Our Christmas Love Song (2019 TV Movie) User Reviews

So many things wrong

[Jackbv123 · 7/10 · 25 November 2019]

Explain to me why she needs the sheet music since she has at least two people outside her family that can testify to hearing the song (and sounds like one helped perform it) long before Connie came out with her song. This is a detail I just can't enjoy the rest of the movie as a result especially since there is so much screen time devoted to it. But without the focus on the sheet music, we couldn't have had the surprise of the ultimate resolution, which I guessed early in the movie when the clue was given the first time. They did come up with a couple of nice twists at the end (even if some of it was very predictable).

Even without that problem, the story seemed forced but as noted, it smoothed out toward the end.

I am a huge Alicia Witt fan. But I can't say I thought she acted well in this movie. I didn't see the chemistry between Chase and Melody. There wasn't enough screen time between the two of them to show it (because too much was spent moaning about the plagiarism accusation).

But I loved the fact that she and others got to perform songs including original music. She posted that she isn't a guitar player (as she said, "not yet"). But she is a very talented singer, songwriter, and piano player.

I would like to see more Christmas movies like this where musically talented actors sing more than one song.

Barely misses the mark

[VetteRanger · 7/10 · 4 December 2019]

For us, Alicia Witt's quirky style adds to every movie she appears in, and that alone gave us reason to watch this film. It's probably our second favorite (in a dismal 2019 field) of the current year's Hallmark Christmas films.

Luckily, Alicia was included to carry the film, because much of the plot makes no sense at all. Alicia, a country singing star, must return home to find proof that will defend her against a plagiarism claim. The movie focuses on finding the original music or notes written for her song.

However, while she returned home for this purpose, she doesn't work at it very diligently. Random scenes are interspersed, and they only return to the search from time to time to remind us that was supposed to be important. During the random scenes and search scenes, innumerable people remember her singing the song in public 10 years before the song she's accused of plagiarising, but no thought of getting these memories down as testimony on affidavits is ever considered. LOL

More cliches follow, regardless, we found this to be a watchable film, but probably now the bottom of the list of Alicia Witt's Christmas offerings, and I don't really plan on repeat viewings.

She does do some singing, and we discovered that she has "singer/songwriter" in her history. So the singing was real, and she did a nice job.

Alicia Witt redeems herself

[montgomerysue · 7/10 · 2 December 2019]

After last year's unintentionally hilarious "Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane," in which Alicia Witt overacted during the first hour with bizarre facial and body movements (and a hairstyle that seemed to move on its own), Witt got a new hairstyle, new make-up, and cleaned up her act, giving a really nice and heartfelt performance. The old Alicia Witt is back and she is quite good. She plays a successful singer who is threatened with a lawsuit by her older mentor who is claiming that the singer stole a song. It's an interesting concept for a Hallmark Christmas movie and there are a couple of good subplots as the singer returns home for Christmas in order to find her original composition of the song. The script is uneven - some scenes are written quite well, while others are sophomoric, repetitive, or just plain filler. The cast, however, rises above the material and gives natural and effective performances, particularly Witt, Brendan Hines, and Lori Hallier as the singer's mother. On the whole, a nice story that is worth at least one viewing. Welcome back, Alicia Witt.

nice

[Kirpianuscus · 18 December 2020]

The first virtue is represented by the lead couple. The second one - the admirable job of supporting actors. Not the last - the atmosphere. Result - just a beautiful film about roots, romance and a song.

Love the Music

[parksidedrive · 6/10 · 26 November 2019]

Outstanding music and a terrific cast. The banter between Witt & Hines was exactly like a couple with a long standing relationship would talk. They were fun to watch

The music rates a big 10. The secondary cast rates a 10 as a very talented group. The story rates a 10. It was a balance of fun and life's challenges.

My take away stars are due to Alicia Witt's presentation. She is a very accomplished actress, you enjoy watching most of her movies. However, the question must be raised about casting a 44 year old to act like a 24 year old. The story explains an older person, the dialogue doesn't deliver it.

I am very hesitant to say-Ms. Witt takes off 10 pounds, but it doesn't translate to taking away 10 years. Her wardrobe showed a draping neck and didn't define the character she was portraying with her clothing. The hair was lackluster. Hallmark help your cast.

Hallmark should embrace this talented actor with stories that have depth for a woman of her range.

Disappointed in Hallmark not the movie.

