Danica McKellar is always a winner when combined with the writers of Hallmark movies. I'm also a sucker for a big old house setting. The kids weren't overly annoying, either.
31 Reviews
Nice & Sweet
Christmas-Reviewer19 November 2017
I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 (C H R I S T M A S ) MOVIES AND SPECIALS.
BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN!
This 2017 Hallmark Christmas Theme Movie stars in Danica McKellar. She is one the many "Hallmark CHirstmas Movie" go to actress who always brings a very likable performance. In this film however she seems to be a semi-remake of another Danica McKellar Hallmark film called "A Crown FOr Christmas".
In this film she plays Lizzie Richfield who just landed a job as house manager for the exclusive Ashford Estate in the Virginia countryside. While preparing the place for sale, Lizzie plans one final Christmas Eve gala for the Marley family, though they seem to be a family in name only.
If you are a romantic then this film is for you.
BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN!
This 2017 Hallmark Christmas Theme Movie stars in Danica McKellar. She is one the many "Hallmark CHirstmas Movie" go to actress who always brings a very likable performance. In this film however she seems to be a semi-remake of another Danica McKellar Hallmark film called "A Crown FOr Christmas".
In this film she plays Lizzie Richfield who just landed a job as house manager for the exclusive Ashford Estate in the Virginia countryside. While preparing the place for sale, Lizzie plans one final Christmas Eve gala for the Marley family, though they seem to be a family in name only.
If you are a romantic then this film is for you.
Coming Home for Christmas
studioAT2 January 2021
Danica McKellar heads up this fun Christmas film from Hallmark.
What I liked about it was the fact that it does deviate from the standard format these films tend to follow (though of course there are the seemingly obligatory dance and snowball fight scenes), with a nice love triangle element to it.
It's all nicely played, and there are some sweet moments, though Andrew Francis always seems miscast for me in the 'younger brother' role when actually he looks a bit too long in the tooth for such a part.
On the whole though this is good stuff.
What I liked about it was the fact that it does deviate from the standard format these films tend to follow (though of course there are the seemingly obligatory dance and snowball fight scenes), with a nice love triangle element to it.
It's all nicely played, and there are some sweet moments, though Andrew Francis always seems miscast for me in the 'younger brother' role when actually he looks a bit too long in the tooth for such a part.
On the whole though this is good stuff.
more than nice
Kirpianuscus26 December 2018
A real nice film. First, for the clear reference to "Sabrina". Second - for Paula Shaw. And for atmosphere. Sure, the recipe of Christmas romance is obvious familiar. But it has few sweet nuances in this case, lovely, funny, charming. It is not different by many others films of same genre. But it has the gift to not be boring or too ...pink. The wise old lady, a decision, her two nephews. And the predictable end. So, a real seductive easy film.
Enjoyable enough
tamsmith-8302612 December 2020
Watched because Danica McKellar is always pleasant in these Hallmark movies. I don't want to say she and the male lead didn't have chemistry but something was off that I couldn't put my finger on. Either way, enjoyable movie and I appreciated the grandmother. Worth adding to your Christmas movie list.
Coming Home for Christmas
JoBloTheMovieCritic19 November 2020
Lovely Christmas movie
rixiane11 December 2018
Finally a nice Christmas film! I've been watching a fair few the last couple of weeks to get into the spirit of Christmas but this is the first one this year that I actually really enjoyed!
As with all Christmas movies, it was predictable, but this one really got the Christmas feel across. Trees, ornaments, snow. A sweet love story. People becoming a whole lot friendlier because of a chatty little character.
This one to me really was a lovely Christmas flick with all the right ingredients (and the occasional cringy acting). Definitely worth your while!
Good Acting, but really nothing like Virginia !
RichmondBread19 November 2017
The acting is strong and solid. I have to admit, that Danica McKellar is very easy on the eyes. I was interested in seeing this because it takes place in my home state of Virginia. So naturally, I was wondering (if at all) I would recognize something as they might be filming on location. And apparently, not so.
