Tis the Season to be Merry (2021 Hallmark)

Tis the Season to be Merry (2021 Hallmark)

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Cast: Rachael Leigh Cook, Travis Van Winkle, Adam Hurtig

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Synopsis (via Hallmark)

Looking for a fresh angle to her book on relationships, Merry heads to snow covered Vermont. She finds a new perspective and Christmas cheer with charismatic aid worker Adam.

Recap/Wine Thoughts

The movie starts with a voice-over from the protagonist about finding love at Christmas. Merry is a love and relationship expert on social media. She gives advice like “Tell your partner what you want.”

A year earlier, Merry is working in a cafe and sees a handsome man named Dale who has been stood up on a date. Dale seems like the perfect guy, and they are quickly engaged. The only thing is it was all a daydream and the basis for Merry’s new book called “My Rule for Love.” Merry tries to tell her publisher about the fake relationship, but Sonia is too excited about the book release.

Merry and her editor/high school BFF Darlean freak out about the news getting out, especially since Darlean’s promotion rides on the book’s success. Darlene invites Merry to come to Vermont for Christmas to figure out what to do. They aren’t the only ones coming home for Christmas; Vivian’s hunky brother Adam is back from traveling the world and is newly single.

When the girls get in town, Merry is exhausted and takes a nap. Little does she know she is in Chris’s room. He walks in wearing nothing but a towel. (Hallmark including shirtless hunks now?!) Merry is embarrassed while still appreciating his statuesque form. They awkwardly head into town together for “the hat thing.”

The hat thing is a hat filled with Christmas things that need to be done. Adam and Merry are paired together to get things done, and he overhears Merry’s imaginary fiance. She tells him her rules for relationships, and he thinks she is too focused on her brain and not her heart.

Sonia has her assistant, David, look into the fiance, Dale. When David finds nothing, Sonia has him book her a flight to Vermont. She finds Adam and Merry in a Christmas tree lot and assumes Adam is Dale. Merry and Darlene come clean to Sonia about the truth. Sonia tells Merry she will need to write a new book immediately. (There is a B-romance that starts with Sonia and Joe, the owner of the Diner, I wouldn’t mind seeing their movie.)

Merry spends time with James at the Christmas Tree lighting (set up by Darlean; Adam can’t keep his eyes off Merry the whole night. She clarifies later that she isn’t interested in James.

Adam catches Merry in the kitchen light at night while she is taking a writing break. He takes her to roast marshmallows by the fire while talking about past relationships. Adam calls a s’more a “marshmallow sandwich.”

The family throws a tree lot auction to benefit the local library. Merry and Adam serve as the auctioneers for the event. It turns out to be the last one because Adam and Darlean’s parents sell the family business. Adam is supportive at first, but he feels like he lets the family down by not taking over. He is offered another job in Thailand by his ex-girlfriend, Julie.

Merry and Adam do a bunch of Christmas things in a montage. Which is interrupted by Jake asking Merry out on a date. (Which surprised the hell out of me, I thought he was going to end up asking Darlean out.)

On the date, James clarifies that he does want to ask Darlean out; he just picked the most romantic restaurant to do that. Merry sees Darlean and her family are at the same restaurant and swaps places with Darlean. Adam tells his parents that he wants to work and create at the family dinner. The family business could have been that. Then he tells them that he might be going to Thailand.

Merry continues to write her book, but she is uninspired and distracted thinking about Adam. Merry talk to Adam and tells him that she wants to find someone who loves her for her. Adam shares that he just wants someone to tell him to stay. This sparks an idea, and she gets to work on the new book.

Sonia leaves for the airport before Merry can deliver her manuscript. Merry and Darlean rush to the airport so Merry can make her pitch. She wants to make a more realistic approach to love without the rules. Sonia is intrigued.

Adam is also at the airport too. When Merry sees him, she makes a dramatic speech screaming, “DON’T GO!” He isn’t going anywhere; he is there to tell Merry he wants to be with her. They kiss and are engaged by the books release.

Side Note

Minority Report: Cassie, Sonia, David, Julie,

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Christmas Trees represent the Christmas vibes. *** I’ve updated the rating system. Wine is my overall enjoyment (NOT a value judgment) on a 1-5 scale.

I will use the following tags for those who want to know if they should watch or skip: Pour it Up (Would Recommend) or Put A Cork In It (Would Not Recommend).

Overall rating

Christmas Feels

🎄🎄🎄🎄 (4 Christmas Trees)

Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 (5 glasses of wine.)

What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked