I struggled a bit with assessing and reviewing a 'Christmas for Keeps'. On the one hand, I liked the friends' group concept, especially the individual storylines (and backstories) for each friend and how these intertwined together (with their past). On the other hand, I did not connect with some of the individual characters and their stories as much as I would have liked. Put differently, aspects of the story did not engage me, pull me in, unfortunately. That said, 'Christmas for Keeps' is still an entertaining movie that highlights friendships and the positive impact teachers can have on their students (the student-teacher bond) in a warm and heartfelt manner. The story follows a group of close, high school friends - Avery (played by Christa Allen), Sarah (played by Ashley Newbrough), Mia (played by Marielle Scott), Noah (played by Cardi Wong), and Ben (played by Ryan Rottman) - as they return home at Christmas to celebrate the life of their favorite high school (drama) teacher, Mr. Massey (played by Everick Golding), who recently passed away. However, getting the gang to spend time together this Christmas is not going to be easy, as each one of them is busy with jobs, kids, and much more. As I alluded to above, the writer does a good job of intertwining the friends' individual stories (i.e., the struggles they face in their personal lives) into a coherent narrative. The beauty of the movie lies in the love, support, understanding, and encouragement the friends give each other in their time of need. I also enjoyed the individual flashbacks where we learn how Mr. Massey impacted their lives and how this influence helps them reconnect and strengthen their friendship. Moreover, the individual stories are quite diverse so that most viewers can find a bit of themselves in the characters. Of course, there is some romance in the movie as well, a sweet friends-to-lovers storyline with some heartwarming scenes between Avery and Ben. The acting, overall, is pretty good. Both Allen and Rottman have strong performances. The chemistry between the two is great (it is convincing). They have a couple of touching scenes together, which are lovely to watch on-screen. Wong especially has a brilliant performance as Noah, the stay-at-home dad with unfulfilled career goals and a passion for baking. Out of all the friends, I found his performance the easiest to engage with; it pulled me in from the start. Finally, the movie has all your classic Hallmark Christmas elements, from lovely decorations and hometown traditions to Elf and Santa Klaus costumes and much more. All in all, 'Christmas for Keeps' is a sweet, festive, and heart-warming story. It will likely have you wanting to catch up with friends and reminiscing about the good old days.
13 Reviews
Perplexing Choices
jazznu3 January 2022
I rank movies like this on a Hallmark scale, so 4 stars is quite low for me for one of these. It just wasn't that good and not very engaging.
There are some curious choices for me here that make this a less than entertaining Hallmark movie. This has an all around younger cast than many Hallmark movies, 5 high school friends meeting 10 years later, so it gives to idea that it'll be modern and a bit fun, but it's far from that. It's very slow paced, it's a more serious drama, not a comedy drama, there is no lightness here. They are honoring a favorite teacher that died and the movie keeps that general tone throughout. The photos and trailers for this movie are deceiving on that end, this is not a movie about a jovial group of high school friends seeing one another again. The laughing and smiling shown in the promos is not what this movie is about at all. It's lacking most of what you think of when you picture good friends reuniting.
The casting here isn't bad, but it's not enough to overcome the rather maudlin feel to many of these storylines. I think some may struggle to recognize the lead actress (Christa B. Allen) because the Botox plus being a bit older makes her look much less like she did on Revenge (she played Charlotte). Her character isn't as strong of a lead as they need here, some of it is the acting, this isn't her strongest effort. But also I don't think her character's storylines are as engaging as they need to be for the lead, you'll be more invested in the other ones. And her heavy-handed mom can kick rocks.
Ashley Newbrough is great at playing light and fun characters, and here she is an overworked doctor in a very strained marriage. She doesn't do bad with the role, but she's someone who could've brought some fun to this, made that trailer and those photos seem accurate, but they don't use her in that way in the least.
The character of Ben getting mad at his best friend because he doesn't think he's fun anymore was very on the nose. Ben felt like quite the drag. I don't know what his character was supposed to bring to this movie, but whatever it was, didn't happen.