Perhaps its just a pet peeve of mine, but it would have been more accurate if they had the setting some place other than Virginia. For example, Virginians can be stuffy, but not New England stuffy! I do realize this film was made in Canada and they sort of shoot in the dark when it comes to getting the right flavor of the locale . But the tone was a bit off for Virginia. The characters seem very New England/Northeastern and a Butler with a British accent? That would not be commonplace here in Virginia. The help would be... well, mostly non-white. Also, while Virginia can get some decent snow amounts , its not commonplace to have snow on the ground before Christmas, and even a White Christmas isn't all that common either. I realize they may have just used the snow for affectation to make sure you knew it was "Christmasy".
I'm trying to picture where in Virginia they might be, and I'm guessing outside of Washington D.C. towards the blue ridge- perhaps Loudoun or Fauquier County. While by no means Deep South, its personality here is not like depicted in this film. Virginia definitely has a more Southern lilt and a more folksy , friendly kind of wealth than the New Englander-ish style they portrayed.
Perhaps its just a pet peeve of mine, but it would have been more accurate if they had the setting some place other than Virginia. For example, Virginians can be stuffy, but not New England stuffy! I do realize this film was made in Canada and they sort of shoot in the dark when it comes to getting the right flavor of the locale . But the tone was a bit off for Virginia. The characters seem very New England/Northeastern and a Butler with a British accent? That would not be commonplace here in Virginia. The help would be... well, mostly non-white. Also, while Virginia can get some decent snow amounts , its not commonplace to have snow on the ground before Christmas, and even a White Christmas isn't all that common either. I realize they may have just used the snow for affectation to make sure you knew it was "Christmasy".
I'm trying to picture where in Virginia they might be, and I'm guessing outside of Washington D.C. towards the blue ridge- perhaps Loudoun or Fauquier County. While by no means Deep South, its personality here is not like depicted in this film. Virginia definitely has a more Southern lilt and a more folksy , friendly kind of wealth than the New Englander-ish style they portrayed.
A really nice movie -- good feelings
Pete-Claus11 January 2020
Not Danica's best
allmoviesfan6 October 2023
Probably my least-favourite Danica McKellar Hallmark Christmas film. She plays Lizzie, who is appointed house manager for a charming estate in Virginia, owned by the Marley family, and she is tasked with getting it ready for sale. Before that, she is roped into planning one last big hurrah: a Christmas gala.
The description on the IMDB page is correct: the Marley family seem to only be a family in name. Truth is, they aren't all that nice to each other, and Lizzie is torn this way and that trying to please them all, and trying to find a little romance for herself, too: of course.
I wanted to like this one, but it didn't.
The description on the IMDB page is correct: the Marley family seem to only be a family in name. Truth is, they aren't all that nice to each other, and Lizzie is torn this way and that trying to please them all, and trying to find a little romance for herself, too: of course.
I wanted to like this one, but it didn't.
A mushy collection of platitudes
dconrad-4910826 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
One of the worst Xmas movies ever. A trite, but common, plot: girl, a bit down in life, falls into a delicious situation that includes young men, a task, and a crotchety matriarch that must be won over (and is, of course). Some dark secret lurks in the background: WHY is this family so Xmas-dysfunctional?? Why don't they understand, as sweet goofy Danica does, that Xmas is all family, sweetness and light, and Yule logs for dessert? The staging is right out of Dickens with charming quasi-English street scenes. The acting is flat and predictable. Stern, unemotional Robert, always wearing a suit; his rascally UNpredictable brother, Kip, the foil (except his antics are totally predictable), and their upper-class raised sister Sloane, with two adorable toddlers, who is suffering a situation that just a small donation from Grandma's coffers would easily fix. And so it yawningly goes. Of course, every time Robert and Lizzie almost get close to each other, that rascal Kip bursts onto the scene and ruins everything. Hence many puppy-eyed over-the-shoulder looks from Lizzie as Kip drags her away. The tree cutting scene is laughable and only provides an "outdoor" venue for more anguished questioning by Lizzie about why this family is so un-xmasy! Don't they know it's all about family and Yule logs?? Another laughable occasion designed to provide more of the same platitudinous conversation occurs when Lizzie enters the bedroom she has been given at Ashford (and a pretty unimpressive bedroom it is for such a grand estate) and finds Robert in there, it having been his old room from childhood. Of course, oddly, Lizzie has not left ONE SInGLE thing anywhere in the room to indicate the fact she is residing there! How was poor Robert to know?? But, hey, they get to talk in the middle of the night! I could go on and list many more plot contrivances because thus movie is all contrivances and trite-isms. At the end, it's the usual overheard partial conversation which threatens to throw all asunder but fortunately reformed-grandma saves the day, the Xmas, and the romance. Wooden Robert suddenly turns into a dancing Lothario( not a very convincing one) and even a bend-her-backwards kisser. All is well. Except the movie is soooo bad; Holiday Inn for the millionth time would be a better Xmas watch.
