User reviews

Christmas films can go either way, which has been my experience watching overtime the festive output of Lifetime and Hallmark. They can either be well-meaning, charming, warm-hearted and don't feel too heavy. Or they can be too over-sentimental, cheesy, contrived and bland. There have been many films of theirs that have fallen in both camps and in the camp where there is a bit of both. And 'Marry Me at Christmas' did have the sort of premise where the execution could have gone either way.

2017 was a hit and miss year for Hallmark and especially for their Christmas efforts. 'Marry Me at Christmas' is among the better ones from that year and is above average. It is rough around the edges and is uneven, a milestone or classic is not to be expected, but it has its heart in the right place and it's a heart of gold. As somebody who took it for what it was meant to be, which was not high art but something inoffensive to pass the time, it was quite pleasant. Of course with a few of the usual gremlins but also with a lot of good things.

Am going to start with the good things, as there is more of them than there are bad. It is very professionally filmed and the locations are beautiful. Actually found Rachel Skarston very amiable in the lead role and neither the quirkiness or the character's flaws seemed overacted or overwritten (a common problem with Hallmark's female lead characters). Am not going to pass any comment on her hair like others have, that strikes me as a nit-pick and doesn't say anything about the performance itself. She is very well partnered and matched by the even more likeable Trevor Donovan, no stiffness or overdone uptightness in his performance and one can see his appeal. Their chemistry is good natured and genuine and it develops nicely.

Emily Tennant steals every scene she's in, not only does she have a smile-worthy charm but there was no doubt that she was enjoying herself. Keith MacKechnie and Michele Scarabelli are fun as the parental figures, ones that are not annoying caricatures or sketchy and instead coming over as real people. The script is not too cheesy or schmaltzy in my view and doesn't sound awkward. The story is heart-warming, is light-hearted, doesn't come over as too serious and is moving without being sugary sweet.

There however could have been less of the music score, it could have been a lot more subtly handled in a film that sounded too over-scored.

Despite the story not being bland and having its heart in the right place, it is not perfect. It is very predictable, due to a done to death formula lacking freshness, and has dull stretches. Some suspension of disbelief is needed later on, such as how too easily everything is resolved.

In conclusion, while not great 'Marry Me at Christmas' is a pleasant enough diversion. 7/10

I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 Christmas MOVIES.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. IF ITS NEGATIVE THEY MAY HAVE A GRUDGE! I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE

Organizing a Christmas wedding is a true treat for bridal boutique owner Madeline Krug. She loves the challenge of finding the perfect dress for the bride and orchestrating an exquisite event. What Madeline didn't expect was to be swept off her feet by the bride's gorgeous brother.

This film is okay but I do love the fact that the "Bride" in this is not shown as a "Bridezilla". She is just a girl wanting a Christmas Wedding. She is shown to be a sweet and kind woman. I don't want to give too much away but this film is sweet but the only thing that stands out is that Trevor Donovan has a bad dye job.

Not the Best Christmas movie. Its not bad but its not original!

I'm a hairstylist and I can't get past this. Who approved this hair? It's like a 3rd main character. The movie is typical Hallmark. I watched all of them last year. They all have the same plot, but during Christmas who wants anything too heavy.

It is just cocoa for soul. Nice, giving a beautiful cast and a small town as location, a film star and a wedding prepaires, Christmas and soft emotions. Sure, not different by many other Christmas films from Hallmark, but seductive and comfortable and, deep honest in this good intentions purpose. Maybe the old fashion beauty of Rachel Skarsten, maybe the look and role of good pie-guy of Trevor Donovan, maybe the cake in form of heart or the chemistry between the characters of Michele Scarabelli and Keith McKeichnie , maybe the church but it is different film. So, nice in all senses.

Rachel Skarsten is not your typical blonde. Quirky, emotive and super cute, you can't take your eyes off her. Emily Tennant plays her usual second banana role very well. The real show stealer, Signed, Sealed and Delivered's Crystal Lowe is funny and amazingly beautiful. She should be starring in her own movie. The male lead, Trevor Donovan is as emotive as a two by four. But these movies are never about the man anyway.

