User Reviews

I know people have low rated this but I loved it! This was a great Hallmark movie. Great characters, good story, lovely scenery, dreams coming true.. it had it all. This is what a Christmas movie is all about. If you have a dream (even a little one) watch this......

The story was much like any other stories during Christmas. Actually it was kinda slow though. What really made this movie work was Kellie and Colin. We've become a fan of Colin's, everything he does is solid and it looks as though he is getting more roles. Kellie though,...why aren't there more movies starring her. She's great and her connection /chemistry with Colin was captivating. Her eyes just draw you in to her character. She also has a mature presence, or maybe it was just this role. She is in my top two maybe three actresses in HM movies. We want more of her.

Sara (Kellie Martin) is a widow with a pre-teen daughter, Chloe. Both of them are still smarting from the loss of their husband and father, even though its been a year or two. As such, Sara is a new workaholic who specializes in helping struggling businesses find ways to increase revenue and cut costs. Unbelievably, her boss sends her to Big Fork Montana, to help a three generation cattle ranch. The man who is now in charge, Travis (Colin Ferguson) has sound business sense but also gives some of his assets away, like free Xmas trees for the the townfolk and a free holiday party for the same crowd. Initially, Sara thinks this is way too much but once she sees how everyone in the community pulls together and helps each other, she changes her mind a bit. Chloe loves the area and makes friends while Travis' charms are mighty powerful for Sara's heart. Will Travis have to sell some of his precious acres or will Kellie come up with other ideas, even as Travis obviously is drawn to her, also? First, Colin Ferguson is one of my favorite stars and I would watch anything and everything he appeared in. His good looks and humorous manner just send me in orbit. Likewise, Martin is a fine performer with a sweet and understated delivery. Montana looks so beautiful folks will want to book a trip soon after a view while the plot and script have nice touches of fun. How many Hallmark films can you watch? If you are like me, there is no limit.

I live in California and visit Montana regularly to visit my family. This is exactly how every visit is with the love of community and passion for the holiday. This movie forecasts what my family will be doing in 8 days. Grateful for the great actors and the diversity they brought to Mt. -C

Some may raise their eyebrows and look upon me with scorn whenever seeing me rating a Hallmark festive film quite highly and reviewing it mostly positively. Will say right now that Hallmark's output, whether to do with Christmas or with nothing to do with it, is very inconsistent. Their festive output in 2019 was very much so too, most it being in between mediocre and slightly above average. Kellie Martin and Colin Ferguson have been good in other things, Ferguson especially is nearly always a redeeming quality and is well above a lot of what is given to him.

'Christmas in Montana', and do concur with what others have said, is one of the hits as far as 2019 Christmas Hallmark efforts go. A surprise one. 'Christmas in Montana' absolutely is predictable as heck (said that as a word of warning for those that don't like that) and has a couple of things that can be seen in a good deal of Hallmark's output, but is still engaging, is well performed and it looks good. Which cannot be said for some of Hallmark Christmas films. This is coming from someone that loves film of all decades and genres (even if a fair share of decades and genres have misses there are many classics too), so always watches their output with an open mind and knowing what to expect.

As said, the story has no innovative ideas, all seen before in a vast majority of their output, and the film doesn't really do anything new with them. Making everything feel obvious and very foreseeable before it happens. This is including the ending, which also felt a bit convenient.

Like other Hallmark festive efforts, the music could have done with a toning down. It didn't need to be used as much as it was and at times was too loud. Some of the pacing lags in some uneventful stretches in the middle and the supporting characters are sketchily developed.

Despite those not so good things, an even larger part of me could not be too hard on 'Christmas in Montana'. It is beautifully filmed and the scenery is nothing short of magical, the film also capturing the feel of the setting and the occasion. The script flows naturally and doesn't have as much of the corn and cheese that other Hallmark Christmas films do, it has subtly amusing moments and doesn't go overboard on the sentiment.

The story is very predictable, but it is also incredibly charming and very heart-warming. The feel good vibe is also strong and the pace generally isn't too slow. The direction has breathing space but doesn't wallow too much thankfully and does a nice job with the character interaction. Martin performs with cute and heartfelt understatement, with no signs of overplaying or going through the motions. Ferguson is a solid as rocks and charming partner and they do have genuine spark together. Their relationship is sweet without being saccharine and doesn't suffer from taking too long to develop or events happening out of the blue.

Overall, nicely done and one of Hallmark's better 2019 Christmas films. 7/10

I thought I won't like this movie but I was young the actors were amazing and the story was amazing with no cliches

And Ava Preston, as Chloe (the teenager daughter), "stole the show."