Lovely sweet Christmas movie
dontakeitpersonal26 December 2020
I've had an overdosis over Christmas movies this 2020 December month. I have to say that this one has caught my heart. Can be the wine as well that helped, but definitely one of the Better movies I've seen. Everything clicked for your classic Christmas movie, acting was ok, chemistry and you can't go wrong with this storyline. The speed of the movie was good, good characters and issues to go along with. Could have gone more into details with the loose ends like the grandma, but it's beside the point. Lovely movie to watch
Decent Hallmark romance
herrcarter-921612 August 2023
This was a decent Hallmark romance. It was enjoyable, though not overly memorable. Danica McKellar as Lizzie was great, as always. She literally drips positive energy and charm. You know from the start that the stuffy, dysfunctional, rich family doesn't stand a chance against such a force of nature as her. Neal Bledsoe as Robert seemed a bit wooden. I know that's the part he's supposed to be playing, but he never seemed to quite transition from his initial prickly self to a warmer, more open person capable of connecting romantically with Lizzie. I know they tried to make that appear to happen, with such scenes as the snowball fight with his nephews, but I never quite bought it. Nor did I buy the romance between the two. Somehow, the chemistry seemed to be lacking.
Younger brother Kip seemed a bit miscast to me, also. Somehow, he wasn't that convincing as the smooth ladies' man. He never seemed like serious competition for Lizzie's affections. It would have been more interesting if she had truly felt some spark with Kip too, but it was obvious from the start that she wasn't buying what he was selling.
I liked the overall story, where the rich family is able to become closer to each other through the charms of Lizzie. Through much of the movie, Robert walks around like a martyr, letting his parents' untimely deaths cloud his whole existence for decades, even to the point where he has a strained relationship with his family, hates the beautiful house he grew up in and even hates Christmas. Meanwhile, you have Lizzie, who also suffered heartbreak when her dad died, but who didn't let it destroy her love of life, her love of Christmas and her relationships with her family. The contrast couldn't be more stark. Everyone suffers adversity in this life, but it's not what you suffered, it's how you react to that suffering that counts.
So, all in all, this was a perfectly adequate Hallmark Christmas romance movie. The performances were mostly good and the story was nice. Not a movie that's going to stick around in your memory for a long time, but certainly a nice diversion for a couple of hours.
Younger brother Kip seemed a bit miscast to me, also. Somehow, he wasn't that convincing as the smooth ladies' man. He never seemed like serious competition for Lizzie's affections. It would have been more interesting if she had truly felt some spark with Kip too, but it was obvious from the start that she wasn't buying what he was selling.
I liked the overall story, where the rich family is able to become closer to each other through the charms of Lizzie. Through much of the movie, Robert walks around like a martyr, letting his parents' untimely deaths cloud his whole existence for decades, even to the point where he has a strained relationship with his family, hates the beautiful house he grew up in and even hates Christmas. Meanwhile, you have Lizzie, who also suffered heartbreak when her dad died, but who didn't let it destroy her love of life, her love of Christmas and her relationships with her family. The contrast couldn't be more stark. Everyone suffers adversity in this life, but it's not what you suffered, it's how you react to that suffering that counts.
So, all in all, this was a perfectly adequate Hallmark Christmas romance movie. The performances were mostly good and the story was nice. Not a movie that's going to stick around in your memory for a long time, but certainly a nice diversion for a couple of hours.
Insipid, Contrived & Boring.
pspitnale-120-72593029 October 2018
But isn't that why we watches these? They are sooooo bad, they are like a genre unto themselves. It's like a Hallmark card comes to life with picture perfect scenery & corny platitudes that count for dialogue. It's bad. But fascinatingly entertaining.
