A Christmas Miracle (2019 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Cast: Tamera Mowry-Housley, Brooks Darnell and Barry Bostwick
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
Ever-optimistic single mom Emma Sanderson is looking for a Christmas miracle to write about for the lifestyle magazine at which she has landed a temporary job. While following her lead on the story, Emma discovers an unexpected romance with a supportive colleague and takes it upon herself to bring about a Christmas miracle for a lonely street musician.
Thoughts
Emma and her son have moved to “the city” from Savanna. She has started a new magazine job and is already impressing her boss Valerie. (She gets her ice coffee and is a great writer.) Emma is not only sucking up to her boss; she is also sucking up to her co-workers. Emma goes around giving desktop Christmas Trees. Her co-worker, Marcus, is putoff by her sunny disposition and makes a bet that it won’t last till the end of the week.
Valerie asks for a Christmas Miracle, Emma realizes that she is going have to deliver for her boss AND her son. (Within the first 10 minutes, she promises her son the best Christmas ever.) Emma takes her task quite literally and searches “Real Life Christmas Miracles” She pitches the idea to Valerie, but she is a total biotch. (I’m pretty sure she will steal the idea for herself to pitch the boss,)
Valerie sends Marcus and Emma to pick out a Christmas tree “for work.” Emma brings her son along. After picking out a tree, they take it to work and decorate poorly. Somehow the tree turns out AMAZING. Emma’s co-workers appreciate her hard work, well except for Valerie… who totally stole her Christmas Miracle idea.
Emma opens up to Marcus about what happened, and he encourages her to write the story anyway. She finds a man in town named Santa Dean; he plays the piano downtown. He plays “Silent Night” for Emma’s son. Is it nice? Could he be the Christmas Miracle that Emma is looking for? (Probably!) Emma and Marcus go skating and talk about picking a miracle for their story and then romantically fall into one another’s arms. Then she takes him to see Santa Dean because she has a gut feeling about him. They decided to investigate him.
Santa Dean doesn’t play the piano in public for money; the smile of a child is enough payment for him. He also only comes around during the holiday season. (Hence the name.) Santa Dean used to be in a jazz trio and was pretty famous ten years ago. He also has an estranged daughter named Cissy.
Emma interviews an old bandmate of Santa Deans named Paul to learn more. Emma nobly approaches Santa Dean and tells him about the story she wants to write bout him. He tells her to leave him alone. Emma makes the opposite choice and tracks down Cissy and begs her to mend her relationship with her father. Cissy refuses. Rejection won’t stop Emma. She convinces Santa Dean to reunion concert with his jazz trio to win his daughter back.
Valerie (whose last name is Marsala!) recruits an employee to find her a Miracle for the magazine too. They find a couple who found an original signed copy of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Something is off with their story, and it seems like it is a ploy to get Christmas Carol’s (That is her name.) new original book more exposure.) Emma feels like it is a hoax, and she tells Valerie. Marcus confirms that it is a hoax because he searched ‘the internet.’
The pitch meeting happens with the big boss, and Valerie gives proper credit this time. Emma gets promoted, and Marcus gets a big thumbs up. Valerie apologizes for being the worst and then wishes them both a merry Christmas.
The Christmas concert happens with the very cool Jazz trio. Cissy shows up and joins the band. She plays the violin with her dad. The song they play is “Silent Night.” (Naturally!) As they play, Marcus and Emma kiss as it begins to snow.
Side Note
Minority Report: Emma and her son. Marcus, the majority of her co-workers (But not the bosses.), a Teacher,
I hate to pick favorites, but I prefer Tia Mowry-Hardrict’s acting.
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Overall rating
🎄🎄🎄(3 Christmas Trees. I Added an extra tree because Sarah cried.)
🍷🍷🍷🍷 (4 glasses of wine required)
*Photo Credit: © 2019 Crown Media United States, LLC
