This is a cute film. Its far-fetched and predictable, but no one promised Zefirelli. There's romance galore for the leading ladies: both Juliet and her hot-shot, New York romance writer mom, Karen (Nora Roberts?) Right off we see middle-aged mom Karen styled as a Juliet wannabe: with ripped denim and leggings, boots, colored bras, eyelash extensions and overly long, age inappropriate hair extensions. It doesn't work. The look is just too young and grunge for a middle-aged mom. In a short time (the film is only 1:47) the two unexpectedly find true love and happiness with a couple of local cowboys, with dreams realized and even the promise of happily ever after. Proving you can go home - back to your uneducated dumped fiancée from 20 years past - who has obviously packed on some weight since then. Its good, clean holiday fun with just a few continuity issues and hiccups thrown in.
This is supposed to be Christmas: at least a traditional school/holiday break in early to mid-December. The filming locations aren't even close. The ranch is decked out in lush green grass and full, leafy trees. Its sunny and everyone is wearing light jackets. The film opens somewhere in NYC, presumably the Upper West Side, where streets would be covered in dirty slushy snow, and the houses and streets decorated to the max for the Christmas season. Not a single snowflake, wreath, Salvation Army shaker or Christmas light in sight. Juliet's age and educational stats are never revealed. As they travel southbound, Juliet admits to submitting assignments with only one minute to spare on the last acceptable day. She appears to be beyond high school age with the long eyelash extensions and sophisticated leather jacket and booties. Regardless, whatever she was pursuing in or around the Big Apple, Juliet joyfully casts it aside to accept a rough rider cowgirl role as part of neighboring rancher Attenborogh's pro-circuit rodeo empire. It's really quite an accomplishment to be charged with training young horses, presumably Attenborough's livelihood, having only three short weeks of barrel training experience on her resume.
Juliet enjoys her less plastic, new found friendships with Monty and Nan and Rodeo. So much so that she casually dumps her old gal pals in New York City after only three weeks, presumably due to a lack of cell signal and the subsequent inability to FaceTime and Snapchat. The judge tells them right off the bat that cell service is all but nonexistent on the ranch. There IS WiFi in town. This is the same crooked judge who misrepresents that Karen's father died intestate. But, miraculously, and it IS Christmas after all, Karen finds a strong signal in the dining room of the house. She does have to keep the money coming in, with her deceased father's ranch upside down in debt.
Ah, the magic of the Season strikes once again when Karen and Hugh get back together and engaged. Where does that leave Juliet and Monty? Are the four of them going to shack up together at the ranch? Hugh is responsible for providing for Monty, so where is he going to live? Yeah, this film is wrought with silliness and too many unanswered questions, but the story is sweet, clean, G-rated, for any age group, and ends positively. Isn't that what a good Christmas classic should ultimately accomplish? Enjoy!
This is supposed to be Christmas: at least a traditional school/holiday break in early to mid-December. The filming locations aren't even close. The ranch is decked out in lush green grass and full, leafy trees. Its sunny and everyone is wearing light jackets. The film opens somewhere in NYC, presumably the Upper West Side, where streets would be covered in dirty slushy snow, and the houses and streets decorated to the max for the Christmas season. Not a single snowflake, wreath, Salvation Army shaker or Christmas light in sight. Juliet's age and educational stats are never revealed. As they travel southbound, Juliet admits to submitting assignments with only one minute to spare on the last acceptable day. She appears to be beyond high school age with the long eyelash extensions and sophisticated leather jacket and booties. Regardless, whatever she was pursuing in or around the Big Apple, Juliet joyfully casts it aside to accept a rough rider cowgirl role as part of neighboring rancher Attenborogh's pro-circuit rodeo empire. It's really quite an accomplishment to be charged with training young horses, presumably Attenborough's livelihood, having only three short weeks of barrel training experience on her resume.
Juliet enjoys her less plastic, new found friendships with Monty and Nan and Rodeo. So much so that she casually dumps her old gal pals in New York City after only three weeks, presumably due to a lack of cell signal and the subsequent inability to FaceTime and Snapchat. The judge tells them right off the bat that cell service is all but nonexistent on the ranch. There IS WiFi in town. This is the same crooked judge who misrepresents that Karen's father died intestate. But, miraculously, and it IS Christmas after all, Karen finds a strong signal in the dining room of the house. She does have to keep the money coming in, with her deceased father's ranch upside down in debt.
Ah, the magic of the Season strikes once again when Karen and Hugh get back together and engaged. Where does that leave Juliet and Monty? Are the four of them going to shack up together at the ranch? Hugh is responsible for providing for Monty, so where is he going to live? Yeah, this film is wrought with silliness and too many unanswered questions, but the story is sweet, clean, G-rated, for any age group, and ends positively. Isn't that what a good Christmas classic should ultimately accomplish? Enjoy!