The lead's curls were so distractingly badly styled, it was hard to focus on an otherwise cute film. How did the hair people let her walk out without finger combing those curls? She looked like a 13 year old girl who doesn't know better!

I usually don't rate the holiday movies as they all follow the exact same formula, just the background changes slightly. I want to say the lead actress in this movie is adorable. Not only is she extremely expressive and emotive, anyone who can overcome that terrible hairstyle (seriously, why not just sit a poodle on her head?) and still get an audience rooting for her has to be pretty amazing. She could honestly make us believe she fell in love with a mannequin and that they'd live happily ever after. Come to think of it, that's exactly what she did. ...I may be a little harsh. Let's go with wax figure instead of mannequin. I'd watch this again.

I rate this 7/10 because the lead actress is actually quite good.

First things first, Rachel Skarsten is super hot. Even with that horrible hair job, she still manages to look decent. Her curls are way too tight. Painfully tight. Finally, at the end they get her hair right for about thirty seconds. Trevor Donovan is a dope...that's it...plain and simple but I've seen worse, so barely tolerable is how I would describe him. Emily Tennant will be star in the future Christmas movies...Mark the tape!

The relationship will never last....no guy is going to end a superstar movie career to move to a pedestrian small town and live with a bumpkin no matter how hot she is..Did they kiss??? Because, I don't even remember it...moving...No Christmas Magic???...OK, OK his parents died, that was his one redeeming quality...commiseration.

A little better than average but certainly not good.

After reading the reviews here I'm guessing someone from hair & makeup got fired from this job now they're obsessed.with bashing it. Aaaaaanyway, I like this movie a lot. Rachel Skarsten and Trevor Donovan did a great job, they have good chemistry, they're very likeable, the movie has a good pace and an interesting story. What's not to like? Emily Tennant sort of steals the show here, she plays her character to PERFECTION and you will fall in love with her and her fiance Blair Penner. This is well worth a watch

Decent run of the mill RomCom with a new kind of story, I think! There's not much to write home about with this one, but I'm already home and I don't have too much to say about it. So I'm going to write just enough to get this review in. It is enjoyable! And it hasn't got the usual actors/actresses in it. I like it when they switch up the people who play in these hallmark movies. We get to see different faces, which can be refreshing. I watched this movie on the night of its premiere and again, I'm the first to review it. Give it a go! It's worthy for a Hallmark chick flick!

The entire movie, I watched the hair! I guess I'm weird, hated the hair. Who on earth????? The hair made me not like it....... sorry Hallmark....

I agree with the previous review about the lead's curly hair. It is not only distracting, it is ugly. From the pictures of her, she is very pretty in real life. And isn't Ginger usually the name of a red haired girl. But I am so glad they picked Emily Tennet to play the part of the sister. I absolutely fell in love with her. Emily, you are one of very few girls that makes me wish I was young again. But none of that matters, I will watch any movie with Trevor Donovan. I wonder if he is as nice in real life. I have seen him in several movies and his character is always just so nice.

Nothing special here. Same old same old story partially redeemed by the character of Johnny Blake played by a well cast Trevor Donovan. The secondary characters were played by Hallmark perennials, though the 2 female leads were relative new comers to the Hallmark stable. Emily Tennant, the bride who provides the #2 lead was fresh and appealing. I see Hallmark in her future. I wish Hallmark would steer away from extravagantly beautiful heroines towards more down to earth girls . I just can relate to cute more than impossibly gorgeous. All though this is a backhanded compliment to the physical beauty of Rachel Skarsten, I was distracted throughout most of the movie by her over processed long ringlets. What is this? 1989?

The success of these things, for me, depends on the existence of some dialogue with some snap to it, some humor, some surprises(a little suspense?), appealing casting, good acting, enough non-phony not needless conflict to provide some catharsis, or the comeuppance of evil-doers. Do I ask for all of these things at once? No, that would be asking too much. (though it has happened, rarely). But I need at least 2. The "supercute" (gag me) snowball fight kicked off a big fail for me.

