Prior to being televised and watching the commercials/promos, I wasn't optimistic about this movie. Amy Akers, Brooke Nevins, and Warren Christie are remarkable actors that have a proven track record for good hallmark movies. So when multiple actors are in the same movie, combination works well or it is a disaster.
But fortunately they worked well together with the right emphasis on each storyline. Premise of the movie is ex-wife is invited on a Xmas trip with ex-husband and his soon to be announced fiancé and her family. The main storyline is Amy's character adjusting with the family addition, Brooke's character trying to fit into, and Warren's character dealing with his issues.
Amy aptly demonstrates the angst and frustration of "losing" her daughters to their soon to be mother and them getting older. Brooke's imagined competition with Amy and trying to be the daughter's new mother. Warren is the successful but wayward son-chef and dealing with his feelings for Amy.
The movie intertwines the 3 storylines very well and reaches an adequate conclusion. Overall the movie moved at a good pace and was well-balanced in its content and attention to each storyline. The acting was believable and executed well.
Now for the negatives about the movie. First I had an issue with the ex-husband and his gaslighting of Amy's character. His insistence of "dragging her along" argument when really it was Brooke's begging Amy to go with them. This really highlighted the fact Brooke's character wanted to usurp Amy's character as the girls' stepmother. She really overstepped with the holiday reading and earring moment. The husband made some serious erroneous assumptions about how his ex-wife and oldest daughter took the engagement news. He never apologized for being rude and disrespectful.
Warren's character had to deal with personal issues of being there for someone. He takes a liking for Amy and eggs her on to compete with his sister. It really go weird knowing his sister was getting married to his love interest's ex-husband and he was getting into a relationship with Amy. He would become an uncle-daddy to her daughters if they were to marry.
It was a better than average Hallmark movie.
But fortunately they worked well together with the right emphasis on each storyline. Premise of the movie is ex-wife is invited on a Xmas trip with ex-husband and his soon to be announced fiancé and her family. The main storyline is Amy's character adjusting with the family addition, Brooke's character trying to fit into, and Warren's character dealing with his issues.
Amy aptly demonstrates the angst and frustration of "losing" her daughters to their soon to be mother and them getting older. Brooke's imagined competition with Amy and trying to be the daughter's new mother. Warren is the successful but wayward son-chef and dealing with his feelings for Amy.
The movie intertwines the 3 storylines very well and reaches an adequate conclusion. Overall the movie moved at a good pace and was well-balanced in its content and attention to each storyline. The acting was believable and executed well.
Now for the negatives about the movie. First I had an issue with the ex-husband and his gaslighting of Amy's character. His insistence of "dragging her along" argument when really it was Brooke's begging Amy to go with them. This really highlighted the fact Brooke's character wanted to usurp Amy's character as the girls' stepmother. She really overstepped with the holiday reading and earring moment. The husband made some serious erroneous assumptions about how his ex-wife and oldest daughter took the engagement news. He never apologized for being rude and disrespectful.
Warren's character had to deal with personal issues of being there for someone. He takes a liking for Amy and eggs her on to compete with his sister. It really go weird knowing his sister was getting married to his love interest's ex-husband and he was getting into a relationship with Amy. He would become an uncle-daddy to her daughters if they were to marry.
It was a better than average Hallmark movie.