Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas (2018 TV Movie) User Reviews

I just liked it

[Jackbv123 · 8/10 · 11 December 2018]

There was nothing that particularly stood out in this movie, although I was impressed with Megan Park whom I've never noticed before. I hope we get to see more of her in the future. She plays a sweet, gentle and mostly humble young woman who just stumbles into meeting a famous country singer.

As in movies I like most, Park and Josh Henderson spend a lot of screen time together and have a quiet chemistry.

The movie throws in a few short stanzas of Christmas songs here and there, but with one longer performance of an original song.

The story is nothing more than two people making there way across country fighting detours to get home for Christmas where they happen to live in the same area.

Accents please

[Northener · 7/10 · 23 December 2019]

How does Hallmark manage to consistently produce a bunch of movies where only one character, in a family, has an accent? Could the Lee character NOT have had an accent in this? And the lip synching- blame the director and editors for that, it's not as if Henderson doesn't sing.

Besides all that, it's a fairly low key, nice sentiments Christmas movie. No overacting, over gesturing, looks like they're stoned-on-Christmas-candy female leads here, so thank you for that Hallmark!

Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas

[studioAT · 7/10 · 5 December 2020]

A nice Hallmark road movie style Christmas film, with Josh Henderson and Megan Park being some pleasing newer faces among the Hallmark ranks.

I thought this was good fun, it was warm and the storyline held up.

For those getting bogged down by accents I'd say just sit back and enjoy this easy-going romantic comedy for what it does well instead.

Nothing extraordinary: sweet movie.

[MIssM19 · 6/10 · 10 January 2019]

An overused plot we have seen several times, but that I still enjoy: a road trip to get home for Christmas. This movie was the sweetest.

I really like it, the actors seemed off sometimes, specially at the beginning, but the chemistry only got better (no the best though). I wouldn't have complain if would have gotten a little flirty banter.

What I like the most was that, unlike every Christmas movie, at the end the pair just took things slowly, they didn't rush the anything.

Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 6/10 · 20 July 2019]

6/10 - nothing special in this by-the-book holiday flick

From Sad to merry at Christmas

[jeanese · 10/10 · 16 December 2018]

Two people who share the heartache of loss find each other at Christmas and open themselves up to experiencing a trek through the holiday on their way back home. Well written and acted. The scenery and staging was beautiful. Well done Blake and Mom!

A Sweet Country Christmas Tale

[tiffanytallent1981 · 7/10 · 9 July 2021]

Romance movies involving two people road tripping across the country together are hit or miss. Many of them are too cheesy to even get through and just aren't natural. Granted, I seriously doubt a 'regular' person doing one of these trips with a country star, ever really happens. Still yet, this movie flowed naturally. The leads, Heath and Karah, had good chemistry. I especially liked how well the actor playing Heath was able to show so many emotions, with just a look. When he felt awkward, I felt awkward. When he felt hurt, I felt it too. And the way Heath looked at Karah, when she wasn't looking sped up MY heart. Lol

It's easy to connect with Karah and Heath because we get to know about their parental losses, family dynamics, friendships, and dreams in life. They seem like normal people in the real world, not actors pretending. There's not a big wow factor in this. It is just one of those feel good, makes you want to fall in love, be with family, kind of movies.

I'll watch anything with....

[rightisright · 8/10 · 16 December 2018]

I'll watch anything with a former cast member of The Neighbors. Megan Park is just adorable in this movie. She just aches with sadness until Josh Henderson's character helps her heail.

Not Worth Watching

[mammamia701 · 7/10 · 7 July 2020]

To say I was disappointed is an understatement! I honestly couldn't wait for this movie to end! I kept think it would get better, but it was just more painful to watch. I thought the acting was terrible, plus I couldn't see any chemistry between the characters. I really wanted to like this movie, especially the way it was promoted. Honestly, don't waste your time. I did, however, thoroughly enjoyed it's sequel? Time For You to Come Home For Christmas starrng Allison Sweeny. That's worth watching, not this one. I believe they were both produced by Blake Shelton, which was one reason I was looking forward to watching.

I see many people did enjoy this movie. I honestly don't understand how or why. Take my advice, should you decide to watch and aren't enjoying it, just switch to a different movie. It doesn't improve or get any better.

A bit middle-of-the-road as road-trip Xmas movies go.

[Carycomic · 5/10 · 29 October 2019]

The romantic bonding process was refreshingly gradual. But, the singing was a mixed blessing, at best. I mean, not only was the lip-synching a tad obvious. But, there's also the inevitable question of...just how on Earth did Susan Hogan's character and Megan Park's character suddenly know the lyrics to a brand-new Christmas song without having looked at the sheet music?!

So, while I'm glad Hallmark's latest odd xmas couple had a happy ending, the movie as a whole was definitely five stars at most.

Enjoy the 2 Days with Cara and Lee. Great Spontaneous Fun.