Marielle Scott and Cardi Wong (so nice to see him in more of a leading role) are playing the characters that are likely the easiest to connect with and just like them with no reservations. They certainly made this better and helped me get to the end. But again, it's not enough to change the overall dynamic of this movie. The storyline, the direction, the tone, the muted color palette, they were all choices that made this movie far less entertaining than I anticipated.
If you don't care for the more dramatic and serious Hallmark movies or if you were expecting a fun movie featuring reunited high school friends, I think you're going to struggle to get through this the way that I did. I enjoy the heck out of Hallmark movies and have seen countless Christmas and regular ones, but this is not a good one. And I've liked several of the more dramatic Hallmark movies even if that's not my first choice, but this just wasn't up to par with the better of those either. One December Night from this year's new Hallmark M&M movies is a great example of how you can do a drama with many light moments and not carrying a maudlin tone even with sad aspects being incorporated into the storyline.
There are some curious choices for me here that make this a less than entertaining Hallmark movie. This has an all around younger cast than many Hallmark movies, 5 high school friends meeting 10 years later, so it gives to idea that it'll be modern and a bit fun, but it's far from that. It's very slow paced, it's a more serious drama, not a comedy drama, there is no lightness here. They are honoring a favorite teacher that died and the movie keeps that general tone throughout. The photos and trailers for this movie are deceiving on that end, this is not a movie about a jovial group of high school friends seeing one another again. The laughing and smiling shown in the promos is not what this movie is about at all. It's lacking most of what you think of when you picture good friends reuniting.
The casting here isn't bad, but it's not enough to overcome the rather maudlin feel to many of these storylines. I think some may struggle to recognize the lead actress (Christa B. Allen) because the Botox plus being a bit older makes her look much less like she did on Revenge (she played Charlotte). Her character isn't as strong of a lead as they need here, some of it is the acting, this isn't her strongest effort. But also I don't think her character's storylines are as engaging as they need to be for the lead, you'll be more invested in the other ones. And her heavy-handed mom can kick rocks.
Ashley Newbrough is great at playing light and fun characters, and here she is an overworked doctor in a very strained marriage. She doesn't do bad with the role, but she's someone who could've brought some fun to this, made that trailer and those photos seem accurate, but they don't use her in that way in the least.
The character of Ben getting mad at his best friend because he doesn't think he's fun anymore was very on the nose. Ben felt like quite the drag. I don't know what his character was supposed to bring to this movie, but whatever it was, didn't happen.
Marielle Scott and Cardi Wong (so nice to see him in more of a leading role) are playing the characters that are likely the easiest to connect with and just like them with no reservations. They certainly made this better and helped me get to the end. But again, it's not enough to change the overall dynamic of this movie. The storyline, the direction, the tone, the muted color palette, they were all choices that made this movie far less entertaining than I anticipated.
If you don't care for the more dramatic and serious Hallmark movies or if you were expecting a fun movie featuring reunited high school friends, I think you're going to struggle to get through this the way that I did. I enjoy the heck out of Hallmark movies and have seen countless Christmas and regular ones, but this is not a good one. And I've liked several of the more dramatic Hallmark movies even if that's not my first choice, but this just wasn't up to par with the better of those either. One December Night from this year's new Hallmark M&M movies is a great example of how you can do a drama with many light moments and not carrying a maudlin tone even with sad aspects being incorporated into the storyline.
Chosen family
Jackbv12320 December 2021
This movie is a look at several different kinds of relationships with a group of friends from high school days. All of them have rough spots and they work through them as the movie progresses. There is a romance story as one of the threads.
The reason for their reunion is to honor a recently passed drama teacher who was more than a mentor to each of them. There are a lot of flashback episodes remembering him from different perspectives.
For some reason this movie didn't connect with me. I can't really say anything specific positive or negative.
The reason for their reunion is to honor a recently passed drama teacher who was more than a mentor to each of them. There are a lot of flashback episodes remembering him from different perspectives.
