It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (2019) Hallmark/Prime Video
I've seen this movie perhaps three times and I have enjoyed it every time. It stars Tricia Helfer, whom I love, and Eric Mabius, who I like a lot, although I was not quite as fond of him in this film as some other roles. The two stars play mayors of adjacent towns who compete in every way. At present, they are competing in a Christmas contest. As two people who grew up together and have always competed, competition has become a way of life for the two, and it will take this Hallmark movie to help them realize that there is more to life. ;)
Co-stars here, playing the mayor's assistants, are the lovely Aliza Vellani for Mabius and Raf Rogers for Helfer. I haven't seen it noted in other reviews, but Vellani and Rogers' characters are clearly good friends...and perhaps more? Wondering and watching adds to enjoyment of this story. Nolan Hupp plays Helfer's son and does a fine job. Peter Benson, a Hallmark regular, plays Helfer's amicable ex-husband, Hupp's dad, and a good friend of Mabius. Despite the two mayor's competition in everything, everyone here gets along, which works out for the story.
The other important characters here are, first, another Hallmark regular, Viv Leacock, playing the owner of a local company that sponsors the aforementioned Christmas contest. By the way, unlike some other's comments, it isn't a Christmas decorating contest, it is more a "Christmas spirit" contest, and this will prove important toward story's end. Finally, April Telek, yet another Hallmark regular, plays a cafe/coffee shop owner. Her business sits right on the dividing line between Mabius and Helfer's towns, so she is visited by both regularly, and finds herself counseling both on occasion.
I won't go into any more detail about the story, I don't like overly spoiling things. I just want to say that this is something of a unique story, well told and, as reported at the outset, I found it quite enjoyable. It's a Hallmark Christmas movie, so as always, park your disbelief at the door, sit back, and enjoy a warm and entertaining movie.
I've seen this movie perhaps three times and I have enjoyed it every time. It stars Tricia Helfer, whom I love, and Eric Mabius, who I like a lot, although I was not quite as fond of him in this film as some other roles. The two stars play mayors of adjacent towns who compete in every way. At present, they are competing in a Christmas contest. As two people who grew up together and have always competed, competition has become a way of life for the two, and it will take this Hallmark movie to help them realize that there is more to life. ;)
Co-stars here, playing the mayor's assistants, are the lovely Aliza Vellani for Mabius and Raf Rogers for Helfer. I haven't seen it noted in other reviews, but Vellani and Rogers' characters are clearly good friends...and perhaps more? Wondering and watching adds to enjoyment of this story. Nolan Hupp plays Helfer's son and does a fine job. Peter Benson, a Hallmark regular, plays Helfer's amicable ex-husband, Hupp's dad, and a good friend of Mabius. Despite the two mayor's competition in everything, everyone here gets along, which works out for the story.
The other important characters here are, first, another Hallmark regular, Viv Leacock, playing the owner of a local company that sponsors the aforementioned Christmas contest. By the way, unlike some other's comments, it isn't a Christmas decorating contest, it is more a "Christmas spirit" contest, and this will prove important toward story's end. Finally, April Telek, yet another Hallmark regular, plays a cafe/coffee shop owner. Her business sits right on the dividing line between Mabius and Helfer's towns, so she is visited by both regularly, and finds herself counseling both on occasion.
I won't go into any more detail about the story, I don't like overly spoiling things. I just want to say that this is something of a unique story, well told and, as reported at the outset, I found it quite enjoyable. It's a Hallmark Christmas movie, so as always, park your disbelief at the door, sit back, and enjoy a warm and entertaining movie.