A Christmas Love Story (2019 Hallmark Hall of Fame)
Cast: Kristin Chenoweth, Scott Wolf, Keith Robinson, and Kevin Quinn
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
Chenoweth is a youth choir director who needs to write a big song for a Christmas Eve show but is distracted when a boy with a golden voice joins her choir, which comes as a surprise to his widowed father (Wolf).
Thoughts
Katherine Clark is a choir director, and she works at a school. She plans fancy New York Galas, advocates for youth music education, oh, and she used to be a Broadway star. When a music star cancels on writing the final song, Katherine asks the students not to worry about it. Then they sing some more. Danny, one of the students, is so amazing (but not really, he can’t stop doing melismas.), and Katherine recruits him to fill in when a student gets sick. (Danny looks like a knock off Zac Efron.)
Greg works in BUSINESS and has no time for relationships or Christmas. Bah Humbug! He keeps the traditions of his dead wife alive by having his assistant decorate his office in the same way she did. (That isn’t creepy, at all.)
While running errands, Katherine takes a rideshare instead of her regular taxi. (Which she calls “Car Apps.”) Greg is also in the car. Greg follows Katherine and is surprised to see his son singing in her choir. He bans his son from performing. (What is the problem, Scott Wolf!) Katherine is working on writing the song, so we get shots of Chenoweth playing piano and annoyingly singing opera. (I’m sorry you guys, this woman is so annoying.) She can’t let the idea of Danny go, and she calls up Greg to convince him to allow his son to sing. When Greg doesn’t answer, Katherine drives up to Connecticut. Greg isn’t even put off by her stalking and makes her tea?!?! Then invite her to join him and Danny to select a Christmas tree. (This is ridiculous!!!) She gets stuck in Connecticut because of a winter storm (Not winter storm Megan.)
Katherine, Greg, and Danny make dinner and bake cookies. Never one to pass an opportunity to be annoying, Chenoweth sings, “We Wish you a Merry Christmas.” operatically into a spatula. Then they decorate the tree while talking about past relationships.
Back in the city, Katherine and Greg walk around in a Christmas market and talk about Danny. She is inspired by them both and scribbles in a notepad. Then she signs about “Lifting up your voice.” and I wish she would keep her’s down.
Greg invites Katherine to his work Christmas Party. He dresses up as Santa and makes Katherine become Mrs. Clause. They hand out gifts to workers and then go for a stroll after the party while talking about Christmas magic and having kids. (She gave her baby up for adoption.) Which is apparently a turn on for Greg because he kisses her.
The conversation sparks something in Katherine, and she looks into her adoption, while also getting Danny ready for the show in a montage. (While Greg watches on, for some reason.) Good thing because it turns out that Danny is Katherine’s biological mother. He knows that she is his mother and tells her. They cry and agree to talk to Greg when Danny is ready. It only takes one scene, and Danny tells Greg.
At the theater the night of the performance. It is no Sister Act. Not by a long shot. What is up with this terrible band arrangement. The band doesn’t exist. It is one of the worst “live” perfomances I have ever seen in a Hallmark movie. Then Chenoweth sings the original song with her son, and it is even worse.
Katherine works up some Christmas courage to talk with Greg after the show. She thanks him for taking care of Danny and all the blessings she has been given. Greg tells her that he doesn’t want her to have a very merry Christmas. He wants her to spend Christmas with him in Connecticut.
They do, and then they sing into a spatula, and I want never to use one again. Awful. Awful singing. Way to end this movie on a terrible note, Hallmark.
Side Note
Minority Report: Accompanist, Greg’s assistant, Choir students,
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Overall rating
🎄 (1 Christmas Trees)
🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 (5 glasses of wine required)
*Photo Credit: © 2019 Crown Media United States, LLC
Haha I thought the music really elevated it at every turn but I’m a huge Chenoweth fan
I get she is a Broadway legend and can totally respect that. Not my cup of tea.