Our Christmas Love Song

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 6/10 · 1 December 2019]

6/10 - one of the better Alicia Witt Christmas movies, but still filled with a few too many of the classic tropes

Pleasant love song

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 10 November 2020]

Alicia Witt's Christmas Hallmark efforts are variable, as are her performances in them. While the likes of 'A Very Merry Mix Up' and 'Christmas List' were worthwhile watches despite flaws, she was in mediocre misfires such as 'The Mistletoe Inn' and 'Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane' as well. Actually do not think she's too bad an actress despite not being a big fan, but whether she is good in her films is dependent on the role and that's the aspect where the Hallmark films she stars in vary.

Personally think she comes over quite well here and her character is one of her more endearing ones. As far as her Hallmark festive films go, 'Our Christmas Love Song' leans towards the better end in ranking if more high middle. 2019 was not the best of years for Hallmark or their Christmas films, but 'Our Christmas Love Song', despite being heavily flawed, is to me among their above average ones with a good deal to like about it. Not a great film but certainly didn't leave me tearing my hair out.

These good things include Witt, who has not been this charming in a long while. She is expressive and her character is neither too perfect or her flaws too exaggerated. The supporting performances are above average and spirited, even if the characters are fairly sketchy in development and just Hallmark cliches. 'Our Christmas Love Song' looks good, the photography complementing the pleasant scenery very well. The music is some of the best of any Hallmark film in a while, it's catchy and lovely to listen to and if that was Witt performing she has some vocal chops.

Dialogue is not great to begin with, but it does get better throughout the course of the film and there is less cheese and it becomes more natural. The story generally is heart-warming, light-hearted and has a charm.

Even though it also is very predictable, a slow starter and at times silly with an easily telegraphed and too tidy resolution. Brendon Hines doesn't have the same amount of warmth and likeability that Witt has, takes his role too seriously and didn't always seem at ease.

His chemistry with her didn't really gel either, the romance felt both underdeveloped and underused with not an awful lot of growth and was then hurriedly written and together the two seemed under-rehearsed. The dialogue early on really isn't good and is quite stilted.

In summary, not great but above average. 6/10

I really wanted to like this one

[nancylmarine · 5/10 · 14 January 2020]

I try to watch as many Hallmark movies as I can, so this one made it to the DVR.

I want to like Alicia Witt. I really, really do. But she seems to only play, lately, the sugary sweet, sappy, too nice for her own good kind of person. She usually does this voice that sounds like she wants to be looked upon as the weak and childish woman who needs help tying her shoes. All that's missing is a pout. I'd love to see her as a character with a stronger, more assertive voice.

Also, the writing for this seems more than a little formulaic. I rolled my eyes when, in the beginning, she reminded her mentor she came to Nashville as a young girl with her "guitar and a dream."

Really? Could we toss a few more clichés in there?

As others have mentioned:

If there are SO many people who remember her performing her song while still in high school, ten years before the other song came out, why aren't they slapping some signatures down on some affidavits?

AND - for someone who so desperately needs this sheet music, she's sure not putting a lot of effort into finding it. Her quest is interspersed in the story almost as an afterthought. "Oh, yeah, so long as I'm here..."

I reached a point in the movie where I think a clue was given as to what happened to it, but haven't gotten to the end, yet, so...

This is a great premise for a movie, lost sheet music, but it could have been more solidly put together. There could have been some funny moments created in this, involving her hunt for the sheet music.

Also, I'm not loving her hair in this movie. I know that's a petty thing to mention, but I'm starting to see more flaws in the movies, which detract from my enjoyment of them. In addition, I started seeing smile lines around her eyes, which is fine. Grow old gracefully, I always say, and never deny your age. It's an earned right. But, she's still playing people in their 20's and 30's and it's getting harder and harder to accept. How about Hallmark letting her be her age? Let's let her be a mom of older children, for a change, instead of the ingenue?

Thank goodness she stopped being the psycho child from Dune!

[GavWaskett · 8/10 · 12 September 2020]

Alicia Witt shows her singing talent in one of this year's premiere's. I've always known her as an actor, since her days as a freaky little girl in Dune with a scary voice and puncturing finger and Cybill Shepherd's daughter in the imaginatively named Cybill, but since then she's proved her singing credentials in Nashville as well as her own albums and tours. Hallmark gives her the chance to sing and act and make a Merry Christmas.

Miss Witt plays Melody Jones, a country star(luckily she was in Nashville then wasn't it!) who is accused of plagiarising a song by her aging former partner who is no longer as successful as her, now alarms bells should be ringing straight away, so she has to return home to find the evidence that her Dad wrote the song with her. At home is her Mum, sister and niece(whose Dad is in the army and not returning home for Christmas - I have three out of three for army Dad's in Hallmark films this week, surely I get a collectors sticker for that!), her old music teacher, her old love interest, a town needing a Christmas song/production put on and the most amount of Christmas trees outside of a house and wreaths inside of a house that I have ever seen and as you know I have seen a fair few of these films).

