This movie is uplifting. So why is Jennie Garth so restrained? I would expect Jamie to be bursting with holiday cheer, positively bubbly. I think her restraint lessened the chemistry with Cameron Mathison. Mathison was fine.
The story was pretty much by formula for most of it. It picks up a bit of the pay-it-forward theme as it goes on and others join in. I will say the climax has a nice little twist. Then comes the conflict that you know is inevitable. I love the way the memory flashbacks resolve it.
Another reviewer commented the irony that Jennie Garth previously played a reporter in Holidaze sent to unmask a Secret Santa. That's not exactly how the synopsis reads on that movie, but notice that she costarred with Mathison in that movie. And Mathison was in Christmas Club which had a similar uplifting pay it forward theme even though it wasn't quite Secret Santa.
The story was pretty much by formula for most of it. It picks up a bit of the pay-it-forward theme as it goes on and others join in. I will say the climax has a nice little twist. Then comes the conflict that you know is inevitable. I love the way the memory flashbacks resolve it.
Another reviewer commented the irony that Jennie Garth previously played a reporter in Holidaze sent to unmask a Secret Santa. That's not exactly how the synopsis reads on that movie, but notice that she costarred with Mathison in that movie. And Mathison was in Christmas Club which had a similar uplifting pay it forward theme even though it wasn't quite Secret Santa.