Christmas Tree Lane (2020 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Cast: Andrew W. Walker, Alicia Witt, Drake Hogestyn
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
Music store owner Meg spearheads community efforts to save her street from demolition. She’s shocked to find out that the man she’s falling for is actually working for the company Meg’s fighting.
Thoughts
Meg gives voice lessons and actually offers some good vocal advice to a young singer named Carrie. Meg is very popular in her small town and used to perform around town. Now she is focused on teaching.
At a coffee stand, Meg runs into a handsome man ordering a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and sprinkles. Meg is unimpressed and orders a decaf coffee black. (Why even order anything at that point.) She forgets her hat, which allows the hunk to see her again at her music store. Too bad Meg gets an eviction notice. The whole block is bring sold for a big box store. Meg and her father organize a brainstorming idea. A concert to save Christmas Tree Lane is what they land on. (I bet Meg will perform when someone pulls out the last min.)
The handsome man stops by the store and returns Meg’s hat. He introduces himself as Nate. He is in town to work for his father’s company. They play Christmas records and disagree on whether they are good or bad. She loves them, and he thinks they sound scratchy. (haha, that is the point.) He wants to buy a record player because he sees a flyer that Christmas Tree Lane is in trouble. Meg shares that the whole street is getting demolished for condos. Nate looks guilty AF. He goes skating with Meg and runs into his ex-girlfriend Regina. He plays it off that they “knew each other from college.” They dated for four years!!! Come on, Nate, don’t be rude to your ex. (Even if she is the worst.)
Meg’s fellow female business owners are shipping for her and Nate to get together. (Who wouldn’t? They are adorable together.) Nate offers to give her some business advice in exchange; he would like to hear Meg sing. They play the piano together and while she sings. You can feel the chemistry here between the characters.
Nate realizes his father’s company is behind the demolition and condos in a work meeting with his father and other business executives. When he is given the opportunity to come clean to Meg, he chickens out. Meg catches him in the office and realizes that he works for the company shutting down her business. She takes a moment to collect herself but convinces Nate to work together and bring his father to Christmas Tree Lane. The plan kind of works? Where could the movie go from here?
Meg starts getting good press and celebrates with Nate. Meg is working on a new song and is having a bit of writer’s block. They walk around Christmas Tree Lane, and Nate gets an idea to create a multipurpose building. Business, apartments, and offices. He sketches out his plan on a coaster and gifts it to Meg, promising to make her Christmas wish come true. Meg places it on the piano and finally finds her inspiration. They are both inspired together. Awwww!
Nate makes his pitch to make Christmas Tree Lane a destination. They don’t go for it. Nate has to break the news to Meg, and thankfully he just pulls the bandaid off. The bad news does put a wrench in their relationship because he feels like a failure, and Meg feels betrayed. Of all the people to bring them back together, REGINA (the ex-girlfriend.) talks with Meg. Regina offers to do some lawyer stuff pro bono and gives Meg some love advice as well. She tells her to give Nate a chance. (I mean, has Meg not seen his face? Give this man another chance or send him my way.)
The Christmas concert happens and is a huge success. Carrie sings very well, and Meg gives an inspirational speech. Oh, and she sings her new HIT SINGEL in full.
Nate’s father reconsiders and decides to save Christmas Tree Lane. Nate shares the good news with a ravishing Meg. They celebrate with a Christmas kiss. The end!
Side Note
Andrew Walker and Ms. Alicia Witt are a perfect TV movie pair. Both actors bring out the best in one another. Very fun to watch.
Minority Report: Carrie, Emma,
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Overall rating
🎄🎄🎄🎄 (4 Christmas Trees)
🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine required.)
*Photo Credit: © 2020 Hallmark Crown Media