Anyway, Miss Witt, sings amazingly well, treats her rival with honour and respect and generally makes you want her to sing Christmas songs to a family whilst snow falls outside and Mulled Wine flows freely forever! She finds the evidence, she finds true love, her niece even sings and so does her sister. The army Dad says hi via video link. Her career grows, Christmas is made right and everyone lives happily ever after but covered in a huge amount of Christmas trees - I mean, seriously what are they going to do with them all in January, it'll take ages just to take all the decorations and lights off. She's not going to have time to tour!

So, I've got Michael from Roswell, Riley from Buffy, Zoey from Cybill, a huge daytime TV star, a star from Fuller House. Hallmark continues to develop he careers of ex-teenage stars into a happily adult world.

Lack of Chemistry

[lnbalich-42968 · 7/10 · 26 November 2019]

We love Alicia Witt. She's always been at the top of our list of Hallmark actresses. The problem with this movie was the mismatch with Brendan Hines' dry acting who showed little warmth in meeting up with someone he really loved.

My least favourite Hallmark so far

[athunderstorm · 2/10 · 21 December 2021]

This Christmas I've been binging Hallmark Christmas movies. I've found a lot of them to be sweet and funny and at least somewhat relatable. This one was my least favourite so far.

Alicia Witt plays this childish, cute woman with a sort of stiff face, unless she laughs out loud for unfathomable reasons. A lot of what's said you can predict a few seconds before, leaving you bored and unengaged, as it feels like "you've heard it, before you've heard it".

Nothing sweet, funny or relatable with this one. The whole film made me restless.

If you love music and romance and Xmas, you will love this one!

[inkblot11 · 8/10 · 29 November 2019]

Melody (Alicia Witt) left her small Indiana city quite awhile ago to pursue her country music singing career. A rising star, she has just sung an original Christmas song, The Heart of Christmas, on the stage of Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. But, oh no, a former star of the Opry named Connie calls at once, to accuse Melody of stealing the tune from her hit The Heart of Tennessee. Knowing she wrote the song long ago with her Dad as a teenager, Melody goes back to Madison Indiana to look through the attic for her old sheet music compositions. Everyone welcomes her! But, at her mother's house, she can not locate the sheets. Nevertheless, Melody begins spending time with her sister, her aspiring singer-niece, and, most importantly, a former flame, Chase (Brendan Hines). This handsome beau, also a singer and guitar instructor, had to take over the family business when his father passed away and provide for a younger sister. As the town folk urge Melody to attend the Christmas Tree lighting with Chase, will rekindling a romance be a bad idea? And, with Connie continuing to telephone and pester, will Melody find her original music or have to share the wealth of the already hit song? This lovely Hallmark film has all of its usual wonderful ingredients that make the network's films so special. It has a lovely duo in Witt and Hines, a beautiful setting, a heartfelt script and a zesty direction. In addition, this one has one more element: melodious music and original songs. Romcom and Christmas fans will be humming happily after any viewing!

It's about a song

[MickyG333 · 7/10 · 16 January 2024]

6.8 stars.

A woman wrote a song, or did she? Now she's possibly being sued for the rights to the song, because someone else claims that they wrote the song. So this woman who wrote the song with her father goes back home to find the original music written so many years ago. Guess where her father is? Of course, he's been dead for years. That's the only way this plot works. He's a dead but revered man who is a wonderful memory of all those involved, but he's not here to help her find the original muslc. She has a lot of difficulty finding it. Where could it be?

A young man still lives in that town, they were once in love, she left him behind, or did she? Maybe he let her go, because he didn't want to interfere with her career in Nashville as a rising country music star...

Sound familiar? If I had a nickel.

So this movie is okay only because the acting is decent and the people are nice and the setting is good and even the actors are likable, even the little girl. Sometimes the kid actors can be hit and miss, but she does fine.

It's much ado about a song. The song "inspires" so many people. But if you listen to the song, of course, it's just average. Nothing special. It's difficult to make a movie about a "magical" song, because rarely do movie songs catch your attention.

The story has been done too many times, but what can you expect from Hallmark and other family Christmas programs? They crank out like 100 movies a year, they ran out of original ideas a couple of decades ago.

A little bit country!