For some reason this movie didn't connect with me. I can't really say anything specific positive or negative.
This won't be an annual staple.
ashleyflannigan20 December 2021
This movie tries so hard. So hard that it hurt to watch. Unfortunately characters like the mother (played by Janet Kidder) are so overbearing that they irritate and annoy. The constant push for the main characters to fall in love is annoying. The shining stars for their acting abilities sit with Marielle Eisner and Cardi Wong. They are honestly the only ones worth paying attention to.
Horrifically slow
lilac-3158226 December 2021
Slow, boring, not a typical Christmas movie for hallmark. Cardi Wong was the only one who could act. The other main characters were boring and blah. We turned it off bc we just couldn't watch it any longer. The female main lead was physically expressionless in her face, which made her look like, well-nothing. I don't mean to be rude, but the Botox in these young women has to stop.
Not one of the best 2021 Christmas films
MichaelByTheSea3 January 2022
I love Hallmark movies but this just average at best. I didn't really buy the life long connection between the 5 high school drama students, only one of whom actually tried to continue that experience as a career. The relationships all seemed forced (I found the chants of "Noah, Noah" and the peer pressure of him really irritating) and all 5 of the old classmates had multiple conflicts and issues that really couldn't be adequately explored and resolved in one TV movie that was supposedly about the passing of a beloved high school teacher.
Although the stay at home dad married to a doctor subplot was an interesting change of pace, I'm tired of the "I can make a career out of baking cookies in my home kitchen" trope. And Noah couldn't go sledding with his busy wife and their kids because he had to help Mia sell his cookies at a Toy Drive? Seriously? It's not like he was in the back of a bakery trying to churn out more cookies for an unexpectedly high demand. He was at a table selling pre-made cookies at a Toy Drive that Mia could have handled without any help. Go spend time with your wife who's apparently never around.
Christa Allen, who plays Avery, was recently in the news for turning 30 after once playing the 13 year old in 13 Going On 30. She does what she can with the role of a daughter of an overbearing mother (way over the top) and the love interest of a morose and unpleasant character named Ben (we get it, losing parents sucks; welcome to the club everyone joins and one that's featured in virtually every Hallmark movie). But, without spoiling anything, the solution of the geographical challenges facing their relationship was out of the blue and unrealistic, as was the manufactured tension between Ben and Noah.
And why did it seem that these were the only 5 former students of the beloved Mr. Massey (all from the same class) who cared enough to show up for him?
For me, the best Hallmark movies of 2021 were An Unexpected Christmas, A Dickens of a Christmas, My Christmas Family Tree, Next Stop Christmas and Every Time A Bell Rings.
Although the stay at home dad married to a doctor subplot was an interesting change of pace, I'm tired of the "I can make a career out of baking cookies in my home kitchen" trope. And Noah couldn't go sledding with his busy wife and their kids because he had to help Mia sell his cookies at a Toy Drive? Seriously? It's not like he was in the back of a bakery trying to churn out more cookies for an unexpectedly high demand. He was at a table selling pre-made cookies at a Toy Drive that Mia could have handled without any help. Go spend time with your wife who's apparently never around.
Christa Allen, who plays Avery, was recently in the news for turning 30 after once playing the 13 year old in 13 Going On 30. She does what she can with the role of a daughter of an overbearing mother (way over the top) and the love interest of a morose and unpleasant character named Ben (we get it, losing parents sucks; welcome to the club everyone joins and one that's featured in virtually every Hallmark movie). But, without spoiling anything, the solution of the geographical challenges facing their relationship was out of the blue and unrealistic, as was the manufactured tension between Ben and Noah.
And why did it seem that these were the only 5 former students of the beloved Mr. Massey (all from the same class) who cared enough to show up for him?
For me, the best Hallmark movies of 2021 were An Unexpected Christmas, A Dickens of a Christmas, My Christmas Family Tree, Next Stop Christmas and Every Time A Bell Rings.
