want, a happy ending with two people finding a way to be together. We watch them not because we expect them to appear on the next Oscar ballot, but because we want to escape the world for a bit, drink something warm & smile cause it worked out exactly how we wanted in the end, which is a nice change from reality.

Not only is the love interest in this movie extremely difficult to root for, but the heroine contradicts herself constantly and ends up choosing the wrong man! In other words, parts of The Sweetest Christmas is just like real life.At the start of the film, we're introduced to Lacey Chabert and her boyfriend Mar Andersons. He's too focused on his work and seems to only value her work ethic and contributions to "the team", so she breaks up with him. Then, she's reunited with an old flame from high school, single dad Lea Coco, and sparks fly. The only problem is Lea also lets work take his first priority, and he also only appreciates her inner qualities, like how she interacts with his son and her ambition and creativity at work. I got the distinct impression that the audience isn't really supposed to notice the similarities. It is realistic, though; how many times do we find a new main squeeze who's exactly like our ex and we claim that "this one's totally different!"? There's absolutely no chemistry between Lacey and Lea, and the only good part of the movie is the best friend and comic relief, Jonathan Adams. He's absolutely hilarious and even ad libs when Lea spills his coffee on him during one scene. To top everything off, Lacey utters the corniest, most ridiculous line in Hallmark history: "I have to show him how I feel, the best way I know how: with gingerbread." Trust me, you don't have to sit through this one. Watch Family for Christmas instead.

Not sure if it's a 7 Star, but it's close. It's a nice, brand new heartwarming Christmas movie. Who doesn't like Lacey Chabert? She's the one who deserves the 7 Stars, for sure. I'm a big fan of hers on these Hallmark movies. She's got that Hallmark charm I love. And wow, those gingerbread creations were just amazing. Who does that? I've never created a gingerbread house or whatever for that matter. Some day, I might think about it. Maybe when two heads are in it together. That will be the day. Until then, it's only in film. Great 2017 holiday chick flick from Hallmark!

TV Guide this week labeled Lacey Chabert the current holiday champ of Christmas leading ladies and she doesn't hurt that reputation in this movie.This movie is filled with the clichés of plot devices. 1) A contest the protagonist must win to either seed a business or pay debts; 2) The protagonist is invited to a special dinner where she expects a ring but doesn't get it; 3) The lady falls off a ladder into man's arms; 4) Snowball fight (2 in this one); 5) High school sweethearts parted for their careers; 6) A kid with an absent mother that one of the protagonists befriends. And so many more. But wait. The movie laughs with us at some of these. The best example is the aftermath of the failed special dinner - one potential suitor explains to the other why Kylie was mad when she left the dinner.The story teases us with what we think is predictable, and is to a certain extent, but then slightly twists it. Yes it's Hallmark and yes it is a Hallmark ending, but it is still worth watching.I loved Jonathan Adams as Ralphie. He added so much humor along with sage advice. I criticized Lara Gilchrist is All of My Heart: Inn Love, but I loved her here, again with Chabert, as Kylie's wise sister. Kylie and Nick are almost comical in their sad behavior and they definitely need wise heads beside them. I wish I could say I thought Lea Coco had great chemistry with Chabert, but to me it was just slightly above average.