[adamjohns-42575 · 5/10 · 1 December 2020]

While Brendan Hines does have a bit of a Griff Rhys-Jones look about him and he wouldn't normally be my type, there is something about him, that is very handsome and charming. I'm also a big Alicia Witt fan, although she can sometimes get a bit annoying and she is in a lot of these films. They both play their parts well as does the supporting cast with the exception of the precocious brat niece, who is just vile!

The story is cute, they keep finding new ways to send people home for Christmas in order to rekindle a love or find a new one.

There's not much more to say about this one specifically, but if you like these style of films, it's not likely to offend you.

The Song

[steeled993 · 26 November 2019]

What is the name of the song sung at the end? "Merry Christmas, I Miss You" doesn't come up in my searches.

Too many old chestnuts...

[IdaSlapter · 3/10 · 31 October 2022]

OMG.

Almost every other line in this movie was an old chestnut like, "Well, as Grandma used to say, it's not the gift that matters, it's the thought that counts." Maybe not every other line, but at least once every five minutes. And that gets tired pretty quickly.

Also, it helps greatly if a movie starts out on the right foot. ANY movie. This one doesn't.

First of all Alica Witt's character plays a famous country star. Her character is seen walking into the Grand Ol' Opry in the middle of the day, completely undisturbed by any fans. In fact, the place is a ghost town. That's not realistic on any level.

Secondly, the big song she introduces during her appearance there is one step above 'Chopsticks', a song with basically two chords, and worse, no feelings. There's no way that song would get anywhere in the competitive music business. Compare this to the opening number in 'Nashville Christmas', and you'll see what I mean. Night and day.

There's another scene where Witt approaches Hine's bar at night. She goes in, and all of a sudden it's DAYTIME. Bright light shines in from every window. O-kay.

On a positive note, the performances overall were good, especially those of the leads, especially Brendan Hines, who plays it all appropriately tongue and cheek. It would just be nice if Hallmark would reel in the stale cliches and do something a little less hokey.

Love Alicia wit!

[dlh-48964 · 10/10 · 13 December 2019]

Hallmark plz make more movies with Alicia wit! I just love her, she's one of the best hallmark actors. This movie was great very cute script

Horrible

[ringosshed · 4/10 · 7 December 2019]

I adore Alicia Witt but her last three Hallmark movies have been Turkey's. She has zero chemistry with the leading man and the story is beyond preposterous even by Hallmark standards. Nancy ( I'll put it in my prayer book ) Grace wrote this horrible slice of Christmas hokum which explains a lot.

Oh for the days of A Very Merry Mix Up!

Cute, romantic and heartfelt

[watlingtonamy · 8/10 · 25 November 2019]

What a nice Christmas movie! This is my second Christmas review and I don't think it'll be my last. I have never been much on Hallmark sappiness but the bug has hit me! At first I thought the actors were quirky and it was cheesy but they quickly grew on me. I enjoyed this immensely. Sweet and romantic and funny. The main male led is really really good at subtlety and at times I forgot that he was acting. If you come across this give it a chance!

One of the best of 2019

[jonathanrspalding · 8/10 · 20 December 2019]

I think Alicia Witte is the Cinderalla to the Hallmark Christmas sisters of Mckellar, Bure, and Chabert. While hard working and really good at these roles, she usually gets the Hallmark movie work equivalent to mopping the floor while the sisters go to the ball. However, despite generally being given lower grade material to work with she usually make the movie better than it deserves.

She has done that again with this movie except this movie actually had some depth to it. Despite being shunted off to Movies and Mysteries this is one of the best Hallmark's of this year. The plot is believable, the acting credible, and the romance seemed unforced. While there is some dead time in the movie it still was enjoyable and interesting. I would recommend a watch.

Great movie for the holidays

[kusznier · 10/10 · 8 December 2019]

Got to love a hallmark movie that has original music.

This is what a 10 looks & feels like

[bmiller59 · 9/10 · 28 November 2019]

We've been disappointed in many movies (both old & new) this year. I knew as soon as Chase & Melody showed up on the screen this was going to be good. Their chemistry was great together, both of them have musical backgrounds, they are seasoned actors and the story was great. So what if it was a tad predictable. Totally enjoyed this movie. I wrote this review before reading any of the posted reviews so in a way I look forward to reading other reviews.