If this were the only Christmas movie of the year, it would be fine. This is exactly the same story as countless other Christmas movies on most of the regular Christmas movie channels. There is very little tension beyond save-our-ranch. There isn't even a romantic rival. There is no one to hate. What conflict exists is manufactured in one character's head. Even the resolution has been done many times. Take any of the previous save-our-something stories and pull out plot threads and lump them into this movie. The viewer can almost outline the story in detail.

What makes these movies enjoyable for me is the relationships. Kellie Martin and Colin Ferguson are reliable stars in this type of movie and they do fine in this one. The chemistry between them starts almost from the beginning and changes nature but continues over the movie. Even when there is an adversarial nature in the beginning, the two are connecting. Ferguson is especially well cast as a laid back good-natured rancher. I liked the dialogue, especially some of the quips early on which extended even to the surrounding family members. I also really liked Ava Preston as Chloe.

One thing that usually impresses me in Hallmark movies is breathtaking scenery. This movie is about Montana. I expected a lot more than there was. There were a few shots, but is seemed stingy.

I can see why many avid Christmas movie fans were hard on this movie, but it wasn't so much that the movie was bad as it just didn't have anything different.

A sweet, uncomplicated story that is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit. Enjoyed the scenery, the decor, and the natural and believable acting. Bravo hallmark 🎄🎄

I watched this whole film (which is why I gave it a six), but found it somwhat tedious. The plot was a typical Hallmark, which I expected, but also, there was no chemistry between the two leads which pretty much sunk the romance. In addition, I'm a huge fan of both Colin Ferguson and Keliie Martin, but here they were both lackluster, as if they were dialing in performances that they had done a hundred times before! Yes the script was commonplace, but actors need to seem fresh and vital in their roles. Here they didn't.

I absolutely love Colin Ferguson and I have done since I first saw him in "More Tales Of The City". Even with age, there is something so special about him, but I can't see the fuss about Kellie Martin. She was just about right in her role of widowed woman in the film "Christmas Ornament", but she really just doesn't have the presence for me here. Her characters daughter is played very well however.

The story is the same we've seen many times before, city girl visits farm boy to discuss the business, but Colin, his character at least, brings a certain charm to it as he shows her all the fantastic holiday traditions celebrated in their little town and makes her fall in love with him.

Another 2019 dud. This was not a good year for new Hallmark movies. Zero heart, poor script, so so acting. No touching, choke up moment. As some who actually lives 35 miles from the real Bigfork, MT we had a good laugh watching this. Maybe only one shot could have been from MT, this movie is filmed in Canada btw. There is no ranching in Bigfork, it is tourist lakeside town filled with rich snobby out of staters, not the good ol small town people that is portrayed. A ranch like that is next to near impossible in Montana, the few that look this are out of state rich people that are trying to turn our lovely state into crap. Most people wouldn't get most of this, either way the story is ho hum, even though I have loved the leads in other Christmas movies. I won't be adding this to my Christmas movie watchlist.

I admit, the Halmark Christmas films, in many occasions, for me are a sort of junk food. Nice but not healthy. And, absolutely , not recomanded. But Christmas in Montana represents an exception. For the couples, acting, Montana spirit itself and for the lovely - touching eulogy of family. Enough for see it again. And, sure , for the admirable job of Art Hindle - Victoria Snow,Colin Ferguson - Kellie Martin and for Ava Preston. Not the last, for the garland Christmas tree from barn. So, just inspired.

"Christmas in Montana" is one of those modern TV seasonal films right out of the cookie cutter mold. The overworked exec is Sara Bradley, played by Kellie Martin. Her young teen daughter, Chloe, is played by Ava Preston. They lost there husband-dad four years earlier, and Sara has stayed in the city - Los Angeles, with no Christmas celebrations for Chloe the past few years. But Sara takes her on this trip as part of a holiday vacation. Sara is the top financial adviser and employee of a big finance corporation. She is a trouble-shooter who tries to help clients qualify for loans or extended loans. So, she and Chole are headed for the Carson Ranch in Montana.

Although there is a Bigfork, Montana, this movie was filmed in Ontario, Canada. The early couple of scenic snow-cap scenes give it a feel of Western Montana. That's where the Big Sky State has mountains (The Rockies), but the range land and ranches are in the rolling hills and grass prairies of the eastern two-thirds of the state. The setting and early street scene could be in Butte, or Helena, or Great Falls, or Missoula. Or, even Kalispell which is in the Rockies and near the real Bigfork. But any ranch would be more than 80 miles East of there, on the other side of the Rockies and the continental divide. Anyway, these scenes give it an appearance of a Christmas Western - modern, of course.