Lots of smiles as Lizzie wins over the upper crust
SimonJack19 November 2022
"Coming Home for Christmas" of 2017 is a Hallmark TV movie that will bring smiles to most faces. That's because of the character played by Danica McKellar. She plays Lizzie Richfield, whose sister, Megan, is a real estate agent. Her firm is handling the sale of the Ashford Estate, owned by the Marley family. The family has had difficulty keeping a house manager, and Megan recommended Lizzie for the job, since the firm she had worked for just closed its doors.
The setting for this Christmas romance story alternates between Washington, D. C. and Virginia, some distance away from the metro area. Of course, it was actually filmed in the land of Christmas movies, British Columbia, Canada. In the 10 years I lived in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D. C. (1968-78), we had some big snowfalls. But, as is common throughout North America, the most snow occurs in January and February.
When Lizzie takes charge of the 20,000-square foot (of living space) mansion, the upper-crust blue blood owners and staff are in for an adventure quite out of their ordinary. Lizzie is herself, an ebullient, outgoing, hand-shaking, every person, who beams with personality. What horror for the sophisticated! She shakes hands with Gerard and insists that the butler call her Lizzie. It's soon to the point where the audience realizes how awkward it would seem to everyone, not just those who live in the realm of the high class, but everyone. And, that makes it seem sillier and down to earth so that Grandma Pippa, Robert, and the staff can gradually come around to accepting Lizzie for who and what she is. They might even become a little more comfortable with this cheerier atmosphere that the smiling, new house manager brings to the place.
Well, before the movie starts, the audience all know how it will turn out; so the enjoyment of this film is seeing how that will happen. It's a fun film that most people should enjoy over the Christmas holidays. A little note on the slight rivalry that becomes apparent between the younger Kip and big brother Robert, regarding Lizzie. Kip offers her a trip to Athens with him, and hands her the ticket as a Christmas gift. But he never proposes, so not only does it show his character, but also his inability to understand Lizzie, if not many women. That's a mistake that Robert would never make.
There are some holiday films in which the female star is all smiles, and most of them just seem like sugary sweet fairy tales. Not so this one, because it doesn't try to sell itself on that basis. My favorite line in the film is Lizzie talking to Megan about the Ashford estate. She says, "It's not a house. It's a county. I'm not kidding. I may need a GPS to find my way around there."
Now, aside from this film, and after having watched quite a number of Christmas holiday films in the past few years - mostly made in British Columbia, I'd like to share this observation with movie buffs. From the late 1980s through most of the first decade of the new millennium, I lived in the Pacific Northwest. I visited Vancouver, B. C., a number of times. The British had ruled Hong Kong since the early years of the Opium War - more than 155 years. But, it was to return the city and territory to China in July 1997. By 1995, many Chinese were leaving the city, and one of the favorite places where many thousands relocated, was Vancouver, B. C.
In my visits to Vancouver before the mid-1990s and after 1997, the changes were quite significant. There was a boom in high-rise buildings, especially apartment buildings in the downtown core. And what had been a casual transportation scene turned into speedy downtown traffic. Then, sometime shortly thereafter, Vancouver became a prominent filming capital, especially for movies that had northern or winter climates, including the top half of the U. S. mainland, or as Alaskans refer to it as "the lower 48."
The setting for this Christmas romance story alternates between Washington, D. C. and Virginia, some distance away from the metro area. Of course, it was actually filmed in the land of Christmas movies, British Columbia, Canada. In the 10 years I lived in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D. C. (1968-78), we had some big snowfalls. But, as is common throughout North America, the most snow occurs in January and February.
When Lizzie takes charge of the 20,000-square foot (of living space) mansion, the upper-crust blue blood owners and staff are in for an adventure quite out of their ordinary. Lizzie is herself, an ebullient, outgoing, hand-shaking, every person, who beams with personality. What horror for the sophisticated! She shakes hands with Gerard and insists that the butler call her Lizzie. It's soon to the point where the audience realizes how awkward it would seem to everyone, not just those who live in the realm of the high class, but everyone. And, that makes it seem sillier and down to earth so that Grandma Pippa, Robert, and the staff can gradually come around to accepting Lizzie for who and what she is. They might even become a little more comfortable with this cheerier atmosphere that the smiling, new house manager brings to the place.