Just fine
txharrington21 December 2021
True Hallmark fan- it was real cute!
angelstiara21 December 2021
This movie was a good one! Loved the idea of old high school friends coming together, it changed things up a bit. I love the diversity of the characters. It seems like a lot of people that comment on Hallmark movies don't get that they're feel good, somewhat predicable, Holliday fun. I don't know what they're expecting?
Too short to achieve what it needed to.
adamjohns-4257512 December 2022
Christmas For Keeps (2021) -
I never really felt this connected to any of my teachers, although I'm friends with one now. Most of them were horrible, so it was a struggle to connect with the plot of this film. I'm pretty sure that none of my teachers would have wanted me to come back to school either.
Overall the film was a bit dull and even the cheer felt quite depressing. There was a lot going on, which meant that there wasn't enough time for what I considered to be the main romance between Ryan Rottman as Ben and Christa B. Allen playing Avery. Although I did like the fact that other characters were explored in a bit more depth, it needed another 15-20 minutes to deliver everyone's story equally as an ensemble piece. Mia's (Marielle Scott) story seemed almost completely lost amid the rest.
I think by restricting themselves to the standard one hour, twenty something minutes, they make things far too contrived. As a result this one lost the joy and heart that it should have had in remembering their favourite teacher and mentor through various activities that meant a lot to him, because it focussed too much on the hardships in their lives and the issues with their relationships, having too little time to show the pleasure they enjoyed.
I'd probably skip this one in future unless there was a director's cut that showed a bit more to it, but I doubt that exists.
4.5/10.
I never really felt this connected to any of my teachers, although I'm friends with one now. Most of them were horrible, so it was a struggle to connect with the plot of this film. I'm pretty sure that none of my teachers would have wanted me to come back to school either.
Overall the film was a bit dull and even the cheer felt quite depressing. There was a lot going on, which meant that there wasn't enough time for what I considered to be the main romance between Ryan Rottman as Ben and Christa B. Allen playing Avery. Although I did like the fact that other characters were explored in a bit more depth, it needed another 15-20 minutes to deliver everyone's story equally as an ensemble piece. Mia's (Marielle Scott) story seemed almost completely lost amid the rest.
I think by restricting themselves to the standard one hour, twenty something minutes, they make things far too contrived. As a result this one lost the joy and heart that it should have had in remembering their favourite teacher and mentor through various activities that meant a lot to him, because it focussed too much on the hardships in their lives and the issues with their relationships, having too little time to show the pleasure they enjoyed.
I'd probably skip this one in future unless there was a director's cut that showed a bit more to it, but I doubt that exists.
4.5/10.
Boundaries aren't respected for the sake of the main character's needs
darkgreymatter27 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The movie would have been great hadn't been for the selfish main character that the movie frames to be good. Yeah, sure, it's important for her to commemorate for important people in her life, but guilting her "friends" is not it. One of her friends is a father who said he's on parenting duty, so he couldn't participate in her plan. And she said, "You're always on parenting duty." Well Avery, it might be a surprise to you, but parents are always on parenting duties, even fathers. Another scenario was when her doctor friend was on duty and Avery complained about that. Sorry Main Character, sick people still exist even if bad things personally happen to you. It's like only her situation and feelings matter. And I despise it when movies do that. Guilting others for having their problems for the main character's personal growth is giving selfish, narcissistic villain. What's worse, as the movie progresses, all the characters just throw the word "consent" and "boundary" out of their vocabulary. Don't get me wrong, I know the difference between encourage and disrespect, EVEN IN CHRISTMAS MOVIES.
Depressing Christmas Movie
YabbaDabbaDabba21 December 2021
Who "would of thunk it?" This was a very annoying and depressing movie. Why would anybody think this was a good idea! It really sucked so I dumped it.
Save yourself and stay away from dogs like this clunker. It seems as if Hallmark is just churning out the movies without their historic quality. This one is competing for the bottom of the barrel along with a bunch of other 2021 productions.