On a side note, when, oh when, is Hallmark inc. going to get on the bandwagon and start starring a few of the talented and numerous black actors and actresses as the romantic leads? And I'm not talking about black bosses, black millionaire clients, or black best friends. A.) It seriously calls into question their values, And B.), it's super stupid business wise. The most popular and profitable romances and dramas in the theatres today feature black people in the leads. Tyler Perry anyone? What about Malcom D. Lee and his Best Man movies? There are dozens of examples. Come on. I have more than a few black women friends who would jump on such a Hallmark movie like white on rice. I can't believe they have seldom been called on this. WTH?!

Hmm, ... synopsis doesn't quite get this right, and other reviews don't explain clearly or fixate on silly details, such as the hairstyles. In a small mountain skiing town, Madeline / Maddie and her best friend, Isabel, are struggling with their bridal wear store. When pretty Ginger Blake, and her mild-mannered medical resident (student) boyfriend, Oliver, enter the store, looking for a wedding gown, they are also wanting to marry, quickly (before Oliver takes up a medical residency in Cambridge University, England), in this little country town, preposterously named Fool's Gold. (On the other hand, the novelist who wrote the book this movie is based on wrote an entire series of romances set in this trash-named town!) Madeline is quick to offer advice, and, soon, although she has NO experience as a wedding planner, Ginger likes her, and her enthusiasm, and wants Maddie to plan her wedding on Christmas Eve. Maddie is still emotionally bruised from a relationship breakdown three years earlier, and deeply distrustful. (This is not helped when her ex and his new partner wander into town and coincidentally encounter Maddie! But that is a blip in the story rather than a major event.) Suddenly we learn that someone called Johnny Blake is Ginger's older brother, and a famous star in popular action movies. Although his pushy and basically obnoxious Hollywood agent is almost forcing him into a sequel adventure movie, Johnny is refusing to read the script, and uses the back page to draw doodle-pictures. Persistently ignoring his agent, Johnny has suspended his Hollywood career and moved to the little town (which fortunately is a car-trip away from Los Angeles) to help organise and pay for Ginger's wedding. We learn that Johnny and Ginger's parents died when Johnny was finishing high school, and he has been looking after her ever since in a parental way - he is a caring, protective big brother. We also begin to realise that Johnny likes drawing, and he is often seen (secretly!) sketching the Christmas scenes and people around the little town. Very quickly, Johnny is impressed by Maddie's energy, and natural charm, and he becomes emotionally interested. But Maddie is much more cautious. The story is complicated when Maddie sees Johnny on a celebrity TV channel seeming to be involved with a Hollywood starlet, reminding her of how she was betrayed, suddenly dumped by her previous boyfriend. On the other hand, Johnny feels used by Maddie when his celebrity-face is splashed across the bridal store's web-site - in fact, this exploitation of Johnny's stardom was secretly done by Isabel, foolishly, trying to use Johnny's stardom to promote the bridal store. At one point, the town's usual Santa Claus has not arrived in time for the town Christmas market, to meet the children in the usual way at Santa's Workshop. Johnny happens to be at the Christmas market and spontaneously and generously offers to put on the Santa costume, and he very quickly shows, being an experienced actor, that he can play the traditional role of Santa quite convincingly. But he reveals his truly sensitive nature when a boy hops on Johnny-Santa's lap, and tells Santa that all he wants for Christmas is for his father to come home. Naturally Santa asks where the boy's father is. Waiting for Johnny's response, watching this, we immediately think of a divorced or broken family, or a dad working far away, or posted away in the military, or even, perhaps in prison "He's in Heaven," says the boy, sadly. Johnny-Santa is initially stunned, but very quickly says exactly the right, compassionate and consolatory things to the boy. He asks the boy if he talks to his father when he goes to bed. "Yes, every night," the boy answers. "If you do that every night," Johnny-Santa says, "your father will always be with you." (This is tiny episode is close to the beautiful exchange between Santa-Claus and the sad, adopted-child in Miracle on 34th Street, both the classic Edmund Gwenn, and the modern Richard Attenborough versions!) Later, when Maddie, who overheard this, asks Johnny about this, he admits he had been thinking of himself and his grieving for his own father. (Johnny is not just an action-movie hero with a big square jaw and a hairstylist's surf-wave of hair! Actually, Johnny has the exaggerated handsomeness of Channing Tatum, for example.) Because this is a Hallmark Christmas romance, everything is eventually happily resolved, but Johnny has to try very hard, and very patiently, to soften Maddie's scarred feelings!! (Perhaps there is a hidden metaphor in the fact that Oliver, the bridegroom, is a cardiothoracic specialist - a "heart guy" - and arranges for his groom's cake, an alternative that is served alongside the traditional couple's wedding cake, to be in the shape of an oversized physiologically realistic human heart! This tradition of the groom's cake as a second, different wedding cake, is not widely known outside Southern states in the USA, even though it originated in Victorian England, when modern wedding traditions were being invented. Fortunately, we only glimpse this groom's cake through the top of the box: dark red and meaty, with darker wiggly arteries curling around it, ... erk! In the movie Steel Magnolias the groom's cake is in the shape of a giant armadillo!) Well cast, well acted, and with some witty moments in the script. For example, Maddie is happy to spend the evening going to a restaurant with Johnny as long as he agrees it will not be a "date". Eager to reassure her, and take her out, he suggests it will be an "outing" between friends! Similarly, when they find themselves beneath a bunch of mistletoe, they almost kiss, according to the usual tradition. But Maddie asks what FRIENDS traditionally do beneath mistletoe. Johnny reassures her that friends do a high-five! And there are some touching moments of heightened emotion - and gentle romance! The key relationship issue is that Johnny and Maddie have to trust one another, rather than leap to negative conclusions if something doesn't seem right. Can Maddie trust Johnny if he goes back to Hollywood? Can Johnny trust Maddie to accept his art? Maybe this in not one of the GREAT Christmas movies, nor one of the great Hallmark Christmas movies, but it is certainly a good one! You can enjoy this repeatedly -- because it has heart!

