A Gingerbread Romance (2018 TV Movie) User Reviews

Flawed but still not bad

[Jackbv123 · 5/10 · 30 December 2018]

The obligatory antagonism between the leads at the beginning was annoying with little wittiness. Both characters were unnecessarily rude bordering on cringe-worthy. Some of the acting was less than stellar, especially stiff delivery by the leads. Even the ending was stiff.

On the other hand, while you could tell that Melody Nosipho Niemann is pretty young, she was still cute. The story isn't bad, albeit still not stellar. The contest idea (with promotions hinging on the outcome) is not new, but I liked the giant Gingerbread house idea. One thing I always like to see in a Rom-coms is a lot of screen time focusing on the leads rather than other circumstances and this movie does that. I just wish their chemistry was a little more exciting.

Many reviewers on this page gave reviews and ratings that made me expect something much worse. I almost gave up on it after the annoying start. But while I probably won't look forward to watching this again (which really tells me how much I like most movies), I don't think it deserves so many horrible ratings.

Wish this was better...

[kathytexan-12585 · 5/10 · 31 December 2018]

The child actress who played Brooke was the shining light of this movie and the reason I gave this a 5. She was sweet, adorable and believable and gave a good performance. Too bad the adult leads weren't as good. Their performances were awkward and unbelievable. Would better direction have helped?

The script was very weak - it needed more dramatic tension for a better pay-off at the end. My overall reaction at the so-called climax was "Who cares?"

A lot of work goes into these productions so it's disappointing to see such a mediocre outcome.

Cannot recommend

[vantamn2 · 6/10 · 25 December 2018]

I enjoy the Mowry twins. They always seem to have such enthusiasm. This was not the right movie though. No romance. Casting mismatch. All supporting actors besides the little girl were not believable. I actually thought Duane Henry was a an athlete trying to act; I was surprised to see his credits. This just wasn't the right role for him; although he's handsome and likeable. I did like Tia's boss. Had the same predictable ice skating; tree buying; interrupted first kiss, but did like the giant gingerbread house idea. Was actually surprised to see that the other chef was a French-Canadian actress; I thought her accent was strange.

No Chemistry

[fiftycentqueen · 4/10 · 18 November 2019]

I could tell that as a married woman, Tia didn't want to get too close to her costar. And the costar was just as flat. He was not about to cross the line with Cory's wife. I love Tia, but this was a miss for me.

Horrible

[nyz_snuggle_bunny · 18 December 2018]

I have to admit I love the holiday season. One of my favorite things about the holiday season is Hallmark movies. I love them, I usually like most of them. I don't even mind the cheesy ones or the predictable ones I watch anyway, they just put me in the joyous holiday spirit, until this movie. I didn't make it through the whole movie and I tried. I think I made it through 45 minutes and thats being generous. It was just boring. I actually fell asleep a few times before I gave up. I don't know if it was the writing or acting or both. I just know nothing about this movie was enjoyable for me.

It was nice to see some more actresses besides the hallmark regular actresses. I can appreciate hallmark trying to add more diversity this year. It was nice to see more different races and cultures having a leading role in hallmark movies instead of just being a supporting cast. I would like to see more race and cultural diverse movies on Hallmark. That being said they need to be good movies along with good actors and actresses. The chemistry,writing and acting are important and this movie lacked all three. This was such a miscast. I don't know how this boring movie got the greening to be released. I've been feeling like 2018 Hallmark Christmas Movies have been a hit and miss for me this year. I've been finding myself researching some of their older movies.

A Gingerbread Romance

[studioAT · 7/10 · 3 December 2021]

Sometimes the Hallmark films you expect to be great aren't, and vice versa. This is an example of the latter.

I really enjoyed this. I'm on a run of dud Hallmark films, so this one really bucked the trend.

Some lovely moments, some good chemistry between the leads - this alone makes me forget the rather far-fetched storyline and slower bits.

Good fun, and lovely to see some diversity in a Hallmark film too.

I expected more

[ruizzamora · 3/10 · 19 December 2018]

This was a very hard movie to watch, the acting was really bad and it was boring. I really wanted to like it, finally some diversity, but they just didn't have great actors or plot.

Sweet Movie, Better Than Expected

[cocobuttr72-311-53542 · 7/10 · 3 October 2021]

This movie was better.than expected and not your cheesy Hallmark Holiday movie fare. I liked that the hero and heroine but heads over their vision for a holiday project. She wants it sleek and trendy, he wants to keep it warm and cozy. After a major setback, the heroine realizes the true spirit of Christmas.i have no idea what people are talking about no chemistry. The hero was charming my gingerbread cookies...lol.

not Hallmark's best

[novagirl11 · 3/10 · 14 January 2019]

Unfortunately, the chemistry between the main characters was lacking. It was a little distracting that Tia was wearing such over-sized awkward clothing. I think she was pregnant at the time, but I've seen much better attempts at covering baby bellies while filming movies. The scene with the security guard is really uncomfortable and unnecessary.

