Swept Up by Christmas

7.9 stars This is my 110th review this season of purely Hallmark Christmas. I am not burnt out yet, whew. The lot of these films are primarily entertaining and sweet. There've been only a half dozen that I really detested, and 3 or 4 that I could not finish - all in all a satisfying journey. 'Swept Up by Christmas' is another that does not disappoint. I felt the magic almost immediately, the two leads are adorable. I believe this is my first time experiencing Lindy Booth in one, although I've seen her in the past. But this is the first time after 109 Hallmark films this year. That says a lot. I suppose she's in a limited number for Hallmark. After doing a little more digging, I'm surprised there is such a variety, seems at least a hundred or more leading ladies. Justin Bruening, love to love him, love to hate him. And that's what makes him one of the better ones. I hated him at first, but quickly he reverses that sentiment to his favor. This story is rich and sentimental, with the rare ornament, the auction, the whole atmosphere was quite an adventure in a limited setting. The depth of pain that our leads have experienced in the past and how they are perfect for each other now, brings much joy to the story. This film surprised me with layer upon layer of new and intriguing ideas, and romantic gestures being made by each character in very subtle ways. I can't emphasize enough how this movie continued to pile on surprise after new surprise until the end. Must see.

This is a holiday romance between Gwen, a high end auction organizer who is hoping to leverage her next job into buying the business so she can be in control of her future, and Reed who is the former Air Force military small business owner (Dirt Force One) who helps her clean and decorate the large estate she is auctioning off. Reed is looking to expand his business and potentially moved to California. "How lucky we're they to find something so rare?"-Gwen's best friend Vanessa Initially Gwen and Reed clash over rigid time schedules, etc but they soon work into a cooperative friendship in which they both share their past and hopes and dreams. Reed has lost both his parents and claims to be sentimental, Gwen is attached to family and friends but says she has no sentimentality which is how she can auction things off. "Wherever you go the light that Carol loved so much should surround you."-Gwen There is another romance involving a disabled vet who seems to be getting along well with Vanessa. The main actors are great and seem to have chemistry, but this was just a middle of the road romance for me.

I'm not the biggest fan of Justin Bruening, so it took a while to warm to him in this, but I have always appreciated Lindy Booth, who gives her usual well rounded performance here. The storyline is fairly simple and actually it might be time to shake things up a little bit on that front. These Hallmark 'Made For TV' films are all becoming so obvious that it does take some of the pleasure out of it. That said, I do like the fact that they are so jolly and even the sickliest, sweetest ones can put a smile on my face and the odd happy tear to my eye too. Alas this one wasn't soooo amazing, but it did the job and the Auction House schtick hasn't been done before that I recall. I did like the secondary story with Mike and Vanessa too, as well as the fact that although they were essentially a forces originated company, they didn't harp on about the absent soldiers as they do in other films. And by that I mean the ones that put it in purely for affect. Not a bad effort, but nothing special to distinguish it from others really. Those like 'Holiday For Heroes' (2019) and 'Operation Christmas' (2016) do it far better and they have the gorgeous Marc Blucas in them too. 5ish/10?

I love Hallmark Christmas movies, but I find they fall into several categories. Some have relatively large casts with plenty of extras to provide atmosphere, while others are sparsely populated, with sparingly used music and extras. Usually, it has to do with the popularity of the main stars. While Lindy Booth has certainly been in her share of Hallmark films, this one sure was lacking in supporting cast members. A lot of time it was simply the two leads working by themselves in the house. Even at the party scene, the extras were all blurred, as there probably were very few. Unfortunately, this seemed to be a movie made on an extremely limited budget, even for Hallmark, and it didn't give off much warmth or holiday feel. I will skip future showings of this film.

I see that other user reviews were pretty good. I liked the idea of Dirt Force One, and I was looking forward to seeing the plot develop with the reclusive owner, but I got stopped after watching it for a while for the reason that reviewer Jackbv123 mentioned: "But in the beginning I was turned off by Gwen. She was incredibly bitter about Dirt Force One and Reed. She seemed to be looking for things to disagree about." That early plot development was not engaging and made no real sense, so I never got past that to get to the good parts of the movie. I gave it a 6 rating out of deference to the other user reviewers.

Interesting set up with a hoity toity auction house representative up against a cleaning service hired to clean the house while she is trying to decorate. Lindy Booth is excellent as usual with her ethereal beauty up against a manly man ex-military owner of a cleaning service. Dirt-force one. Cute name. Lots of fascinating scenes involving appraising antiques and deciding what to auction and what to keep for the family, good back stories involving Lindy's desiring to buy out the owner of the independent auction house against a conglomerate, the owner's estranged relationship with his famous singer daughter, manly man's back-story and wish to expand his business, etc. And in addition, if that were not enough, a very nice secondary romance with Lindy's best friend and caterer with Manly Man's disabled in a wheelchair veteran-partner. Full marks.

Lindy Booth is one of my absolute favorite actors. But in the beginning I was turned off by Gwen. She was incredibly bitter about Dirt Force One and Reed. She seemed to be looking for things to disagree about. Then suddenly (as is common in these movies), the bitterness turns to banter, mostly good natured. There's no transition to cooperation - suddenly it's there. There are many of the common, even overused, elements for a holiday movie. Although it's not technically a promotion, Gwen's banking on success in the coming endeavor to allow her to buy the business over the competition. She has to decorate for the big event and ends up getting help from Reed because time is short. Tree shopping together. A festival. She has a disastrous relationship in her past. Reed is considering a move far away. There's a predictable sentimental moment in the works. All these elements are put together in an interesting way that has a fresh feel to it. It's all done well. And a nice ending. There's a second romance in the story and it includes a man in a wheelchair. Booth and Justin Bruening develop a comfortable chemistry. The acting is good all around. Background music is just right and not overpowering like some movies.

Swept Up By Christmas presents a romantic Christmas story told intelligently, with mature characters, each with his or her own issues to resolve. While the story line is familiar to Hallmark viewers, and the resolution of the issues involved is predictable, there are features of this film that serve recognition. For one, the leading characters are mature, successful adults, each in his and her professional careers. While they seem to have a history that renders them abrasive to one another at the start, a mutual work project offers them a second opportunity to slowly resolve those issues. Additionally, there are serious and interesting people around them. The project that brings them together involves the closing of an estate and bringing its contents to auction. This process is beautifully presented. The furnishings and genuine dignity of the manor is breathtaking. There are tangential relationships to be explored and developed, including one of a disabled war veteran who clearly falls in love with a very appealing young woman. Another involves an aging father who needs to resolve his relationship with his estranged daughter. Of course, this being a Hallmark movie, all these problems come to a happy and gratifying end. The leading couple also find their true feelings and move on to a future together. However positive all these aspects of the movie are, one issue was so distracting and noticeable that it kept this viewer from staying focussed on the film. The beautiful and very talented Lindy Booth appears to have lost so much weight,she seems to be either ill or anorexic. She has been in many Hallmark movies, looking healthy and vital, and appropriate. But in this film, she looks frighteningly thin. One hopes she is well. and one hopes, further, that she is not attempting to stay this thin in order to appear younger. Her physical appearance in this movie was startling and worrisome. This is an intelligent, mature Christmas film and deserves watching.