User Reviews

Sean Faris and Eloise Mumford should do a Christmas movie together every year. Both have a natural exuberance and charisma that meshes their personalities beautifully. The story is just so so and kind of hokey, but it's just a framework for the amazing performances of two talented actors.

An appealing, pretty ex-Marine is stranded in a small town after her car breaks down. A young town judge offers her a place to stay at his home until the car is ready. He is such a nice person, loved by his family, his dog and everyone in the town. How could she not fall for him?

Yes, it is predictable and corny, but it was a nice watch and makes you wish you actually lived in a small town in America that is populated seemingly by lovely people who celebrate the festive season in such a charming way.

Never heard of any of the actors but this is basically a feel-good festive film and worth a watch! He looks a little like a young, taller Tom Cruise.

I really liked this movie and have watched it many times. Yes it is corny but acting much better than most. I wish they showed more of the dogs. The part that I found too unrealistic even for a Hallmark movie,was the ex-girlfriend who professes her love to Joe, that she never stopped thinking about him, bending over backwards to help bring Grace's dog to the States including the two women exchanging a big hug. And in the real world the person answering the door would not look like Sean Faris, be single, have an awesome job and own the perfect beautifully decorated country home and offer Earl Grey tea! Lol

Grace was just honorably discharged from the Marines, comes back stateside, but nobody is waiting for her. To make things worse, she had to leave her beloved dog "Christmas" behind. She crashes her car into a fence and meets "Justice", a dog that instantly takes to her. Grace ends up at Judge Joe's house, the dog's owner, who invited her to stay at his guest house. The rest is your typical Christmas Hallmark movie. The movie is corny and some of the lines are definitively overdone, but overall it's quite enjoyable aside from the military goofs. What I didn't like was the end. Grace gets Christmas back, but for someone who loves and missed her dog so much she barely pays any attention to Christmas. It makes the whole story unbelievable and kind of ruined the movie for me.

I've wanted to see Eloise Mumford and Sean Faris together again ever since I saw them in Christmas With Holly in 2012. I'd hoped for a sequel as it's one of my favorite Christmas movies with a great cast and story. I was very happy to finally see these two actors on Hallmark again, however was dissapointed overall.. This movie had potential to be really great, not just good.

Hallmark has a formula it rarely changes and all of the expected pieces of that formula were in this movie. The almost kiss, the ex returning, the misunderstanding that causes one person to leave in the last ten minutes of the show, and then the quick make up and end on a kiss. The Christmas movies often have lead characters ice skating and it looks obvious when the actors aren't actually skating. This time the skating looked real. Yet, the entire scene became plain ridiculous and was ruined by the ex girlfriend doing the championship spin. I felt I was watching a movie for a young teenager. Plus she did not look like an ex of a judge and pillar of the community. I was dissapointed Faris's character was made to be so nerdy. It also went overboard on all the child advice. I don't think it came anywhere close to reality having a young girl confiding her fears multiple times to a stranger. I'd have liked more depth from this movie.

Hallmark needs more military themed movies. I'd have enjoyed this if it was more focused on the military aspect. I kept thinking a search and rescue operation might happen to convince Mumford to stay. The two characters had good chemistry, which is another problem with many of Hallmark movies, they recycle the same actors over and over all year. Many have zero chemistry. These two are not typical Hallmark actors and their talents were under used in this movie. I gave it higher marks based on the actors not the script. Loved the dogs! And showing the connection between a dog and it's handler. Also the difficulty transitioning back to military life.

I think it's time to add more actors and change up the formula. The movies feel like I'm seeing the same thing and people over and over. The fake snow and sets have been worse. If it's cold or snowing, I don't believe it. When it's freezing outside, cold air (fog) should show when a person is breathing. Most the time, no one acts cold when it's suppose to be. This year has had the worse sets I've seen. I could ignore that, if the storyline kept my attention. This movie wasn't bad, but it could've been so much better!