Hope at Christmas (2018) Reviews

• Pretty standard Christmas story

  Jackbv1232018-11-21

  It's a nice story, but nothing unusual. Many of the regular Christmas movie traditions. There were a couple of plot leaps that had me shaking my head to catch up. The acting was fine and the leads,Scottie Thompson and Ryan Paevey were comfortable with each other and the story revolved mostly around them. There was a sweet pre-teen daughter.

• What happened to Hawaii?

  rugle1112018-11-23

  Through most of this movie, the talk was about the daughter spending Christmas on a trip to Hawaii with her Dad. About 1 1/2 hours in to the movie the girl decides she wants to change her plans, at the last minute, and stay with her friends and not go with Dad. After discussing the change with her Mom, who says that she knew her Dad wouldn't mind the flip, because he would want her to be happy. Christmas Eve, the time of departure came and went with never another mention about it. I don't think this is realistic. Yes he would want her to be happy, but I believe this was shared custody and if this was arranged, like it seemed to be, the Dad would not be too thrilled with his exwife's lack of involvement to make it happen; not to mention the expense lost for the cancellation. She should have offered to at least partially reimburse him, for her involvement in the change of plans. However, this is Hallmark and we can't have any conflict????

• Plot Holes Not So Big, But Very Lame Conflict

  alphaglobedancer2018-11-25

  To the reviewer who mentioned "plot faults," in fairness and for accuracy's sake, the realtor said the buyer planned to "tear it down and build condos," not convert the existing store into condos. A typical 6-story could hold 3 duplexes or w/two units per floor 12 luxury condos. But aside from that, looking beyond the clutter plus considering the two closed gray doors and unseen rear space, that store was easily large enough for 3 or 4 650 sq ft units after a gut reno. Don't know where you live but in and around NYC (we see the town is a short MetroNorth ride to Grand Central Station for Mom) these type/size condos are very common... and not inexpensive. So plot wise, unfortunately store-to-condos in that area is all too realistic. As for mom knowing Ray's wish, Christmas in Paris is pretty specific... Mom would have to be pretty thick not to immediately realize Ray spoke to Mac, upon finding out he was the helper Santa. She even came right out and asked "are you the Santa Ray spoke to... so you're the Santa she asked to help make Mommy happy for Christmas?" We needn't have heard every single conversation between mother & daughter for this to make perfect sense, so no plot hole there either. The bigger problem is the super-lame requisite 11th hour conflict, i.e. her credulity-stretching, over-the-top reaction to what he did. For her to attribute everything he, a red-blooded intelligent male, expressed and did for her, a smart, kind, beyond gorgeous woman, as pity-driven acts for her daughter's sake is just silly and lazy writing. Come on, even being divorced, with the inevitable baggage and trust issues, what sane woman would leap to he was just pretending to want me because he's subbing as the town Santa?? I don't expect film festival caliber writing in these movies, but a plausible conflict whose resolution delivers a satisfying conclusion isn't asking much. All that said, the two leads had nice chemistry and all of the performances were good. I also really enjoyed all the random little details that convincingly create a festive holiday vibe, eg gingerbread houses, busy foot traffic around the characters, a warmth of an old church and steeple illuminating the wintry night... Enjoyable overall.

• Depressing to see another single mom falling in love as the main story line

  Ed-Shullivan2018-12-18

  In an earlier review I posted today (A Bramble House Christmas) i noted that the only downside to a wonderful film was that the writers focussed their story on a divorced woman raising her child on her won from a father who has all but abandoned them. Hope at Christmas is another schmaltzy story that prefers to show a young daughter named Rayanne (Erica Tremblay) as relying solely on her mother's care to raise her, so her mother Sydney (Scottie Thompson) has put aside her own life and dreams to take care of her single daughter. Of course there is a very handsome young stud named Mac (Ryan Paevey) who is swooning over the divorced mother Sydney which gives the impression that woman who divorce their husbands will find a handsome hunk waiting to sweep them off their feet before their divorce papers are even dry. These cookie cutter stories are becoming so much the norm, that it almost is blatantly telling women if you are not happy in your marriage just leave and just look at what a magical rebound you also could attain that the divorced Sydney found with her handsome hunk Mac. Everyone likes a good news Christmas story but I prefer to see a more earthy and magical Christmas story such as the 1946 Its A Wonderful Life, or the 1954 Christmas musical White Christmas. I give Hope at Christmas a just passable rating of 5 out of 10. Please stop with the divorced single mom heroine stories and get back to writing family themed stories where both parents are present in their childrens lives.

• Amazing

  ehennig-225502018-11-26

  Anything with Ryan is amazing. His death in GH killed me. I will always watch every movie or show he is in.