Want my advice? Sure you do so here it is: if the Christmas movie (or any movie) says it's a 2021 release, run for cover, or risk running for the toilet part way through watching it. Trust me on this, and don't believe any glowing (paid or self-serving) reviews. They stand out like a sore thumb.
Save yourself and stay away from dogs like this clunker. It seems as if Hallmark is just churning out the movies without their historic quality. This one is competing for the bottom of the barrel along with a bunch of other 2021 productions.
Want my advice? Sure you do so here it is: if the Christmas movie (or any movie) says it's a 2021 release, run for cover, or risk running for the toilet part way through watching it. Trust me on this, and don't believe any glowing (paid or self-serving) reviews. They stand out like a sore thumb.
Worst Hallmark Ever
jrstman22 November 2022
I love 98 % of Hallmark and have watch at least twice and this one without a doubt is the worst one of all time.
The characters are all unbelievably irritating especially Avery's mother who has got to be the worst helicopter parent ever. Of course Avery with her fixed face.is impossible to believe is an adult. Who would let their mother constantly infringe on their life as Avery does? Move out Avery and take your father with you!
Doctor Sarah is so unbelievable and naïve. What doctor would work 2 extra shifts after being conned by her co-workers. Geeze what an idiot.
Mia, what be said about her. She blames the world for her failures and is arrogant while doing such.
I like Hallmark but this group is the most offensive group of millennials of all time.
I'm not going to say how corny and stilted the lines are but you eat popcorn while looking through the second floor window
Avoid.
The characters are all unbelievably irritating especially Avery's mother who has got to be the worst helicopter parent ever. Of course Avery with her fixed face.is impossible to believe is an adult. Who would let their mother constantly infringe on their life as Avery does? Move out Avery and take your father with you!
Doctor Sarah is so unbelievable and naïve. What doctor would work 2 extra shifts after being conned by her co-workers. Geeze what an idiot.
Mia, what be said about her. She blames the world for her failures and is arrogant while doing such.
I like Hallmark but this group is the most offensive group of millennials of all time.
I'm not going to say how corny and stilted the lines are but you eat popcorn while looking through the second floor window
Avoid.
Keeping it Real
rebekahrox20 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This was a top tier Hallmark presentation on par with the best of this year's Christmas chronicles. It was almost like a real movie in that it wasn't just a string of set pieces held together by clichés. 5 high school friends, 3 still local, get together to honor their recently deceased drama teacher who had an impact on all of their lives. We follow the five friends' stories as they each deal with their individual challenges, while thinking back on their teacher's past advice. The flashbacks to their high school drama class were superfluous and the teacher's wisdom was nothing but platitudes but I was very engaged by three of the individual journeys and fairly interested in the other two.
Avery is the one who pushes the four friends to reconnect while patiently and persistently battling their indifference or excuses. She is teaching psychology at the University of Michigan but wants to open her own practice there. Her mother is very overbearing and controlling, but Avery lives her own life in spite of that. She is not a wimp, but she wants her mother to stop. Her mother wants her to keep teaching and move back closer to their Virginia town. She is dead set against Avery opening her own practice. To that end, she actually sends Avery's resume in to the U of V behind her back. Avery is furious and stands up to her mother, who still doesn't get it (she is actually proud of herself). Her behavior threatens to lead to permanent estrangement. The wise father intervenes and reminds his wife how she was treated by her own mother, who insisted on her way or the highway and how that made her feel. She finally gets it. Don't ask me why he didn't speak to his wife 10 years ago. She apologizes to her daughter. " I guess I learned that love was control and I am learning now that you can't have both love and control. You have to pick one, and I choose love." It was a great scene.
Avery is in love with Ben, who is struggling in his business and his personal life. He has pushed away all of his friends and his brother. He has a lot of rage, and we don't find out what the source of that rage is that makes him act like a petulant toddler throughout most of the movie. When we finally do, it is underwhelming. I didn't like or sympathize with him at all.