[gehewe · 9/10 · 10 January 2019]

Cara (Megan Park) and famous country singer Lee (Josh Henderson) accidentally meet at the airport when he spills coffee on her. She doesn't know who he is and he enjoys that she does not know. You can see that they just enjoy being with each other. But they keep parting ways and fate keeps bringing them back together (fun to watch). At one point they run into a little boy Alex and play cards with him. When Lee gives Alex something of his dad's, Cara knows he's a good guy. The movie to its success focuses on the two in a way that makes one feel joy to be part of it. Loved when the two little girls sang the song for their mom on Christmas morning. This movie is just filled with these treasured moments.

Megan Park played the young girl in Road to Christmas (2006) when she was actually 20 and was a bright spot in My Christmas Love (2016) which was not that good. She was GREAT here. Although the scenes where she was supposed to be singing were not that effective. Josh Henderson was perfect in this role, but the singing (lipping?) just wasn't quite right. The music scenes overall were effective. We have Susan Hogan in her 4th Christmas movie of the season as the mom and it almost failed but was saved at the end. Eric Keenleyside played Cara's dad and this was just OK. The movie was about the two special days of Lee and Cara and that was magical takeaway. Watch it. I still think Megan Parks looks a lot like Amber Marshall from Heartland.

The first in a series of holiday collaborations between Blake Shelton and his mother.

[cgvsluis · 7/10 · 7 December 2022]

This was the movie that started a tradition of a holiday collaboration between Blake Shelton and his mom. Actually it started with a song Blake wrote...and then his mom wrote a book inspired by it...and then they collaborated on this movie. Since they have gone on to collaborate each Christmas since on a new "Time to Come Home For Christmas" movie, but this is the first. This also is the movie that loosely follows the original book about a country singer whose father passed away and he has been avoiding going home who meets a woman in his travels who is also grieving a parent. The two keep ending up together on a wild journey home to Oklahoma.

Candy bar pie topping? Not sure I would try it especially on a jam pie. Is that really a thing?

The two actors picked for the leads were great. This was a simple and sweet story...that I recommend to all holiday romance fans.

Not Realistic

[momster0005 · 5/10 · 4 July 2019]

If you don't mind the terrible fake southern accents, bad lip sink and awkwardness you might enjoy this movie. I found it mediocre at best and I am a fan of most of the Hallmark cliche Christmas Movies.

Late Conflict Was Silly

[athompsonblue · 7/10 · 7 November 2023]

Offering help to someone doesn't mean you don't believe in them! Lee should have worded his offer better. Make it sound less likely charity and more like a business proposition of investing. But his heart was in the right place. Cara and her dad were being oversensitive, and Cara angrily gaslighting Lee wasn't cool.

Besides that, the movie is fine. The two leads have a nice series of repeated run-ins while on a road trip. But, in the song at the end, you can tell that they're lip synching.

This is the first installment of the "Time to Come Home for Christmas" series. Each movie is a standalone story. But there are small hints of a shared universe. For example, Stone Bridge's jam makes Easter egg appearances in "Time for YOU" and "Time for HIM."

A Reliable Holiday Franchise

[anicho01-944-812539 · 6/10 · 9 December 2023]

I watched three of the later films in the 'time to come home' series, but I was hesitant to watch this one because Megan Park played a superficial character in 'Once upon a prince.' I wasn't certain if that was due to her acting or just bad writing/directing. However, this is a well-written script and a well-directed film. And, I have now learned not to judge a Hallmark actress by her previous film.

The 'time to come home' series avoids static Hallmark plot lines, by giving each character their own realistic storyline, and one overarching plot to unite the film. Cara has a failing business while Heath handles family concerns. But both must travel to the same community for the holidays.

This is the standard warm hearted road trip film without the standard cliches. Cara at least shows initial believable hesitance at sharing a car with an absolute stranger. And there is no forced one bed scenario. Instead the various interactions with Heath's fans and family create a warm holiday atmosphere.

I realize I could not be a Hallmark heroine because I would never accept an already opened alcoholic beverage from a stranger, let alone drive in a car with him for days.

Considering this is the fourth film I have seen in this series, even if I have to put up with several lowkey country music ads, I feel I can reliably say the focus on bittersweet reality (although this is the first Hallmark small business with a realistic holiday idea) that helps keep the script accessible yet warm.

A well developed movie!

[mpetretich · 10/10 · 14 December 2018]

This movie fits well with Christmas, I found the connection between the stars seemed natural! Josh comes across as really nice person!

We loved it

[rick-16339 · 10/10 · 15 December 2018]

Great writing and well acted. It will be a classic for years to come. Thank you Hallmark.

Not harmonious enough

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 13 October 2020]

While it was far from innovative, part of me did like the concept of 'Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas' (appealing title too). It did sound very sweet and likeable, and could easily be if executed right. Though sentimentality and awkwardness were definitely potential traps, as they can be found a lot in Hallmark's festive output and was apparent in a lot of their 2018 output. Hallmark did do some very bad Christmas films but some were surprisingly good.

'Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas' for me fitted in neither category. Not a bad film but not a great one either and there is nothing extraordinary here throughout. Regarding whether it executed the concept sweetly and likeably or too heavy on the sentiment and awkwardness, there are elements of all of that. Not one of the best 2018 Hallmark Christmas films. Not one of the worst either. Somewhere firmly in the middle more like, and that can all be said for overall too.

Megan Park and Josh Henderson give charming enough lead performances and neither of their characters bored or annoyed me. Even if they did lack depth and complexity, they were not personality deprived. Park's vulnerability was relatable and Henderson's sympathetic charm endeared. Personally thought that the two did have chemistry and one that progressed more realistically than most Hallmark Christmas films from that year, though it is a very understated one. A sweet and natural one at the same time too. The supporting cast do well too.

Production values are decent and don't look amateurish, regardless of any questions of authenticity the scenery is very easy on the eyes and complemented by the photography well. Hallmark does not always do very well when it comes to their music, but the music fares fine here. It fits, it's not too loud and the sound of it appeals.

For those good things, 'Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas' does have shortcomings and they are not small. The dialogue does sound very awkward a lot of the time, gets very corny and the sentiment does get too much in the second half. Do agree that the lip synching is very distracting and too blatantly obvious, one would never think that any of the music was performed live.

Although it does have its good moments, the story is very predictable and has too many forced and over-schmaltzy moments when it finally starts to get going. After a rather dull and uneventful start that has no real atmosphere or emotion to it. Am not somebody that picks on films usually for bad accents and generally find that criticism nit-picky unless it/they is/are distractingly bad and take one out of the setting, which is sadly the case here.

In conclusion, watchable enough but it never wowed me. 5/10

I gave it an 8

[mbiv · 8/10 · 26 December 2020]

I enjoyed this even though it's an over-used plot. I liked the chemistry between the actors and the subplots are heartwarming and/or fun. I didn't like the song at the end at all, but it's not bad enough to sink the movie.

No chemistry

[LtlHippo · 1/10 · 7 November 2019]

What a needy lady. The whole WHAT ABOUT YOUR FIANCÉE? Stupid. Then she tells him to leave her home. He should have dropped her like a hot potato.

Here is why I gave it an 8

[scottca075 · 8/10 · 27 June 2022]

Here is why I gave it an 8; it is an "8" in the Hallmark movie universe, not the "Gone With The Wind", "Sound of Music" universe.

Yes Hallmark movies are cheesy and yes you know EXACTLY how it is going to end, you just aren't sure HOW they are going to get there.

The movie was warm, implausible, cheesy, joyful and most importantly, entertaining. There ain't nuthin' wrong with cheesy, happy ending movies; Lord knows we can use a little happy escapism these days.

If you liked the other movies in this series, you'll enjoy this one too.

Fairly enjoyable

[herrcarter-92161 · 8/10 · 9 May 2023]

This isn't a perfect movie, but I did enjoy it. The actors did a good job and were likable. The relationship between them seemed fairly genuine and real. The "Big star meets ordinary person" trope has been worked to death, but this movie did it better than most. At least it made you believe that this star, adored by millions, is really just a normal guy with a normal family and normal friends. And it somehow made you believe that this girl wasn't really awed by his star status, and just liked him because he was a nice person. You need to suspend a little disbelief, but you do when you watch Cinderella, too. Somehow, we're still fascinated by the idea that a regular person could connect with a famous, rich or powerful person, even if it rarely happens in real life.

I did take exception with a couple of things. The whole idea that Cara couldn't possibly bring her company into the 21'st century and submit to automation was just stupid. In the real world, a company that doesn't modernize gets put out of business by its competitors that do, and that puts all of their employees out of work, not just those replaced by machines. And I really didn't see how her new product line of candy bars was supposed to stave off the inevitable advance of modernization. Even with a new product line, they are still dealing with the same old inefficiencies.

I also didn't like Cara's faux outrage when Heath/Lee makes a generous offer to provide funding for her new candy bar line. Every rom-com seems to require a bump in the road of the relationship (later to be smoothed over as if nothing happened), but this particular bump seemed overly contrived. She should know that he's a stand-up guy and that there was no reason to take offense at his offer, let alone to tell him to go away. But I guess the rom-com gods required it.

Otherwise, I liked the relationship between Cara and Heath/Lee, as well as the relationships with their respective families and friends. Overall, an enjoyable movie to watch.

Love Blake Shelton songs but this didn't work

[BurberryGal · 2/10 · 3 January 2019]

Let Blake Shelton have more creative control over his movies! Let him pick the leads. No chemistry at all with the actors!! Watch "A Christmas Detour " instead... this is one of hallmark channels best movies from 2015

Exceptional Anytime of the Year!

[kcwlsw · 10/10 · 26 December 2018]

Absolutely loved this so much. The movie takes place during Christmas time. However, I can definitely watch this any time of the year. Josh's rendition of the title track is better than the original!

Middle of the road

[kz917-1 · 4/10 · 29 August 2019]

This was ok. The chemistry was good. Definitely better and worse out there.