A fresh, interesting plot, well-acted, and entertaining holiday film

[SimonJack · 8/10 · 24 November 2022]

"Our Christmas Love Song" is one of the freshest of the Christmas season TV movies I've seen in some time. To begin with, it's the first in a long time in which the two leads have never been married. So, there's no lost spouse who died, or a young child to raise alone. As a dad and grandfather of a sizable brood, I'm certainly not against children in movies, or stories about single parents and their struggles. I've had a couple of those in my family. But for holiday entertainment, those plot situations have been so overly used that there's so little new in any of the stories. And that translates to watching the same movie over and over again, and not a very good one to start with. It's hardly what one can consider entertainment over Christmas.

The next big plus for this film is that it does not have the next common aspect of the usual Christmas season romances. So, there's no corporate overworked executive going to a town to close down the local lodge or other business. It's also not set in a small town in the mountains, where I've also enjoyed hiking and vacationing over the years; but which are overly done when paired with the first two cookie-cutter aspects.

Instead, this film resembles what had been a common type in the late mid-20th century. Its plot centers around country music; and a one-time couple rediscovering one another. But, it's a more complicated and very interesting plot, because along with that, the female lead is being accused of plagiarizing another country singer's old tune.

There's a young child in the picture - the niece of the female lead and singing star, Melody Jones. Alicia Witt plays Melody superbly and with such natural ease. And it's a timely story where Lucy's dad won't be home for Christmas because he's been deployed overseas in the Army. Lucy's mom is Melody's sister, Jillian. Their mom, Nancy, owns a diner (another frequent plot aspect of many Christmas films), and Melody's dad had died several years ago. They all have fond memories of him, and Melody's start in music with her dad

The male lead is Chase Mattson, who sang with Melody when they were younger. But, as she progressed in the musical world, he stayed behind to run the family's tavern and support his younger sister after their parents died. Brendan Hines plays his part superbly, and all of the rest of the cast in this film are very good.

Melody hadn't been home for Christmas the past two years because of her tours. But this year she's going home for Christmas, and tells her manager, Piper, to do the same thing and turn off the bell on her cell phone. The nudge for her to do that came from a meeting with her mentor, Connie Black and her husband and manager, Burt. They wanted to "settle" with her over her new song, "Heart of Christmas," because they think she pirated it from one of Connie's hits of 10 years earlier, which Melody had sung with her in a duet.

Melody just sang and released her new Christmas song, from one she and her dad had written together when she was a young girl. Now she needs to find the original sheet music of their song to prevent a lawsuit. Back home in Madison, Indiana, everyone is happy to see her home again. Many people remember her singing "Heart of Christmas" years before - her mom and sister, the pastor of her church, Chase and others. But, can she find the sheet music to prove her original authorship of the song?

In the course of being home after missing two Christmases, Melody's memories, family and other connections make her realize how much she missed the closeness of loved ones. While the outcome can be guessed as with all of these films, the other aspects of this more complex than usual plot add a touch of intrigue and make it all the more interesting. And the resolution of the dispute over Melody's new song exonerates her and has a beautiful Christmas-twist from her heart for her one-time mentor.

This is a very good movie for the Christmas season. It has music, a touch of light comedy, a little intrigue, and romance in a very interesting plot with fine acting all around. This is another of the prodigious Canadian output of Christmas holiday movies. While it was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the story is set at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and in Madison, Indiana - the hometown of Melody and Chase.

For a different, interesting and entertaining film, this Christmas movie earns eight stars and may make it into some film libraries for annual or periodic Christmas viewing.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Melody, "I hope they like it." Piper, "Like it? They are gonna love it" Melody, "You're my manager. You have to say that."

Piper, "What was it that your mentor used to tell you?" Melody, " Connie?" Piper, "Connie Black, Queen of the Country. A new song ..." Piper and Melody, both speaking together "... is just a hit song no one has heard yet." Piper, "That's right."

Melody, "This song came from my heart. It's a part of me. I'm not going to lie and say that I stole it."

Beautifully done duet

[peterbilt-64280 · 10/10 · 2 December 2019]

After reading her bio, I wonder that she isn't singing more . After the performance she gives in this latest film, I'm astounded that she isn't the voice of Hallmark Christmas

One of the better Hallmark!!

[susanmnorth · 9/10 · 28 November 2022]

Full disclosure. I rate Hallmark movies based on other Hallmark movies. I always check the IMDB for ratings before I watch a movie and count on others ratings to see if it is worth my time. SO having that disclosure out, this one is very good! The storyline is unique and the chemistry between the leads sizzles. Add the talented supporting cast and you have a most enjoyable movie. Time well spent and it will life your spirits. Now also add some delightful music. It has everything you need for a family Christmas movie. The focus on family and love and dealing with a family member no longer with us. Highly recommend!