Well, before the movie starts, the audience all know how it will turn out; so the enjoyment of this film is seeing how that will happen. It's a fun film that most people should enjoy over the Christmas holidays. A little note on the slight rivalry that becomes apparent between the younger Kip and big brother Robert, regarding Lizzie. Kip offers her a trip to Athens with him, and hands her the ticket as a Christmas gift. But he never proposes, so not only does it show his character, but also his inability to understand Lizzie, if not many women. That's a mistake that Robert would never make.
There are some holiday films in which the female star is all smiles, and most of them just seem like sugary sweet fairy tales. Not so this one, because it doesn't try to sell itself on that basis. My favorite line in the film is Lizzie talking to Megan about the Ashford estate. She says, "It's not a house. It's a county. I'm not kidding. I may need a GPS to find my way around there."
Now, aside from this film, and after having watched quite a number of Christmas holiday films in the past few years - mostly made in British Columbia, I'd like to share this observation with movie buffs. From the late 1980s through most of the first decade of the new millennium, I lived in the Pacific Northwest. I visited Vancouver, B. C., a number of times. The British had ruled Hong Kong since the early years of the Opium War - more than 155 years. But, it was to return the city and territory to China in July 1997. By 1995, many Chinese were leaving the city, and one of the favorite places where many thousands relocated, was Vancouver, B. C.
In my visits to Vancouver before the mid-1990s and after 1997, the changes were quite significant. There was a boom in high-rise buildings, especially apartment buildings in the downtown core. And what had been a casual transportation scene turned into speedy downtown traffic. Then, sometime shortly thereafter, Vancouver became a prominent filming capital, especially for movies that had northern or winter climates, including the top half of the U. S. mainland, or as Alaskans refer to it as "the lower 48."
Great movie but
v4aholm-121 December 2019
Dania Mckellar
jdrmusicgod11 November 2018
Blandness comes home
TheLittleSongbird19 January 2021
Expectations weren't huge for 'Coming Home for Christmas', judging from the very mixed reviews here (from trusted familiar names) and also that the premise was pretty much typical Hallmark. Danica McKellar has always left me mixed, she has shown likeability and charm in enough of her charms but she does tend to be typecast in fairly limited in scope roles. Still saw the film for completest sake and as someone who has never immediately written a Hallmark Christmas film off, enough of their stuff is watchable.
'Coming Home for Christmas' is a semi-watchable effort of theirs. In no way is it a masterpiece, with too many major flaws. It also isn't an abomination either, as there are a few good things. Not one of Hallmark's best by any stretch from that year or overall, but also not one of their worst on both counts. 'Coming Home for Christmas' generally could have done with more spark, charm and flow, and everything here has been seen before and better.
As indicated already, it is not all bad. It looks pleasant and professional enough visually. The scenery is particularly lovely. Some of the music is pleasant enough.
Despite the typecasting, McKellar is a natural presence and is amiable. Doing well in bringing some spirit and sensitivity to a cliched role and not over-emphasising any negative characteristics, a common habit in Hallmark Christmas films for both male and particularly female lead characters. Some of the supporting cast are also better than average, making the most of wanting material.
This cannot be said for the leading man Neal Bledsoe, who is incredibly wooden, a complete blank and completely devoid of charm. The chemistry between him and McKellar isn't ever there, it looked under-rehearsed and awkward and the relationship is yet another relationship that never really develops. What little progression there is comes over as introduced too abruptly. The characters generally are not appealing and are very sketchy, the character of Kip did grate on me and was overacted. The direction is routine at best.
Hallmark films are seldom known for having good dialogue, there are instances where it is not too bad and is honest, there are instances where it starts off bad and gets better and there are instances where it is bad all the way through. 'Coming Home for Christmas' is in the last category, the amount of cheese and mush becomes unbearable. The predictabiity was expected, but the forced contrivances, over-sentimentality, overdone cheese and the overall blandness from being far too thin and full of over-stretched padding were a lot less forgivable and quite hard to take. Some pleasant moments aside, the soundtrack tends to be intrusive and could have been used less and toned down.
