The Christmas Cottage (2017 Hallmark Movies and Mysteries)

The Christmas Cottage

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Stars: Merritt Patterson & Steve Lund

Synopsis (via Hallmark)

When Lacey takes a rare break from work for her friend Ava’s Christmas Eve wedding, she reconnects with her former flame, Ean. The two decorate the cottage where the newlyweds will spend their honeymoon – a cottage said to bring true love to anyone who stays there – and feel their chemistry return. Lacey, however, is dating her equally workaholic business partner, Roger, who arrives just before the wedding. With Roger in town Lacey sees the sharp contrast between Ean’s family values and Roger’s sole focus on work, and must decide if the professional goals she shares with Roger or the connection and history she shares with Ean are more important in a lasting relationship.

Thoughts

Lacey is a interior designer? Architect? Realtor? Whatever she is she, does a sales pitch with a smart house! It put HGTV to shame. Her co-worker (Roger) is concerned when she tells him that she has to go out of town for her best friend’s (Ava) wedding. (She is the maid of honor). Before she does off to the wedding, she promises to land the big deal AND lands a big kiss on him (but really a peck).

Turns out, Roger is her boyfriend and things just make sense! At the Christmas Cottage Lacey runs into Ean, her ex-boyfriend from high school and brother of the bride. He is now a culinary explorer and has a REALLY big backpack.

Apparently, the Christmas Cottage is magical and everyone who stays at the cottage falls in love. For generations, Ava’s family has been falling in love at the cottage. Her great grandma even cross-stitched a saying: “Whoever spends a Christmas night behind this door will have true love forever more.” Ava is a bit of a bridezilla, second guessing Lacy’s design plans for the honeymoon cottage, and demanding a REAL CHRISTMAS TREE! She even nitpicks Lacey’s choice of party wear.

At the welcome party, Aunt Sarah makes a toast about the family—whose tradition is to get married on Christmas Eve and spend their honeymoon in the Christmas Cottage. As the party is winding down, Aunt Sarah takes Lacey aside and tells her to remember the traditions of the family and Ava LOVES Christmas. (This point is reiterated many times, by everyone.)

While preparing for to decorate the cottage, Lacey is pelted with a snowball. It is Ean and he has been sent to decorate the cottage too! (The groom Mason sent him.) They go to chop down a Christmas tree and Ean saves Lacey from getting killed by the falling tree. They then stock up the kitchen with food for the bride and groom. Then finally a decorating montage!

While decorating, Lacey gets a notification about an impending snow storm. Lacey and Ean are too busy to discussing the ornaments on the tree to see the multiple alerts and text telling them about the inclimate weather. They get snowed in and will have to spend the night in the love cottage.

Instead of freaking out about work, Lacey pours up wine and gets on her comfy clothes. (A girl after my own heart.) Too bad the power goes out and they won’t be able to sleep in their rooms. They shack up in the livingroom by the fire. They don’t have any hanky panky during the night, but Ean does put his culinary explorer profession to use and makes Lacey a yummy breakfast. (After all, “the way to woman’s heart is through her tastebuds!” Direct quote!)

Lacey puts her work skills to use and designs a restaurant with Ean. She suggests to create a pop-up restaurant with different cuisines from his travels around the world.

They then do some Christmas things, like make a wreath and visit Santa, when Roger shows up! He needs to work on the house designs to. He is too busy to go to the annual Christmas Tree lighting leaving the door open for Ean to swoop in and share hot cocoa and sing “Joy to the World.”

While putting the finishing touches on the cottage, Ean comes clean about his feelings about Lacey. She shuts him down pretty quickly and tells him her is confused.

At the rehearsal dinner (the first dinner Lacey and Roger have spent together in a long time), she wants to do something spontaneous and fun! He doesn’t understand why she wouldn’t want to work all the time and focus on the big deal. He even books a red eye flight to the meeting after the wedding, the day after Christmas. (When all BIG meetings happen.)

At the wedding reception, Lacey and Ean talk while dancing. Ean tells her he has accepted the job in Finland and Lacey is shocked!!! During the best man speech, Ean is talking to everyone… but really to Lacey. (Roger meanwhile is checking his phone and thinking about when they are going to pack.) Lacey gives her maid of honor speech and again she is talking to everyone, but really to Ean. The speeches work and Lacey dumps Roger.

Aunt Sarah sends Lacey to the cottage to deliver the wedding gifts; she also sends Ean to the cabin where they reconnect and both declare their love for each other and cancel their travel plans. They kiss by the Christmas tree. Christmas miracle!

Side Note

Based on the novel The Christmas Cottage by Samantha Chase

Steve Lund appears to be reading cue cards in a lot of his scenes.

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Overall rating

🎄🎄 (2 Christmas Trees)

🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine required)

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