Rough around the edges

[r96sk · 5/10 · 8 July 2020]

As cheesy and predictable as you'd imagine.

There are worse Christmas TV films out there, but 'A Gingerbread Romance' fails to entertain even by the smallest of margins. It's all just rough around the edges, particularly with the editing and pacing.

Duane Henry (Adam) and Tia Mowry (Taylor) lead competently, with both of them having likeable qualities and giving alright performances - they just needed more chemistry together to take it up a notch. The rest of the cast are kinda poor, though most only have one or two lines to be fair.

I partly like the premise involving the creation of gingerbread houses, but it's nowhere near compelling - with Adam & Taylor's supposed rivals barely troubling them, so the story lacks any real acceleration. It's just a simple romance spread across 90 minutes.

This is better than the harsh reviews

[Cookiebaker101 · 8/10 · 3 July 2020]

This is the typical Hallmark movie. The soon-to-be couple meet with an insntant dislike, but over time, they discover they should be together. Boring? No. Hallmark is not know for intellectually stimulating movies and this movie falls in line with other Hallmark movies. Poorly written? The channel is known for movies with implausabilities and plot holes. Again, this movie falls in line with other Hallmark movies. If you are not judgemental, you will enjoy this movie.

No chemistry, stiff acting.

[mango-10 · 3/10 · 24 December 2018]

There was no chemistry between the leads. The lead female's acting was very stiff. As to the story - as with all Hallmark movies very predictable. I don't quite understand the need for the younger sister to be a character in this movie, she really didn't add anything to the story. This would not be a movie I'd watch again.

Not very good

[Northener · 10 July 2020]

I agree with most of the reviews here, this is just not very good. It wasnt well made either, one of the big goofs I noticed is when they are unpacking the truck. He's lifting the bags of "flour" as if they weigh 100lbs, overacting, while she touches one bag with her hand and up it goes like a pillow. Then she lifts a bucket of "honey" up high like it weighs nothing - because clearly it's an empty bucket. How did they let this get by during filming, or at least in editing? I am sure there's more but I stopped paying attention.

Another reviewer commented on her horrible hats, lol. I think Tia likes wearing berets, I've seen her in them other movies.

The worst yet.

[dougslay · 2/10 · 18 December 2018]

This is the worst Hallmark movie I've yet to see. Extremely weak plot, poor acting, and so contrived it made me ill.

Good story but poor acting and missing Director,

[mayrose-740-768681 · 3/10 · 31 December 2018]

I look forward to watching Hallmark Holiday movies every year. This year the Hallmark channel has increased and improved the schedule. I was really excited to see more. Though this movie was very disappointing; no chemistry and weak acting from the primary actors. Glad to see more diversity in characters and locations. I do love the staple actors ( Female & Male ) mixed in the new season. Look forward to the next season Winter Fest,

It just doesn't work

[Elara89 · 5/10 · 18 November 2021]

It's not really the fault of the leads, it's the attempt to pretend the pregnancy doesn't exist. This isn't as bad as Jen Lilley in: Paris, Wine and Romance 2019 (she looked like a small child in large adult clothes), but it's close. Trying to hide the pregnancy with clothes, never works. And I think the actors are too aware of the pregnancy, so they come off a bit stiff and uncomfortable.

Now, if they would incorporate the pregnancy into the movie, that could work. Yes, I am suggesting a pregnant woman finds love with a man who is not the father of her child. Perhaps she is divorced or widowed, she doesn't have to be... "loose". :D In that story, the actors could feel more natural because they wouldn't be trying to pretend there is no baby, while trying to not squish the baby when they hug/kiss. :D.

another Ugh

[toncincin · 2/10 · 31 December 2018]

Another one I DVRd and couldn't get through 45 minutes of it. This season of Hallmark has been disappointing. Hallmark needs to work on quality - and forget QUANTITY. Silly storyline. Poor acting. Did NOT hold my interest.

Very good

[smbrooks-62067 · 9/10 · 27 May 2019]

Excellent story line and main characters of color. It is an excellent role model for teenagers of color. Thank you.

A dull romance

[TheLittleSongbird · 3/10 · 24 December 2019]

Giving 'A Gingerbread Romance' a less than lukewarm review does not give me any pleasure, not in the least. Actually really wanted to like the film, being somebody who really tries to shy away from bashing anything if she can help it while offering constructive criticism if necessary, regardless of hearing less than charitable things about it. So expectations were not high before watching it admittedly, but seeing as it is Christmas a big part of me wanted to cast all that aside.