Overall, very lacklustre. 4/10
'Coming Home for Christmas' is a semi-watchable effort of theirs. In no way is it a masterpiece, with too many major flaws. It also isn't an abomination either, as there are a few good things. Not one of Hallmark's best by any stretch from that year or overall, but also not one of their worst on both counts. 'Coming Home for Christmas' generally could have done with more spark, charm and flow, and everything here has been seen before and better.
As indicated already, it is not all bad. It looks pleasant and professional enough visually. The scenery is particularly lovely. Some of the music is pleasant enough.
Despite the typecasting, McKellar is a natural presence and is amiable. Doing well in bringing some spirit and sensitivity to a cliched role and not over-emphasising any negative characteristics, a common habit in Hallmark Christmas films for both male and particularly female lead characters. Some of the supporting cast are also better than average, making the most of wanting material.
This cannot be said for the leading man Neal Bledsoe, who is incredibly wooden, a complete blank and completely devoid of charm. The chemistry between him and McKellar isn't ever there, it looked under-rehearsed and awkward and the relationship is yet another relationship that never really develops. What little progression there is comes over as introduced too abruptly. The characters generally are not appealing and are very sketchy, the character of Kip did grate on me and was overacted. The direction is routine at best.
Hallmark films are seldom known for having good dialogue, there are instances where it is not too bad and is honest, there are instances where it starts off bad and gets better and there are instances where it is bad all the way through. 'Coming Home for Christmas' is in the last category, the amount of cheese and mush becomes unbearable. The predictabiity was expected, but the forced contrivances, over-sentimentality, overdone cheese and the overall blandness from being far too thin and full of over-stretched padding were a lot less forgivable and quite hard to take. Some pleasant moments aside, the soundtrack tends to be intrusive and could have been used less and toned down.
Overall, very lacklustre. 4/10
Looking up
Jackbv12318 November 2017
To me, this is a different approach to a Christmas story, although it still uses many traditional plot devices. Lizzie becomes the house manager, put in the middle of a wealthy and slightly estranged family just before Christmas, and as that same house is being sold.
The story is interesting even if it has no great surprises. Lizzie finds herself bringing this family together. This is a big part of the charm of this movie. It is heartwarming to see each time a connection is repaired.
One thing I liked about this story is that it didn't accentuate the class difference between the Marley's and Lizzie. Unlike so many stories where unemployed girl meets rich guy, especially when it is "old-money", you can actually see these two overcoming those differences easily.
Danica McKellar, as Lizzie, works that charm as this part is tailor made for her. I assume her annoying chattiness in the beginning is the story and direction rather than the acting. Given that, she carries it off. Neal Bledsoe, as Robert Marley, the head of the clan, has a difficult part. He is difficult to warm up to. The chemistry between McKellar and Bledsoe must be subtle and steady. Robert's nature is intentionally stiff and businesslike.
I will gladly make this a regular Christmas movie treat.
The story is interesting even if it has no great surprises. Lizzie finds herself bringing this family together. This is a big part of the charm of this movie. It is heartwarming to see each time a connection is repaired.
One thing I liked about this story is that it didn't accentuate the class difference between the Marley's and Lizzie. Unlike so many stories where unemployed girl meets rich guy, especially when it is "old-money", you can actually see these two overcoming those differences easily.
Danica McKellar, as Lizzie, works that charm as this part is tailor made for her. I assume her annoying chattiness in the beginning is the story and direction rather than the acting. Given that, she carries it off. Neal Bledsoe, as Robert Marley, the head of the clan, has a difficult part. He is difficult to warm up to. The chemistry between McKellar and Bledsoe must be subtle and steady. Robert's nature is intentionally stiff and businesslike.
I will gladly make this a regular Christmas movie treat.
Ok movie
managementbykristi20 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The movie ends nicely and the male lead pulls it off well.
I liked Danica's character at the end but not at the beginning.
For someone who is supposed to be in charge of a household and who used to supervise 22 employees, she comes across as very unprofessional at first. She couldn't keep her mouth shut, she bumbled around and said such embarrassing things.
She looked lovely and the story line is nice but I couldn't get past the way she was portrayed.
For someone who is supposed to be in charge of a household and who used to supervise 22 employees, she comes across as very unprofessional at first. She couldn't keep her mouth shut, she bumbled around and said such embarrassing things.
