User Reviews

Hallmark movies frequently have nice scenery. This time it is a man made structure, the Hotel de Glace. I can't imagine staying there. Brr. But it would be so interesting.

The movie is pretty standard and no real surprises. Habree Larratt, as Sara, adds a little to the story as cute kids often do. Emilie Ullerup and Kevin McGarry connect as the leads. Ullerup's enthusiasm and optimism are a real plus for the movie.

All through the movie, I felt bad for Lana. She appears to be a nice person who has given much of herself for Craig and Sara. She lacks Jenny's excitement, but she's been close to the family for years. I cringed a little at how much Jenny's sister marginalized Lana and totally pushed Jenny to pursue Craig at Lana's expense. The trope of an existing rival is common in these movies, but it they don't usually seem so worthwhile as an alternative for the applicable lead. I'm a little old school in that I'm not a fan of pursuing a romantic interest who is already hooked up. And Jenny was a little wishy-washy about the issue.

{Additional edit to original review} After so recently watching and reviewing dozens of the season's Christmas romances, I have been repeatedly complaining about derivative and overused plot lines. This movie does at least a couple of original things. The obvious one is the ice hotel. The backstory of the lady lead's rival is a bit different. It's a bit different how the rival shines in front of everyone in one scene, in this case by her musical solo. And the scene of one of the members of the triangle seeing and misunderstanding a tête-à-tête between the other two has the roles reversed as it is the rival, not the heroine, who sees it and misunderstands at least what technically occurred even if she correctly understood the sentiments. Even the discomfort connected with Lana's pain is a bit out of the norm for these movies.

I liked the variety in set and location of this one, although I was a little distracted by the unrealistic feeling (although I know the venue is real) and uncomfortable-looking atmosphere of the ice hotel! At the beginning, I really thought that Lana was going to be a non-romantic wedding date for Craig (like a sister or employee) and that the other characters were misunderstanding their relationship. Either way, it was a good addition to the much-appreciated collection of Winter Hallmark movies after the Christmas season is over.

I never knew what a mature adult I was till I saw this Hallmark movie with a beautiful setting and no real plot.

Because I'm too adult to horn in on a friend's invite to a wedding so intimate most family members were left out.

Because I'd never bring a friend with unrequited designs on me as my uninvited guest to a dayslong wedding.

Because I know better than to talk to an 8- or 9-year-old like a preschooler.

Because I wouldn't think for a minute a friend's favors mean I owe him romance.

Because my boundaries are too healthy to enter a stranger's hotel room and read her private messages.

Because I'd never try to kiss someone whose date was in the next room.

Because my manners preclude pointedly staring at a friendly person till they surrender their chair and vamoose.

I had a lot of time to write this while this movie did NOT get better. I hope I watched it so you can save yourself.

And we're not even talking about the cheesy stories, the 40something mother of 35-year-olds, and the most exciting 5-minute winter activity (where no one ate the results) ever. Geez, Hallmark!

Only particular reason I watched this movie was for the ice castle honestly. To me all the Hall-Life...ugh Life-Mark....whatever, movies tend to be very "safe" movies. That is to say, they're all very bland vanilla milk-toast. You can pretty much sum them all up with "I know we've known each other for less than a week, but we have managed to build the foundation for a lifetime romance". It always seems a bit far-fetched to build an entire relationship based on one particular personality trait. "I'm romantically drawn to you because you tell stories, and my daughter likes stories", seems a faulty premise to base your relationship on. As another reviewer pointed out, the daughter seems well beyond the age of "child-like wonder". Most girls her age should be far more interested in getting the new Iphone or drooling over the new Bieber album or something instead of listening to stories that seem more appropriate for five year olds. What happens to your relationship when your daughter no longer factors into the equation? Are those stories still going to be enough to hold you together? What's that, other woman that I invited to a wedding? You helped me and my daughter out during one of the worst times of my life? Well...nuts to you! This one tells stories! Most of her stories are...hamfisted to begin with. "I'm in a real life ice castle....let me tell you a story of an ice castle!". I can do that too! "There once was the story of a magical coffee table, who held up the coffee for a guy writing a review of a movie." LOL. The entire concept seems very "fairy tale theater". Oooh, snow and ice, and carriage rides, and fun activities, and meteors, and slides, good food, and warm drinks. And oh, how convenient I got that book deal I was angling for, isn't it nice with the stars align and you get everything you want. But what happens when you have to leave the fairy tale castle and go back to your humdrum life? There isn't going to be a romantic carriage ride back home, there's going to be a car payment. There won't be romantic dinners at the restaurant, there's going to be Pizza-hut because you both have jobs. There won't be fun activities for the three of you to engage in as a 'family' because he has to work, and you're going to have to go on long tours to promote that new book. The daughter is going to stop finding your stories fascinating and and viewing you as her new mommy, she'll instead find the guy with eight piercings and a Harley fascinating, and you as the nasty harpy that's getting in the way of her teenage (true) love. Excluding the unpleasant taste of a Disney romp leaves the movie with very little to show. I honestly couldn't tell you the first thing about any of the secondary characters. The wedding that brought our two lovebirds together seems completely superfluous, and the only other 'arc' gets unceremoniously dropped (the hotel employee that seemed interested in 'the other woman'). I will however say that I actually appreciated the fact that 'the other woman' wasn't portrayed as a nasty evil she-demon as would probably been the case in a Lifetime movie. Instead of interfering with the budding romance by "accidentally" sending our heroine on a trip over the edge of a cliff or something, she acted surprisingly adult about the situation, dejected but willing to step aside. She wasn't an 'evil step-mother' archetype that was mean to the daughter towards her own ends, but actually cared for her in her own way. Honestly I actually sympathized with her more than I did the heroine, she actually managed to sell a little of the emotion attached with "I've devoted alot of time and effort into this relationship and developed feelings for this guy, and its now become clear that he doesn't feel the same way". Again, for whatever reason, it was just a breath of fresh air to see a character bow out gracefully rather than go all Hand that Rocks the Cradle. So honestly at the end of the day, it becomes "Scenery: The Movie" more than anything else. Take away the location it was shot in and what would you have left?

