"Nostalgic Christmas" follows the template established by many made-for-tv Christmas films. It was released as part of Hallmark Channel's 2019 Countdown to Christmas. I'd categorize this one as easily skippable unless marathoning these films as I am this year.
A busy career woman in the toy industry returns home at Christmas to celebrate the holiday with her father. He is also contemplating retirement, at the behest of his daughter, and she is to help him clean out, market and sell the building.
The toy store is a big focus of the movie. It sells wooden toys exclusively. I find it odd that in 2019 a movie would be made with this premise. I am 30 years old and have never played with a wooden toy or known anyone my age who has. No one buys them for their own children either. When I was little, my grandmother showed me wooden toys she had played with during the 1940s. Why not set the film during that era? There is no reason for it to take place in a contemporary setting.
What is more interesting and effective is the use of wooden santas made by the main character. She apparently carved them as a child and included an inspirational message on each of them. These serve as motivating factors for several tertiary characters with what little story arcs they have.
Brook D'Orsay as the main character does a competent job. She carries the movie well enough. The lines in her face cause her to appear weary as her character is apparently overworked in the big city. I wish the film didn't cause her father to subtly pressure her to accepting ownership of the toy store. I was more impressed with Trevor Donovan as the Hot Guy. He is widowed as all of these hot single dads are. Unlike most of them, he is quiet and not expressive. You get that he is perpetually wounded due to the loss of his wife.
Of course, they get together. The ending of this film is one of the most hackneyed and rushed I've seen Hallmark do in a while. The first kiss and Brook's acceptance of the toy store happen in the final minutes. It's as if the screenwriter realized the movie had to end and forgot to write an ending. It ruins what was otherwise just an average film at best. At least the child actress is tolerable.
The toy store is a big focus of the movie. It sells wooden toys exclusively. I find it odd that in 2019 a movie would be made with this premise. I am 30 years old and have never played with a wooden toy or known anyone my age who has. No one buys them for their own children either. When I was little, my grandmother showed me wooden toys she had played with during the 1940s. Why not set the film during that era? There is no reason for it to take place in a contemporary setting.
What is more interesting and effective is the use of wooden santas made by the main character. She apparently carved them as a child and included an inspirational message on each of them. These serve as motivating factors for several tertiary characters with what little story arcs they have.
Brook D'Orsay as the main character does a competent job. She carries the movie well enough. The lines in her face cause her to appear weary as her character is apparently overworked in the big city. I wish the film didn't cause her father to subtly pressure her to accepting ownership of the toy store. I was more impressed with Trevor Donovan as the Hot Guy. He is widowed as all of these hot single dads are. Unlike most of them, he is quiet and not expressive. You get that he is perpetually wounded due to the loss of his wife.
Of course, they get together. The ending of this film is one of the most hackneyed and rushed I've seen Hallmark do in a while. The first kiss and Brook's acceptance of the toy store happen in the final minutes. It's as if the screenwriter realized the movie had to end and forgot to write an ending. It ruins what was otherwise just an average film at best. At least the child actress is tolerable.