She looked lovely and the story line is nice but I couldn't get past the way she was portrayed.
One of the better hallmark movies but the lead guy is kinda weird
getadisasterkit19 November 2018
I actually liked this Hallmark movie, as it didn't fit the cookie cutter hallmark movie formula. One thing, maybe it was me, but the lead actor is kind of freakish...I dunno..weird feel/vibe with this guy. But maybe that was the point that he was staunch..I dunno. sometimes its fun to watch freakish people though.
Fun and warm movie with strong chemistry between the leads
skpn12315 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Love this film that describes the work it takes to rebuild a family following catastrophic loss. Sometimes it just takes a spark of goodness to start dissipating the bitterness.
Loved the whole cast in this - great chemistry between the leads - makes me think they would be a great couple in real life....... heck, I know this isn't real but the love presented is honest, heartfelt and reall - all our dreams.
Loved the whole cast in this - great chemistry between the leads - makes me think they would be a great couple in real life....... heck, I know this isn't real but the love presented is honest, heartfelt and reall - all our dreams.
A passable holiday film
doctorsmoothlove11 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
"Coming Home to Christmas" is the first film I've seen staring Danica McKellar who is a titan of the Hallmark Network and their Christmas films especially. The plot of this film bears some similarities to "Sabrina" even though it was based on a novel.
McKellar is Lizzie, an unemployed and single woman looking for something during the holidays. Either a job or perhaps a love interest. Lizzie's sister suggests that she work for the family who owns a home the sister is trying to sell. Lizzie takes a job as the house manager. She does of course. The family appears fractured. The grandmother is reclusive and unresponsive. Her grandsons are emotionally absent.
McKellar plays Lizzie as a vivavous charmer who is dedicated to the goal of making the last Christmas as this Virginia estate the best one ever. Her liveliness infects everyone there. The sons both fall for her. Eventually she falls for one of them too. The stuff business one not the playboy one.
The film does an impressive job at forcing emotions out of everyone. It's clear that the grandmother is reluctant to discuss her displeasure with the sale of the estate. I wish the script didn't just say, "Pipa is upset, Pipa has an arrhythmia." What would be wrong with having the grandmother and grand sons speak together rather than have Lizzie be the mediator. The result forces Lizzie into the family dynamic which isn't bad per se. It just feels inappropriate when these characters began the film distant from everyone and formal even to each other.
The setting clashes a bit with the characterization. For a place in Virginia, there was a lot of snow for December. I live around that area and it's rare to see snow that early in winter. I also don't believe a southern family would be likely to have a British butler. An African American butler would be more appropriate. Despite these inconsistencies, I enjoyed the film quite a bit. The actors embrace the stereotypes of each of the archetypes they portray.
McKellar plays Lizzie as a vivavous charmer who is dedicated to the goal of making the last Christmas as this Virginia estate the best one ever. Her liveliness infects everyone there. The sons both fall for her. Eventually she falls for one of them too. The stuff business one not the playboy one.
The film does an impressive job at forcing emotions out of everyone. It's clear that the grandmother is reluctant to discuss her displeasure with the sale of the estate. I wish the script didn't just say, "Pipa is upset, Pipa has an arrhythmia." What would be wrong with having the grandmother and grand sons speak together rather than have Lizzie be the mediator. The result forces Lizzie into the family dynamic which isn't bad per se. It just feels inappropriate when these characters began the film distant from everyone and formal even to each other.
The setting clashes a bit with the characterization. For a place in Virginia, there was a lot of snow for December. I live around that area and it's rare to see snow that early in winter. I also don't believe a southern family would be likely to have a British butler. An African American butler would be more appropriate. Despite these inconsistencies, I enjoyed the film quite a bit. The actors embrace the stereotypes of each of the archetypes they portray.
absolutely loved it
vriddheeg20 November 2017
Coming home for Christmas totally gets you in the Christmas mood. It's making me think I am way behind in putting up my Christmas decorations and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. This movie is based on a book by Jenny hale.
It's só painfully run-of-the-mill, that the boilerplate got bored
The_Melancholic_Alcoholic19 December 2020
This is film is the epitomy of Hallmark movies, it's super sacharine, so sweet it will give you diabetes.
