So, this is now my 4th Lifetime Christmas movie of the 2020 season, and it's second from the top. When I saw that Natalie Hall was one of the leads in the film, I was looking forward to seeing this one. I had seen her recently in a couple of cute (Hallmark) films: You're Bacon Me Crazy and Sincerely, Yours, Truly. Though this film was not as strong as those two, it was still entertaining. Natalie and Jon Prescott's performance were pretty good. Their chemistry was good at times, and other times, it was a bit off, but overall, not bad. The story is cute and enjoyable with some decent dialogue, though a bit 'cheesy' at times, as one would expect in a Lifetime romance movie. The supporting cast was great; I enjoyed Jo Marie Payton's performance as Estelle. The props, scenery and sets were well done, though the fake snow was quite obviously fake at times on the screen. The movie too instilled a bit of Christmas spirit and cheer, which is nice. Fans of Hallmark and Lifetime will no doubt enjoy this new edition to Lifetime's original Christmas movies.
22 Reviews
A schmaltzy pleasure
Sergiodave12 November 2020
I'm a lover of bad horror and Science fiction, but my guilty pleasure is romantic comedies and the like. This movie is the perfect example, perfect people in a perfect town with a completely predictable plot. Makes you feel good inside. Enjoy.
Cannot like Aubrey
legalese15 November 2020
Another Christmas blogger
Jackbv1239 November 2020
Almost every rom/com has to start with antagonism between the male and female lead. Unfortunately from my viewpoint, Natalie Hall went out of her way to make Aubrey into a witch, especially to Sawyer. Besides being nasty, she also doesn't have enough sense not to shoot off her mouth to strangers. That all eventually disappears and Aubrey becomes sweet and romantic.
I love Kelley Jakle but her character is at times a little over the top even for her. Her character, Laurel, is a bit unusual. She's not originally the lead's friend, but instantly becomes one. Because of the accelerated time frame of a TV movie, conversations often seem a bit strange how quickly they jump to being very personal.
Natalie Hall and Jon Prescott do develop chemistry after Aubrey loosens up. Hall's acting has moments that seem off, like one conversation where Laurel shares a personal tragedy. Hall and Prescott have a lot of screen time together which allows the viewer to watch the relationship develop.
The story is the usual blogger comes to town for a hit piece. And that progresses along the usual lines. It has a lot of the usual themes like baking cookies and a town festival. There's no great highs or low, or surprises. There's not much tension until the conflict pops up from a common blogger-themed misunderstanding. It's a pretty close copy to one of these movies I saw a few days ago. The resolution, however, is unusual, and sweet and a bit complicated.
With two talented singers in the cast, there's got to be at least one performance of an original song. Jakle's is actually a performance, maybe a little short. Hall is featured in a short recording that ends up backdrop for characters dancing.
I love Kelley Jakle but her character is at times a little over the top even for her. Her character, Laurel, is a bit unusual. She's not originally the lead's friend, but instantly becomes one. Because of the accelerated time frame of a TV movie, conversations often seem a bit strange how quickly they jump to being very personal.
Natalie Hall and Jon Prescott do develop chemistry after Aubrey loosens up. Hall's acting has moments that seem off, like one conversation where Laurel shares a personal tragedy. Hall and Prescott have a lot of screen time together which allows the viewer to watch the relationship develop.
The story is the usual blogger comes to town for a hit piece. And that progresses along the usual lines. It has a lot of the usual themes like baking cookies and a town festival. There's no great highs or low, or surprises. There's not much tension until the conflict pops up from a common blogger-themed misunderstanding. It's a pretty close copy to one of these movies I saw a few days ago. The resolution, however, is unusual, and sweet and a bit complicated.
With two talented singers in the cast, there's got to be at least one performance of an original song. Jakle's is actually a performance, maybe a little short. Hall is featured in a short recording that ends up backdrop for characters dancing.
Charming enough Christmas town
TheLittleSongbird30 March 2021
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 'Christmas in Solvang' did have the sort of premise where the execution could have gone either way.
Lifetime's 2020 Christmas film batch, like all their previous years, was pretty hit and miss which was not unexpected. 'Christmas in Solvang' is somewhere in the middle. If one was to judge it from its early portions, it could have easily passed for being one of the worst if it didn't get better. Luckily 'Christmas in Solvang' did get better once Aubrey became more comfortable and progressed, providing that one is willing to stick with it. Was really umming and erring at first whether to but don't regret my decision to stick with it.
As can be figured out, to me 'Christmas in Solvang' started off not just badly but terribly. Really disliked Aubrey as a character to begin with and that her negative characteristics were overwritten to breaking point. Which made her truly unlikeable with hardly anything redeeming about her. The dialogue is pretty bad early on, sounding very awkward and difficult to take at face value.