I admit I'm a realist and a detail person but I can usually suspend enough of that to enjoy Hallmark movies. But this one made it difficult. The setting was so unique and beautiful enough to keep me interested but the story could have been much better with some tweaks. First off, I need to learn packing tips from the sisters considering they managed to pack sweaters, wedding clothing and cold weather clothing in a couple of duffel bags. Love the single dad / best friend of the groom storyline but how is this the first time he and the sister of the bride have met, especially if the bride thinks they'd make a good match? I felt bad for Lana, the plus one. There was no reason not to like her and the best man was stupid to not understand bringing her to an intimate destination wedding would imply more than a casual relationship. And if she was his +1 why did she not arrive with him to the rehearsal dinner? Where was the place setting for her? Not to mention, why did the groom not have any family of his own at the wedding? The other guests at the wedding looked so uncomfortable, they weren't even pretending to have conversations amongst themselves.

I loved this hotel and the winter activities. I love to watch stories with a single dad, weddings, and especially a really smart, independent woman. But none of these elements hooked me in enough to overlook the missing details to really make it work. It really messed up the last 30 minutes of this movie. I love Emilie Ullerup and her character did great acknowledging the presence of Lana. But the balcony scene at the rehearsal dinner completely blew it. Neither acknowledged the missing Lana and they almost kissed despite her reluctance to pursue a relationship because of Lana. Why didn't she ever just ask him straight out what his relationship with Lana was. And why is he so obtuse to think choosing Lana is what his daughter wants, especially after seeing how much she enjoyed her time with Emilie's character. Sorry Hallmark, this movie missed the mark for me.

Ok, I love this actress. And MOST of this story is okay. But Lana leaves because the daughter likes Jenny? The dad doesn't kiss Jenny because he believes the daughter prefers Lana? It's one thing for Lana to accept defeat and leave....but the dad is a wimp. A wuss. A lame duck. Who wants a man who doesn't move heaven and earth to be with you? I read a lot of sweet romances. I'm a Hallmark channel addict. I even write cheesy Christmas romances. I can only hope these reviews get back to Hallmark and they make their main characters interesting and believable again.

Wow. This one was a new low for Hallmark. The leading lady, Jenny, says at least 4 times in the first 30 minutes of the movie that the leading man, Craig, is at the hotel with another woman, so is unavailable. That being said, it doesn't stop her from actively pursuing him. It also doesn't stop her sister - the bride at the wedding she is there to attend - from encouraging her to do so. She alternates between throwing herself at him in spite of the fact he's there with a date, and backing off BECAUSE he's there with a date. Craig brought his dead wife's best friend, Lana, to a romantic destination wedding as his date, then appears oblivious to the fact she has feelings for him and she makes her feelings for him obvious more than once. Lana is treated like an afterthought the entire movie - by everyone at the wedding. You would think if Craig brought her, he would have a small clue she's pining for him, or at least act like he wants her there. He shows no concern for her at all. Lana gets a cold about halfway through the movie, goes to bed early, leaving Craig to flirt with Jenny. Even if he and Lana are only friends - where is the concern for her when she is ill? Frankly, I was surprised Lana didn't leave sooner than she did, because no one cared if she was there or not. Even the writers forgot about her, because at the rehearsal dinner, there is not a place setting for Lana at the table. Weird. She is heading to the dinner to join everyone before she sees Craig talking to Jenny and heads back to her room. Wouldn't that have been awkward for her to show up and find out no one was expecting her? Craig tells Jenny his daughter likes Lana, so he can't be with Jenny. Jenny is devastated and teary-eyed for the next 10 minutes of the movie. That was also weird. They had not really talked or interacted without the daughter present. How do they know if they even like each other? Jenny comes off as very self-centered and desperate to get together with this man because her sister says she should. Craig comes off as more concerned about who will take care of his daughter, than who he connects with. He based both his relationship decisions on who his daughter preferred, rather than who he personally liked. This seemed less a romance and more of a caregiver choice for the daughter. Beautiful hotel and scenery wasted on a poorly written story.