Pops Carson is the retired head of the ranch, played superbly by Art Hindle. But the reins of the ranch now are in the hands of Travis Carson, junior. Travis just happened to graduate from law school and had a prestigious job back East. But that life wasn't for him, and after he realized it, he moved back to the ranch. Only, his sweetheart didn't take to ranch life. So, after a few years of a wounded lover, he hasn't been available for dates. The men lost their wife-mom a few years ago, and they continue her Christmas holiday traditions of lighting up the ranch.

After he meets Sara, Travis makes it clear that layoffs of employees isn't an option. Chloe takes to the ranch and makes friends with Lexie Ryan (played by Kayla Hutton). Sara and Chloe are amazed to find a beautiful home at the ranch, and a horse barn and buildings that seem almost too immaculate to be on a working ranch. Others in the cast fit nicely in this story. Sara comes up with a last-minute idea to save the ranch without having to sell off any of its 20,000 acres, and she overcomes her insecurity and gives into romance with Travis.

Now, you'd think that this would be rated higher than six stars by this reviewer. And, here's why it isn't. First, there is absolutely no chemistry between the two leads, and it's nigh on impossible to think romance. Not that the movie doesn't try to force it upon the viewers. And that's the second very big negative. Travis can't take his eyes off Sara. It's unreal and one can't imagine what was going through the minds of the director and camera operator for the many, many shots in virtually every scene where Travis is staring wooden faced at Sara. And, most of them show her staring back. They look blank and speechless and expressionless. And, surely not romantic. This is really bad acting and directing.

Now, the crime in this film is because the script otherwise is very good, and peppered with clever dialog - especially witty lines from Travis. Pops joins in with some himself, and this had the making of a very good, nice light comedy romance and drama. But the two leads apparently couldn't find it in themselves to show or feel some chemistry with one another. So, the many scenes of Travis just staring emotionless, with an occasional line or word, really do this film in. There's one other bothersome thing about Travis. He's supposed to be a hardy Montanan and rancher. Yet he wears nothing but a light jacket - not even a barn coat, all the time, and he's frequently cold and rubbing and blowing on this hands. Pops has enough sense to at least wear a more substantial coat, to go along with his more natural padding. So, either Travis should have worn a heavy coat, or he should have shown a little more manly hardiness for the climate.

This film is worth watching for the occasional snappy lines and fresh humor, and the Western setting scenes and feel. Just don't expect anything of a real romance and be prepared for some silly scenes when it looks like Travis and Sara just face off - he mostly blank-faced, in a staring contest.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Pops Carson, "Well, the horses here like Christmas too. They like to pretend they're reindeer."

Travis Carson, "That's a cowboy work ethic - you wouldn't ask anybody to do anything you wouldn't do yourself."

Travis, to Sara, "You jump at the work load so fast, it gives me whiplash."

Sara Bradley, "You missed Christmas in New York City - the most Christmassy place in the whole world?" Travis, "Well, it wasn't home."

Travis, hearing a distant bell ringing, "Oh - must be time to go." Sara, "Where?" Travis, "Oh, back to the house. First rule of ranch life - never ignore the chow bell."

Sara, "Sometimes you don't know where you belong until you get there. And it all becomes so clear."

Travis, "Do you wanna go for a stroll?" Sara, "I'd love to." Travis, "Okay. You know that means walking slowly, right?" Sara, "I'll do my best."

6/10 - Kellie Martin deserved a better script to work with in her return to Hallmark Christmas movies

One of the better Hallmark movies this year. Kept my interest the entire time. Good acting, lots of humor, and great scenery.

The movie lacked any depth and the acting was flat. Where was the story? I fell asleep and watch the movie again in order to write a review. I am sorry the second viewing was very uninspiring.

Kellie Martin should have a better script and cast.

Disappointing.

I consider this to be a "Hidden Gem" -- a movie that I believe is much better than the overall numerical IMDB Rating would lead you to expect. For that reason it is on my IMDB "Christmas Movie Favorites" list.

Terrible script writing, typical Hallmark movie. I just get irked when they cut down trees then use a fake terrible looking Balsam Hill that's not even close to the same size. I like these 2 actors, they were just robbed. Woman meets man he is great, snow snow hug kiss repeat.

This was a win win, two of my favourite Hallmark actors, horses, mountains and snow (albeit of the Hallmark type). From a U. K. country woman, who loves the more natural Christmas films (can't abide the prince ones). This was perfection, all the actors, including the young ones were performing to a high standard, well directed, good script, scenery to die for! This is my new favourite Christmas movie.

It's possible that Hallmark blew their entire production budget on Christmas decorations. Yikes! Never has a house, barn and grounds ever been so dressed up. Talk about over done! Hard to believe someone didn't call this out during filming.

As for the story. Pretty one dimensional and Hallmarky.