Even when things improve, the predictability factor is very high with very little fresh done with familiar tropes. Kelly Jackle is a little over the top at times, though she does have times where she is amusing.
However, as said, 'Christmas in Solvang' does get better. Most of the acting is serviceable at least, though Jackle could have done with more subtlety and Natalie Hall also overdoes it at first and even for the character seemed ill at ease. When Aubrey as a character loosens up, Hall becomes more relaxed and as a result more engaging and with a lot more charm. Jon Prescott is a very likeable male lead and Jo Marie Payton is a joy in the film's best performance. The characters may lack depth but do become easier to like when they grow. Hall and Prescott's chemistry is a bit on and off, it is very genuine and sweet later but was very disconnected and awkward to begin with.
Furthermore, 'Christmas in Solvang' is visually appealing despite the obviously artificial snow. Lovely scenery especially. The music is not as intrusive as it tends to be with Lifetime. The script does flow a lot better later and doesn't get over cheesy or too schmaltzy. The story is predictable but also has a good deal of charm and light-heartedness, leaving me with a warm glow. The ending is not as easily prematurely telegraphed as it tends to be.
In summary, the early portions are a turn off but improves drastically. Not great but not dreadful on the whole either. 6/10.
Lifetime's 2020 Christmas film batch, like all their previous years, was pretty hit and miss which was not unexpected. 'Christmas in Solvang' is somewhere in the middle. If one was to judge it from its early portions, it could have easily passed for being one of the worst if it didn't get better. Luckily 'Christmas in Solvang' did get better once Aubrey became more comfortable and progressed, providing that one is willing to stick with it. Was really umming and erring at first whether to but don't regret my decision to stick with it.
As can be figured out, to me 'Christmas in Solvang' started off not just badly but terribly. Really disliked Aubrey as a character to begin with and that her negative characteristics were overwritten to breaking point. Which made her truly unlikeable with hardly anything redeeming about her. The dialogue is pretty bad early on, sounding very awkward and difficult to take at face value.
Even when things improve, the predictability factor is very high with very little fresh done with familiar tropes. Kelly Jackle is a little over the top at times, though she does have times where she is amusing.
However, as said, 'Christmas in Solvang' does get better. Most of the acting is serviceable at least, though Jackle could have done with more subtlety and Natalie Hall also overdoes it at first and even for the character seemed ill at ease. When Aubrey as a character loosens up, Hall becomes more relaxed and as a result more engaging and with a lot more charm. Jon Prescott is a very likeable male lead and Jo Marie Payton is a joy in the film's best performance. The characters may lack depth but do become easier to like when they grow. Hall and Prescott's chemistry is a bit on and off, it is very genuine and sweet later but was very disconnected and awkward to begin with.
Furthermore, 'Christmas in Solvang' is visually appealing despite the obviously artificial snow. Lovely scenery especially. The music is not as intrusive as it tends to be with Lifetime. The script does flow a lot better later and doesn't get over cheesy or too schmaltzy. The story is predictable but also has a good deal of charm and light-heartedness, leaving me with a warm glow. The ending is not as easily prematurely telegraphed as it tends to be.
In summary, the early portions are a turn off but improves drastically. Not great but not dreadful on the whole either. 6/10.
I wouldn't rush to watch it.
adamjohns-4257527 December 2021
Jon Prescott (Not the politician obvs) is adorable as the lead male, but the lead female is vile and obnoxious right from the start and she really doesn't improve enough to deserve anyones affection.
This is a not all that successful attempt at showing Danish Christmas culture as an alternative to the usual American traditions of cookies and lighting the tree that we are all so over now.
I really like the idea of exploring these other ways of life and thought that it was particularly well done in 'Christmas In Rome' (2019), but I'm not sure that this one is well made enough in general or with another thought put in to the explanation of the traditions.
Also the dad was very odd and I kept expecting him to turn out to be the real St Nicholas or something.
It was a very lame ending and so obvious what was going to happen.
If Jon hadn't been so appealing I would have turned it off and left it on my list as an unwatchable film, but him and the few Dutch elements really saved it enough to keep me watching.
5.5ish/10?
This is a not all that successful attempt at showing Danish Christmas culture as an alternative to the usual American traditions of cookies and lighting the tree that we are all so over now.
I really like the idea of exploring these other ways of life and thought that it was particularly well done in 'Christmas In Rome' (2019), but I'm not sure that this one is well made enough in general or with another thought put in to the explanation of the traditions.
