Sustad plays Paula, a woman who recently and reluctantly gets engaged. Her Aunt Jane, played by Gifford, invites her to her Nantucket home. While visiting nearby Martha's Vineyard, Paula meets Gery, an inn owner portrayed by Campbell, and she develops feelings for him as they spend time together doing Christmas festivities. Even though Paula still moves forward with her engagement, it takes a reminder from Aunt Jane that we sometimes receive Godwinks to help us know what direction to take. The realization changes Paula's course.
A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love
My favorite Godwink story is the one released in 2019,
A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love, the tale of Jack and Alice meeting at a wedding 500 miles out of town. There are multiple Godwinks that bring and keep these two together.
We find out later that Jack's Middle Eastern uncle had been on the same boat as Alice's Italian uncle and father, all bound for America. They lost track of each other for 50 years, but then rekindle their friendship when Jack and Alice get together.
Alice learns she has multiple sclerosis and doesn't want Jack losing another loved one--he's already lost his younger brother to brain cancer and his parents in an automobile accident. Jack persists. He loves Alice, and he doesn't let her disease stand in the way. He also inspires her to pursue her dream of leaving the family retail store to become a therapist.
Cindy Busby and Benjamin Hollingsworth bring this true story to life onscreen, along with Kathie Lee Gifford again, playing Alice's mom (who constantly busts into her apartment to snoop!).
Cindy Busby and Benjamin Hollingsworth portray Alice Marina and Jack Totah in A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love in 2019 Image: Crown Media
With so many unlikely events and happenstances woven throughout this story, you would be hard-pressed to convince anyone they are mere "coincidences." God is clearly at work in our lives today.
Of the three Godwink movies, this one definitely wins first prize for being the biggest tear-jerker! If you love it too, check out
this post on the movie--you'll find a fun movie trivia
quiz.
A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love
The third Godwink installment was released in 2020, A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love, starring Brooke D'Orsay and Sam Page.
Kathie Lee Gifford's presence was noticeably absent. Gifford served as the movie's executive producer, but due to pandemic restrictions, she was unable to assume a role in the movie.
The major Godwink transpiring in this movie involves a divorced man who moves home from Hawaii with his two sons. He ends up in traffic next to his high school sweetheart, and the two keep bumping into each other everywhere they go. When Pat (Page) is offered a job in another city, Margie's (D'Orsay) company promotes her, and her new position requires her to move to the same city as Pat--Seattle.
Brooke D'Orsay and Sam Page bring to life the true story of Pat and Margie in 2020's A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love
After the inspiring and resounding successes of the first two Godwink movies, this one is a disappointment. Most Hallmark movies are heavy-laden with contrived coincidences anyway, so this movie follows the usual formula. Two people keep crossing paths and end up in the same city in the end. It happens in nearly every non-Godwink movie, so the divine intervention in this one isn't pronounced. The circumstances surrounding Pat and Margie's reunion aren't unique or unusual. Hallmark repeatedly brings past loves together for second chances. The "Godwink" in this movie is diluted by the typical Hallmark brand, which detracts from the depth of the story we come to expect in Godwink movies.
Despite
A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love being another feel-good Hallmark movie, it doesn't tug on the heart strings or tear ducts with inspirational Godwinks--it's just too generic. If you'd like to read the real-life story the movie is based upon, you can find it
here.
A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love
Hallmark brought us a delightful fourth Godwink movie in 2021--A Godwink Christmas Miracle of Love. The title couldn't be more fitting for the story; without the love of Joy Fickett, Eric Fellman may have never survived an unexpected accident.
Eric is a struggling writer who feels called to be a pastor, yet the door remains closed to the prospect. Joy has just finished schooling to be a nurse practitioner, and though her boyfriend pushes to advance their relationship, she's not sure it's the right direction for her life.
Katherine Barrell and Alberto Frezza have wonderful chemistry in 2021's A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love
Despite living in different states, both Eric and Joy stumble upon an event hosted in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, called "Community Cares." It's a 2-week program where they can be mentored in their individual skill sets while also helping a family in the community who needs it. When Joy and Eric meet, they have an instant connection.
Joy rushes to Eric's side in the hospital, but when his parents arrive, not knowing she's the love of Eric's life, they dismiss her. Once Joy leaves the room, Eric's vitals plummet. When Joy returns, Eric's vitals stabilize. The power of love!
Although there are several Godwinks throughout the story, the best one involves Dr. Louie Graber, the man who mentors Joy as she volunteers in his clinic. Dr. Graber's wife, Katie, is a woman of prayer, but her husband is too science-oriented to believe in Godwinks. Dr. Graber is away at a conference when he learns of the pending snowstorm. He considers leaving early to get ahead of the storm, but feels like he's supposed to stay for one more seminar. In that seminar, he learns a new procedure for treating a traumatic liver rupture--the EXACT medical emergency Eric faces! Had Dr. Graber not attended the session, Eric would have likely died.
Not only is this movie filled with inspiration, faith, and hope, but Joy and Eric have an undeniable chemistry that is palpable.
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Vote for Your Favorite "Godwink" Movie
Hallmark fans find it challenging to vote for their favorite movie because they love them all! You probably enjoyed all the Godwink movies too, but in the poll below, vote for the one you love the most.
***Have you ever experienced a Godwink? If so, feel free to share your experience in the comment section!***
SQuire Rushnell & Louise DuArt Image: Gail Daman
I don't see the story of the young student nurse who was facing death unless she received a liver transplant. A young man she didn't know was a perfect match and later became her husband.
ReplyDeleteThat was my favorite, but I liked them all very much.