This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Couldn't watch it all. Not one bit interesting. The acting, writing, directing is horrible. There is no chemistry at all between the lead characters. They have zero personality. They show no emotion. The dialogue isn't natural. They give no facial expressions to show what they are feeling. The lead female walks with her arms hanging down like they weigh 50 pounds. Incredibly boring. Hallmark movies are getting more lame every month. They are just cranking them out too fast. No quality, just quantity.

Trevor Donovan was of course handsome and charming as ever. The pairing with Rachel was a bonus. It helps that Trevor actually looks like a movie star. A+

Susan Mallery is a favorite author of mine and I loved all of her Fool's Gold Series. So when I hear they were turning this book into a movie I was ecstatic. But boy what a waste of time, there were very little similarities between the two and the movie was terrible. Take my advice and stick to the book and don't give this movie any of your time.

8/10 - fantastic Christmas romance about a famous actor falling in love over the holidays

This has to be one of the worst Hallmark movies ever and there are a couple that are awful. There is practically no plot line, the acting is wooden and they must have used the lead's name Johnny well over 100 times like we couldn't work out who he was otherwise. Just horrible and it's 2 hours of my life I will never get back.

The Hollywood heartthrob story, many of us wish would come true, set at Christmas.

The gorgeous Trevor Donovan is lovely again in this tale, where he falls in love whilst helping to plan his sisters wedding at Christmas and trying to make it Hollywood through all his connections as a movie star. Why he falls for Maddie, with that awful hairstyle, I have no idea, but I suppose she is a nice character.

It's a slightly different idea using the standard formula, but it's just nice.

My biggest issue is when these films talk about how amazing people are as an artist only to reveal a painting that might as well be stick drawings and that's what happens here with her wedding planning. The decorated church is not "Amazing". It's a common flaw throughout this genre along with droopy Christmas trees.

But there's a handsome guy and a love story during the festive season, what more do you need?

I have watched this movie way too many times, even during the summer. It's a very comforting moving.

This is a fairly average Hallmark Christmas movie. A movie star's sister is getting married in a small town. He swoops into town to help and falls for a local girl. There is the expected little drama before the end. Trevor Donovan looks a bit like Brad Pitt / Robert Redford so he is quite suited to play a big movie star. But the running joke about his being able to buy expensive stuff or get a person to arrange something special is kind of repetitive. It's a bit of a one joke movie. Rachel Skarsten is the small town girl he falls in love with. She is pretty in a rather Uma Thurman way but her eyes are a bit scary. She would be better for a Lifetime wacko than a Hallmark romantic comedy leading lady.

Okay for one watch.