Also the dad was very odd and I kept expecting him to turn out to be the real St Nicholas or something.
It was a very lame ending and so obvious what was going to happen.
If Jon hadn't been so appealing I would have turned it off and left it on my list as an unwatchable film, but him and the few Dutch elements really saved it enough to keep me watching.
5.5ish/10?
Sweet and Charming
jrbusiness-6449912 November 2020
Painful
joannaegart13 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Not charming at all. Should've switched off the moment she "fell" into the gutter. The acting was wooden and not believable. The script writing was simple and lacklustre. The sets are completely ridiculous - was that snow or quilters bunting? There is no chemistry between the lead actors. Was looking for a bit ofChristmas warmth but this was so clumsy I had to turn it off. If the ending was good I'd never know but can wager this:- she ended up returning to songwriting producing a super cheesy song and wrote a positive review of the town while he, well he found the one that stuck.
I'll tick yes for containing spoilers just in case.
A Charming time
solojere25 November 2021
A Very Charming Christmas Town is your typical Lifetime Christmas movie. The movie follows Aubrey, a lifestyle blogger who is assigned to write a news story on a small tourist town for the Christmas season, and along the way, she finds a very charming single man..You know exactly how the movie is going to go in the first 5 minutes, and at times the acting is a bit forced. None of the actors are anything special except for Kelley Jakle, who is way too cute. They're not terrible. They just aren't overly amazing either. Although I will say, Kelley Jakle elevates the scenes she is in. She is definitely the queen of Christmas movies, and I always love seeing her sing. She has an amazing voice. Overall, it's a cute, feel-good Christmas movie that does everything it needs to. So if cheesy Christmas movies are your thing, give this one a watch!
Lead disappointing
sheahan-6989514 November 2020
Not bad
dianamarinelli17 December 2020
Very Disappointing!
jagfannn11 November 2020
I really wanted to like this one because I'm a big fan of both Natalie Hall and Kelley Jakle, but it was difficult to watch. It was an interesting story but it became predictable very quickly. I also found the dialogue to be syrupy sweet, silly and cringe worthy. The chemistry between Hall and Prescott seemed on and off, some times their interaction was smooth and believable and other times, it was stiff and rigid. I'm also sorry they had a wonderful singing talent like Jakle there and failed to let her shine a little more.
Nearly unwatchable, but couldn't look away
ADadandHusband9 November 2020
Solvang Christmas movie
pattyobird15 November 2020
Easy to watch, very formulaic. My only beef is the constant referral of San Francisco as "San Fran" Nobody from San Francisco refers to it like that. Other than that, I loved seeing Solvang and recognizing all my favorite little shops. If you ever find yourself going doing the coast do yourself a favor and stop in Solvang for some sweets
Snow in Solvang?! NOT
bikermom-2619321 November 2020
Typical mushy gushy movie! Predictable but....who cares!? The only thing is that it rarely I mean rarely snows in Solvang. Don't care for the phony snow! If you go there eat at Arnie's! Has best abelskievers and reubens on the planet! We only live about an hour away! Love the movie anyway! :)
Loved this
mitchellrharl10 November 2020
GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN HERE...
linda-plant213 October 2023
Sorry to all the other reviewers on here who ranged from scant praise to full on loving it, but I gave up after the first ad break. The female lead overacted to within an inch of her life, and my Border Terrier has more personality than the male lead. My local amateur drama group would have made a better production of it.
Now we get on to the fake snow. The set dressers need to take note of how real snow looks when its melting. Fake snow is a big problem with Hallmark (and ofshoot companies), it always looks 'fake'. Shoving a few crumpled sheets on the pavements up against the shop fronts is not the way to go - I mean, has anyone actually seen that ? In one film one of the actors actually caught their foot in the edge of the 'snow sheet' before kicking it aside !!! It wasn't even edited out.
I do enjoy Hallmark Christmas films, there are some excellent ones, but this sadly wasn't one of them.
Now we get on to the fake snow. The set dressers need to take note of how real snow looks when its melting. Fake snow is a big problem with Hallmark (and ofshoot companies), it always looks 'fake'. Shoving a few crumpled sheets on the pavements up against the shop fronts is not the way to go - I mean, has anyone actually seen that ? In one film one of the actors actually caught their foot in the edge of the 'snow sheet' before kicking it aside !!! It wasn't even edited out.
I do enjoy Hallmark Christmas films, there are some excellent ones, but this sadly wasn't one of them.
Solvang is great, acting is heinous
b_clerkin22 December 2023
People keep saying that this is a Hallmark movie- it's not. Lifetime put this one on. This is the epitome of why viewers prefer Hallmark movies much more than Lifetime ones at Christmas. The story is standard holiday fare, but a Hallmark production would have cast far better actors and made sure that the sets were beautiful.