The other story I loved is the two childhood sweethearts who married each other. The wife is trying to complete her hospital residency so she can take over her fathers medical practice. While she is doing that, her very wonderful husband is a stay at home Dad to their two kids and takes care of the house (which is quite the house considering the family's lack of income.) She is busy busy busy, but also has a lot of guilt that, understandably, the children are closer to their Dad than her. This was a very adult, realistic story. The Dad loves to bake and when he is encouraged to start a business by the 5th friend, Mia, he is a little reluctant, but is kind of excited too, and goes along with it. His wife finds out and gets angry that he didn't consult her first and everyone knows but her. "We are leading separate lives". However, they love each other, the marriage is solid, and she has been making an effort to get away from the hospital to reconnect with her old schoolmates. And her husband. She turns around very quickly which may or may not have something to do with her taking care of the kids by herself for 4 hours. She also probably realizes that without her husband, she would be in a major pickle. Her apology speech to her treasure of a husband was really something.
Mia is a struggling actress who unbeknownst to her friends, is not making it in the big city. Her story was not as interesting and it is tidily resolved at the end. It was one story too many. There was one aspect to her story that was a bit disturbing if I interpreted what was going on correctly.
Most of the characters, even the secondary ones, were not cardboard cutouts. They were layered with both strengths and weaknesses. The movie was well structured with everyone having their beginning, middle and end. It was a real winner with nice acting from all and great direction and writing.
Avery is the one who pushes the four friends to reconnect while patiently and persistently battling their indifference or excuses. She is teaching psychology at the University of Michigan but wants to open her own practice there. Her mother is very overbearing and controlling, but Avery lives her own life in spite of that. She is not a wimp, but she wants her mother to stop. Her mother wants her to keep teaching and move back closer to their Virginia town. She is dead set against Avery opening her own practice. To that end, she actually sends Avery's resume in to the U of V behind her back. Avery is furious and stands up to her mother, who still doesn't get it (she is actually proud of herself). Her behavior threatens to lead to permanent estrangement. The wise father intervenes and reminds his wife how she was treated by her own mother, who insisted on her way or the highway and how that made her feel. She finally gets it. Don't ask me why he didn't speak to his wife 10 years ago. She apologizes to her daughter. " I guess I learned that love was control and I am learning now that you can't have both love and control. You have to pick one, and I choose love." It was a great scene.
Avery is in love with Ben, who is struggling in his business and his personal life. He has pushed away all of his friends and his brother. He has a lot of rage, and we don't find out what the source of that rage is that makes him act like a petulant toddler throughout most of the movie. When we finally do, it is underwhelming. I didn't like or sympathize with him at all.
The other story I loved is the two childhood sweethearts who married each other. The wife is trying to complete her hospital residency so she can take over her fathers medical practice. While she is doing that, her very wonderful husband is a stay at home Dad to their two kids and takes care of the house (which is quite the house considering the family's lack of income.) She is busy busy busy, but also has a lot of guilt that, understandably, the children are closer to their Dad than her. This was a very adult, realistic story. The Dad loves to bake and when he is encouraged to start a business by the 5th friend, Mia, he is a little reluctant, but is kind of excited too, and goes along with it. His wife finds out and gets angry that he didn't consult her first and everyone knows but her. "We are leading separate lives". However, they love each other, the marriage is solid, and she has been making an effort to get away from the hospital to reconnect with her old schoolmates. And her husband. She turns around very quickly which may or may not have something to do with her taking care of the kids by herself for 4 hours. She also probably realizes that without her husband, she would be in a major pickle. Her apology speech to her treasure of a husband was really something.
Mia is a struggling actress who unbeknownst to her friends, is not making it in the big city. Her story was not as interesting and it is tidily resolved at the end. It was one story too many. There was one aspect to her story that was a bit disturbing if I interpreted what was going on correctly.
Most of the characters, even the secondary ones, were not cardboard cutouts. They were layered with both strengths and weaknesses. The movie was well structured with everyone having their beginning, middle and end. It was a real winner with nice acting from all and great direction and writing.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