'A Gingerbread Romance' not only was as bad as my low expectations, it was actually even worse than expected. It is not an irredeemably awful film, it takes a lot for me to call anything that and calling a festive film that would make me a real Scrooge. It is the complete opposite of a good film though as well and fails on most levels, failing at what it set out to do and the worst assets were executed as badly as one can get. Just to say, it pains me to say that.

It gets plus points for some nice photography here and there and a soundtrack, as a musician music is an important thing for me to talk about when reviewing something, that evoked a lot of nostalgia and charm.

There is one other plus point as well and that is the beyond her years performance of Melody Nosipho Niemann, who outshines everybody else in the cast by a significant degree.

Not that that was too difficult. The rest of the cast are pretty lousy, with ill at ease and bland leads that have no chemistry that is natural or likeable and no chemistry at all even. The supporting cast either look disengaged or ham it up, everybody struggling to bring any believability to stock and implausibly written characters that behave too unrealistically for any easy-to-identify-with to happen. The direction is routine at best and the story is just so dreary and lacks any charm or heart.

A story that is also very contrived, and the same can be said for a script that has no tension or subtlety and is full of corn and wood instead. The location has no authenticity and the over-sized and very unattractive clothing was a turn off.

Concluding, pretty poor but with its moments. 3/10

Sad

[lashe17 · 1/10 · 22 December 2018]

Movie terrible called romance n you can clearly see the girl is pregnant and staying as far away as possible from the guy should have chosen a different woman all together who matches with the guy

A Gingerbread Romance

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 5/10 · 20 July 2019]

5/10 - painstakingly average and very dull in comparison to some of the more inspired holiday Hallmark features

AWFUL

[linda-plant2 · 1/10 · 12 November 2019]

WHY the unflattering hats ???? they kept appearing - in different colours. They made the lead actress look ridiculous, but it was the only interesting part of a film that was painful to watch. Tia Mowry-Hardrict is not a convincing actress, and her love interest was even worse - like a couple of wooden planks.

Hallmark need to rethink the calibre of their casting. We know their stories are the same in different guises with the same ending, all the brunette actresses look the same - long curled hair, the blondes are all similar too, but that doesn't mean we want to endure inferior acting.

Awful

[abfszperry · 1/10 · 5 June 2021]

I love all things Christmas and do a candy/baking theme every year. I could not get through this movie and ended up reading a book while it was on. The acting was horrible and the extreme lack of compatibility between the main characters was cringe worthy. Money down the drain! I couldn't even give the movie away with everyone saying if I didn't like it they for sure don't want it.

Add lovely gingerbread spice to your movie viewing experiences!

[inkblot11 · 8/10 · 26 December 2018]

Taylor (Tia Mowery-Hardrict) has a love of travel, instilled by her wandering parents from her childhood. Now an architect who visits many venues for the next big "project", she returns to her childhood Philadelphia home for an unusual job. Her firm has entered her into a contest to construct a giant gingerbread house for the holidays. This necessitates teaming up with a baker and the first one jumps ship when Taylor explains that she wants to be in charge. Accidentally, she meets baker Adam (Duane Henry) and they brush each other the wrong way. Adam, however, a single father to darling little Brooke, wants a higher profile so he can open his own dream bakery; he soon gets on board. Initial plans have problems. But, working together, Taylor and Adam get deep into the project and deeper into affections. Ho ho, what will happen when Taylor's firm asks her to travel again and/or, she doesn't win the contest! This sweet movie is again a lovely romantic experience. The two stars shine brightly and the supporting cast is nice, too. It is ESPECIALLY great to see an actress who is not ultra-thin on screen. The movie shows off the best of Philadelphia while script, costumes, and direction make grand impressions on the viewer. Why not add a lovely gingerbread spice to your movie list?

Awful

[Mswill1969 · 4/10 · 3 July 2020]

I DVR'D this movie last night and watched it on today. There was no chemistry at all between any of the actors. It is commendable of Hallmark to try and diversify their movies, but they should diversify the writers as well. You cannot have the same style of writing for each movie. Each ethnic group has different trials, tribulations, traditions, and pronunciation of words as well as different cultural backgrounds. Most caucasians call "Aunts" ants. Most Blacks call "Aunts" aunts as in haunts without the "H". Most Hispanics call "Aunts" tia. Hallmark should not be afraid to allow movies to reflect the culture, but careful about projecting stereotypes. By diversifying the writers, the Hallmark movies and mysteries will not as predictable, boring, uninteresting, and stale.