Our Christmas Mural (2023 Hallmark)
📺. Stream/Watch the Movie (Ad): Watch or Stream via Hallmark Movies Now
Cast: Alex Paxton-Beesley & Dan Jeannotte
Director: Tara Johns
Writer: Alan Donahue
➡️ Check out our Youtube Channel: Lifetime Uncorked: Lifetime Movie Reviews
🎧 Listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast: Listen Now
🍷 Support the show with a $5 tip: https://ko-fi.com/patrickserrano
Accused: The Karen Read Story, Katie Cassidy, and Turtleboy? – Lifetime Uncorked
- Accused: The Karen Read Story, Katie Cassidy, and Turtleboy?
- It's A Wonderful Lifetime Preview, Brandy Norwood, Vivica A. Fox, and Airplane Movies?
- If I Run Lifetime Movie, Kat Graham, and Prayer Requests?
- Ice Road Killer Lifetime Movie, Christmas Thrillers, and Truckers
- You Better Watch Out, Christmas in July, and Bramblefest?
- The Nanny Sees All 2025 Lifetime Movie, Child Actor of the Year, and Golden Madison?
- I'm Your Biggest Fan Lifetime Movie, Hailey Duff Directs, and Beverley Mitchell?
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Hallmark)
Olivia, a single mom, returns home for Christmas. Her mom secretly enters her into a mural contest; she wins but partners with teacher Will to create a Christmas masterpiece. Starring Alex Paxton-Beesley and Dan Jeannotte.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Olivia is an abstract painter who has a hot boss named Hayden. He praises her and tells her that although she is his best curator, Olivia is being let go in the New Year. She worries about how she will pay for her house in Williamsburg AND is a single mother. (Her son Parker is excited about the trip back home and wants to stay with his grandparents.)
At home, Olivia is embarrassed to stay in her teenage bedroom. Her teenage paintings, however, inspire her. She goes to the local hardware store for some art supplies. She picks up some acrylic paints in Mistoe Green at the store and knocks over a display hiding from a hunk. He picks up the paint and needs 10 of them for a Christmas Mural contest in town/ The hunk painter’s name is Will, and he is unwilling to share. (He shows her that she can mix blue and yellow to make green.) Olivia is unimpressed.
Unbeknownst to Olivia, her mother submits her for the Mural project, and she beats out Will for the grand prize!
Will is the runner-up and congratulates her; he also tells her he will take over if she fails.
Olivia’s friend is a teacher, and she tells Olivia to bring her son to an after-school art class taught by Will. Olivia is super annoyed, and Will loves it. He needed the paint for his class. Will bonds with Olivia’s son, who is missing a father figure, and she watches them from afar. Olivia informs Will that Parker’s father passed away, and Will suggests Art Therapy. (Will used Art therapy to deal with his father’s death as well.) Olivia thinks it is a very generous offer.
Will agrees to help Olivia with the Mural, and they discuss her plan.
Art therapy goes well with Parker, and Will talks with him about missing his father. Olivia is inspired by Parker’s drawing and decides to draw a sketch of her family that inspires her. Olivia finds her creative spark again and realizes that Will is passionate about Art Therapy.
The sessions continue with Parker and Olivia even partaking in the Art therapy. They smash plates to make a mosaic of red and green. Then, a montage happens, and Olivia paints up a storm. Will and Olivia eat Thai food in the art studio on the floor, and he talks about his large family. Will worries that he isn’t cut out for being a parent. The conversation moves Olivia to talk to her son about his feelings about Will and her hometown. Parker doodles an angel on the picture he is drawing; it is his dad.
Olivia’s mother makes a fancy dinner and invites Will to join them. After the meal Will and Olivia look at the stars and flirt. They kiss, but Olivia freaks out because she doesn’t know if she is ready or willing to move on yet. Will decides the best course of action is to keep his distance.
After a good talk with her mother, Olivia feels a lot better. The whole scene was really thoughtfully written and well-acted. (Can we just see a mother/daughter movie instead?) After talking to her son, Olivia decides to stay in town.
It is time for the titular Mural to be revealed. Olivia gives a speech, it is very Mean Girls “A speech isn’t required”. Olivia thanks her friends and family. Then she invites Will on stage to help her pull the curtain and for being her partner. She also announces turning the studio she used for the whole movie into a studio and school for the arts.
When the curtain goes down, it shows a very basic ass mural. Very Norman Rockwell.
Olivia gives Will a paint brush and tells him she wants him in her life painting or something. Yay for them!
Note/Stray Thoughts
Art therapy sounds interesting; this movie wasn’t terribly.
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
🎄 (1 Christmas Tree)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷 (2 glasses of wine.)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked
📺. Stream/Watch the Movie (Ad):
➡️ Check out our Youtube Channel: Lifetime Uncorked: Lifetime Movie Reviews
🎧 Listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast: Listen Here
🍷 Support the show/blog with a $5 tip: https://ko-fi.com/patrickserrano
Inquiries | podcast@lifetimeuncorked.com
🍾 Your Support is appreciated. Donate today to keep the website going! Thank you.
*Photo Credit: © 2023 Hallmark
