Memories of Christmas

It is a film about past and its force, eccentricity of a mother,neighbours , friends and small town, home and happiness.And about Christmas, off course. Seductive more for the mix of ingredients and not for story itself. The performances - just decent. But not more.

I really enjoyed this movie. I thought it was a good story with good actors cast in the right roles. I loved the homey togetherness of the townsfolk. I wish I could live in a town like that with happy and helpful neighbors, baking cookies, decorating, gathering together. I loved the chemistry between the leads. How cute are they together? Super!! Also liked the positive messages about family, Christmas, good will etc. This movie was truly a joy to watch. Although it is a few years old, it will be one of my favorites for awhile. I hope Hallmark makes more movies like this one. I also hope they cast these lead actors in other movies.

The likable cast can't overcome a lackluster script. These people are so boring. Christina Milian is cute, and could probably be a fine actress, but she is given absolutely nothing to work with here.

Despite the story for 'Memories of Christmas' not sounding like anything special and having heard and seen mixed reactions (positive, negative and in between), it was still seen anyway. Being somebody who loves Christmas and can't get enough of seeing Christmas films, specials, cartoons etc every year. Not just the seen-over-and-over classics adored since early childhood, but also the new discoveries and it's the latter that lately has fascinated me more. Am in the in between category in my opinion of 'Memories of Christmas'. It is not one of the best of the many recently seen Christmas films as part of a quest (most released between 2016-2019). It is also not one of the worst, having suffered through the likes of 'A Christmas Village'. It is somewhere in between and left me conflicted, some good things but for me there were a good deal of short-comings. And this is coming from somebody who did try to judge it for its intentions and what it was meant to be, having seen plenty of films of this to know what to expect, and found that it didn't do a good job on this front. 'Memories of Christmas' looks nice enough, the scenery is quite striking and captures the seasonal atmosphere very well. The soundtrack could have been used with more subtlety but was suitably upbeat and nostalgic in all the right places. There are moments that amused and also some heart-warming parts. Christina Milian, Mark Taylor and Jaime M. Callica give better than average performances considering the material and do show signs of an amiable chemistry together. There were times though when they did seem a bit stiff together, while the supporting cast try too hard throughout. The poorly defined character writing, with even the three leads being underdeveloped cliches, and the often cheesy and strained dialogue fight them every step of the way. Likewise with a story where light-hearted charm doesn't come consistently and where the Christmas cheer and spirit isn't particularly strong. That every single story element had been done to death in so many films and better in most part is only part of the problem, more problematic were the drawn out pace and that some of it feels very scattershot and confused. On the whole, a long way from a must avoid but didn't care for it personally. 5/10

Really enjoyed the fact the main character is an accomplished young black woman in a profession usually dominated by 'Suits' . Plot didn't seem as formulaic and trite as too many of often too-predictable somewhat bland plots of old. The actors are believable and casting was very well done; i.e., with multi-generational diversity and the fact the town was to honor the main character's mother, a black woman who started a tradition in the town decades before for good cause. This will be the 4th time I watch this while decorating or baking, if it airs this year at a prime time.

More Hallmark diversity! Christina Miliane as a developer whose mother has passed away & comes to town to pack up & sell the family house & belongings.