The lead actress is appallingly untalented and save for Sully from Dr Quinn, the others are not much better.
They are stilted and awkward, clearly "acting" - whereas the Hallmark actors make you believe that they actually are their characters. The lead actress might be almost illiterate- her mangling of "windmills" and use of "expeshally" reveals a lack of education on her part, and gross ineptitude on the part of the director and any other staff responsible for dialogue. The dialogue sounds like the Netflix programs dubbed in English- like thevperson is reading from a page and is bored senseless.
The lead actor has less personality and animation than a malfunctionig Disney attraction. This diminishes the appeal of the historic tidbits about the lovely twon- the only thing positive in this train wreck.
Hallmark would have done a far superior production that would showcase Solvang and send droves of Christmas mad tourists to its streets. The town should disavow association with this production.
The lead actress is appallingly untalented and save for Sully from Dr Quinn, the others are not much better.
They are stilted and awkward, clearly "acting" - whereas the Hallmark actors make you believe that they actually are their characters. The lead actress might be almost illiterate- her mangling of "windmills" and use of "expeshally" reveals a lack of education on her part, and gross ineptitude on the part of the director and any other staff responsible for dialogue. The dialogue sounds like the Netflix programs dubbed in English- like thevperson is reading from a page and is bored senseless.
The lead actor has less personality and animation than a malfunctionig Disney attraction. This diminishes the appeal of the historic tidbits about the lovely twon- the only thing positive in this train wreck.
Hallmark would have done a far superior production that would showcase Solvang and send droves of Christmas mad tourists to its streets. The town should disavow association with this production.
Only so so
bl-6397427 November 2021
This one from lifetime is ,,,eh. It's not bad it's not good it's just sort of typical. No real chemistry with the actors, Not sure if it's their skill level or they just didn't get along and couldn't hide it It's not a bad watch, but if you're going to skip one this would be it .
Christmas in Solvang
amyrenea-0708911 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoyed this movie! I loved watching Aubrey and Sawyer fall in love, and her friendship with Laurel was fun to watch! You could tell Natalie Hall and Kelley Jakle are friend in real life! I thought Laurel and Hayden were Precious! Kelley and Mark Hapka are together in real life, and you can tell. The way Hayden looks at Laurel when she sings the end was not acting!
A Charming Christmas Movie
kenlaur20 December 2022
A typical predictable Lifetime Christmas movie plot but with a charming variation.
The leads Natalie Hall (Aubrey) and Jon Prescott (Sawyer) have nice chemistry which helped with the enjoyment of this cute story.
The supporting actors Kelley Jakle (Laurel) and Mark Hapka (Hayden) also had great chemistry and really did a great job adding to the charm of this movie. It also doesn't hurt that they are a real life couple and it definitely came across on screen.
It was nice to see Kelley Jakle's incredible singing talent was highlighted at the end of the movie, but I wish they had of given her more singing parts. She is definitely finding a home with Lifetime.
Overall I really enjoyed movie and recommend it to anyone.
The leads Natalie Hall (Aubrey) and Jon Prescott (Sawyer) have nice chemistry which helped with the enjoyment of this cute story.
The supporting actors Kelley Jakle (Laurel) and Mark Hapka (Hayden) also had great chemistry and really did a great job adding to the charm of this movie. It also doesn't hurt that they are a real life couple and it definitely came across on screen.
It was nice to see Kelley Jakle's incredible singing talent was highlighted at the end of the movie, but I wish they had of given her more singing parts. She is definitely finding a home with Lifetime.
Overall I really enjoyed movie and recommend it to anyone.
saved by Solvang
Kirpianuscus30 October 2022
Unrealistic but saved, enough, by Solvang and the chemistry between main characters. It is one of Hallmark films easy to critic but the sins are pieces of details and the predactibility is not so bad thing in this case.
In some measure, the transformation of not very pleasant Aubrey is the real story. And the virtues are around the friendship virtues.
An easy film, nice for few motives, unrealistic in too many others , seductive for good looking actors and for the spirit of town. And, sure, with a half of smile, for obvious artificial snow.
So, saved by Solvang represents the reasonable definition of this new Hallmark.
In some measure, the transformation of not very pleasant Aubrey is the real story. And the virtues are around the friendship virtues.
An easy film, nice for few motives, unrealistic in too many others , seductive for good looking actors and for the spirit of town. And, sure, with a half of smile, for obvious artificial snow.
So, saved by Solvang represents the reasonable definition of this new Hallmark.
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