This one is a classic upstairs-downstairs movie of the same sort that made Downton Abbey so popular, with all the usual suspects. There we have Middle-Class Mary (Danica McKellar), dashing off to work for Aloof Upper Class Ant (Bledsoe), a grandson, which of course leads towards a Predictable Romance we can see coming from miles, nay, light-years away. A love triangle is made complete by Overly Amical Playa Brother Grasshopper, his brother and the other grandson. Of course there's the Evil Godmother, this time disguised as a Grumpy Grandma, who's threatening to throw sand-in-the-works of the Machinery of Romance. And there's the Stiff Upper Lip Butler, as well as the Friendly Housekeeper (an African-American actress, this in the way of a daring twist «/sarc») Both grandsons will try to win the heart (and presumably, other body parts) of Middle-Class Mary.
The story starts when Middle-Class Mary gets hired by Aloof Upper Class Ant to throw a Christmas Ball for his Grumpy Grandma, who does her utmost to show her elitist disdain for Middle-Class Mary. But the enthusiasm of the latter for the whole of Christmas appears to be the key to soften Grumpier Grandma's heart. She even gives Middle-Class Mary a Christmas dress to wear the Christmas Ball. At the ball, there's the Classic Misunderstanding when grandson Aloof Ant overhears and mishears a conversation between Middle-Class Mary and grandson Player Grasshopper and mistakes her gentle rejection for a declaration of love. That'll show him for eavesdropping. But of course Grumpy Grandma intervenes to set grandson Aloof straight, and they will live happily ever after.
To pay homage to Girl Power and Feminism and all that, Middle-Class Mary gets a job offer for party planning (while sporting an inoffensive-to-the-patriarchy degree of Art History), so we won't feel so sorry for her lowly status.
What drew me in was The Wonder Years nostalgia and the crush I had on McKellar's Winnie Cooper. Who, by some standards, aged well, and by others, like those who judge on the size of jawline and broadness of face .... not. Her career isn't exactly rife with quality acting jobs, but she still works. Sort of.
2 oth 10
The Melancholic Alcoholic.
This one is a classic upstairs-downstairs movie of the same sort that made Downton Abbey so popular, with all the usual suspects. There we have Middle-Class Mary (Danica McKellar), dashing off to work for Aloof Upper Class Ant (Bledsoe), a grandson, which of course leads towards a Predictable Romance we can see coming from miles, nay, light-years away. A love triangle is made complete by Overly Amical Playa Brother Grasshopper, his brother and the other grandson. Of course there's the Evil Godmother, this time disguised as a Grumpy Grandma, who's threatening to throw sand-in-the-works of the Machinery of Romance. And there's the Stiff Upper Lip Butler, as well as the Friendly Housekeeper (an African-American actress, this in the way of a daring twist «/sarc») Both grandsons will try to win the heart (and presumably, other body parts) of Middle-Class Mary.
The story starts when Middle-Class Mary gets hired by Aloof Upper Class Ant to throw a Christmas Ball for his Grumpy Grandma, who does her utmost to show her elitist disdain for Middle-Class Mary. But the enthusiasm of the latter for the whole of Christmas appears to be the key to soften Grumpier Grandma's heart. She even gives Middle-Class Mary a Christmas dress to wear the Christmas Ball. At the ball, there's the Classic Misunderstanding when grandson Aloof Ant overhears and mishears a conversation between Middle-Class Mary and grandson Player Grasshopper and mistakes her gentle rejection for a declaration of love. That'll show him for eavesdropping. But of course Grumpy Grandma intervenes to set grandson Aloof straight, and they will live happily ever after.
To pay homage to Girl Power and Feminism and all that, Middle-Class Mary gets a job offer for party planning (while sporting an inoffensive-to-the-patriarchy degree of Art History), so we won't feel so sorry for her lowly status.
What drew me in was The Wonder Years nostalgia and the crush I had on McKellar's Winnie Cooper. Who, by some standards, aged well, and by others, like those who judge on the size of jawline and broadness of face .... not. Her career isn't exactly rife with quality acting jobs, but she still works. Sort of.
2 oth 10
The Melancholic Alcoholic.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
