This movie fits the usual formula for a Hallmark Christmas movie. I don't want to spend the extra money for that channel and don't have the time to watch lots of movies like this, but the fact is I enjoy these movies.
And it doesn't matter that people are lying and could get in trouble for it later on. That's part of the fun.
And yes, there are plenty of "only in the movies" moments. Who wants to see real life if they don't have to?
The most important thing is Maria will make these people's lives so much better if they let her.
Jessica Camacho is not my ideal female lead in a movie like this, but she is quite beautiful, and while not cute, she is intelligent and confident. Not the traditional cute potential romantic partner, but of course as in so many of these movies, she is shocked at first by the idea that she would ever be with this man. She looks amazing in a ball gown.
I'm not that crazy about Adam Rodriguez either but he's good enough and someone I am willing to root for.
Luisa d'Oliveira as the best friend is just edgy enough and appealing in her own way. And I really like her festive pajamas in one scene. Are they beautiful? As a sweater, the design might be an "ugly holiday sweater".
Bianca Caroca is quire appealing as Julian's sister.
And I like Jaime M. Callica, Julian's friend, who I thought was Alfonso Ribeiro at first.
Frank Crudele is very appealing as the man who runs one of the family's favorite restaurants.
I also liked Serge Houde as the man who runs ... wait ... Pendergast Tool? Didn't Archie Bunker (of New York City) work there? This is Washington, but it is a big company. There must be a story there because Pendergast is not an ordinary name.
Renee Taylor has one line as a server in another restaurant but she does it so well.
Julian found "The Nutcracker" to be torture. At first. I'm not saying I like ballet, but I like the music. The part of the ballet that was shown, while well done of course, did not have the familiar music. What I recall is that my father's LP has two sides, one with all the music we know, and another with less familiar music. I will assume the music in this movie was from the other side.
Is this family friendly? It was rated TV-G on CBS, very unusual in 2021. The most offensive content I was aware of was "shove it up their Christmas stocking" and "nutcracker of a comment", so nothing too serious. Daphne, Juiian's sister, described coming out as gay to her parents, but in 2021 this is perfectly fine in G-rated content, though maybe not for everyone. I don't think Daphne's being gay was ever mentioned again.
Is this a movie you want to watch? I can't speak for those who have Hallmark Channel and watch lots of them, but if you can only choose a few, this is one you can surely enjoy.
