Unique Story Line
Hallmark Christmas movies often center on a woman leaving the city to visit her hometown during the Christmas season.
This movie shakes things up with a unique story twist. The small town of Deerfield hosts an annual scavenger hunt to raise money for a charitable event. Each team receives clues, which they decipher, complete, and then photo to prove it's been accomplished.
The viewer vicariously participates in the scavenger hunt, which is so much fun. Did you figure out the answers to all the rhymed clues?
Don't Jump to Conclusions
Why did Belinda and Dustin break up initially? Dustin planned to follow her to the same college, but when his dad was unexpectedly unemployed, he got a job to help his family and skipped college. He didn't want to hold Belinda back, so he let her go without explanation.
She was devastated and never got over him.
Seriously, if you were dating someone and were super close and in love with them, wouldn't you share important life details, like how your dad's job loss was foiling your college plans?
Miscommunication, or lack thereof, is often the source of conflict in a good romance story!
The Reason for the Season
The scavenger hunt itself captures the seasonal spirit of giving. Whether it's visiting a lonely, old man and giving him a Christmas tree, raising money to keep a town's historical treasure operating, or bringing a child's military parent home from overseas for Christmas, we are reminded of the power of generosity.
Image: Crown Media
World's Most Amicable Break-Up
Belinda's boyfriend, Logan, goes to the trouble of flying to her dad's place for Christmas, only for her to tell him it's over. Who wouldn't be emotionally distraught or at least miffed for wasting money on airfare?
Not Logan! He smiles good-naturedly as if she just gave him an early Christmas gift. They happily and sincerely wish each other a Merry Christmas, and he packs up to leave with a spring in his step.
No begging, pleading, or cajoling. No anger or animosity. No resentment over wasting the past year of his life. Just, "Merry Christmas! Bye!"
What's up with Logan? Is he secretly the Grinch prior to the heart swelling? If I were Dustin, I would take note of the lack of regret.
The Red Lipstick
Thus far, Kim Shaw earns the award for "My Least Favorite Hallmark Actress," dethroning Alicia Witt.
Shaw's striking blue eyes don't compensate for her goofy grinning throughout the movie, her sub-par acting, or her plain Jane appearance. Guess what? Girls from rural America DO wear eye make-up!
Did anyone else notice that Belinda wears the same demure lipstick color throughout the whole movie, but in the scene awkwardly tacked on at the end, she is wearing bright red lipstick which she plasters all over Dustin's mouth? Ugh!
What are the odds Logan and Dustin would actually buy Belinda the SAME CHRISTMAS PRESENT? Logan presents it like a schmuck so we won't miss him when he is axed, but Dustin gives it with his whole heart to endear him to us. It totally works! We are suckers for sentimentality!
The Selfies
I absolutely love how the clue texts pop up on the screen so we can read along and try to solve the riddle. What cracks me up, however, is how the selfie our central couple takes never matches the actual photo shown to the audience.
In conclusion, the unique plot to this movie is a fun switch from the standard formula, but I hope we never see Kim Shaw again.
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