Swept Up by Christmas

I love it for the performance of Vlasta Vrana .

I like it for chemistry between main actors and for the small stories defining them. And, sure, for the Christmas tree star.

I saw this film with the tenderness of return to the memories of old times. This is its basic virtue and just I appreciate it for this. Because, it is one of films in which the romance works as fair frame , in which the connection between people and objects is fair reflected and the details are just clever used.

And the final feeling is good of good.

Not great, not memorable but, obvious, more than pleasant. And this, for me, I admitt, just matters.

Swept Up By Christmas presents a romantic Christmas story told intelligently, with mature characters, each with his or her own issues to resolve. While the story line is familiar to Hallmark viewers, and the resolution of the issues involved is predictable, there are features of this film that serve recognition. For one, the leading characters are mature, successful adults, each in his and her professional careers. While they seem to have a history that renders them abrasive to one another at the start, a mutual work project offers them a second opportunity to slowly resolve those issues. Additionally, there are serious and interesting people around them. The project that brings them together involves the closing of an estate and bringing its contents to auction. This process is beautifully presented. The furnishings and genuine dignity of the manor is breathtaking. There are tangential relationships to be explored and developed, including one of a disabled war veteran who clearly falls in love with a very appealing young woman. Another involves an aging father who needs to resolve his relationship with his estranged daughter.

Of course, this being a Hallmark movie, all these problems come to a happy and gratifying end. The leading couple also find their true feelings and move on to a future together.

However positive all these aspects of the movie are, one issue was so distracting and noticeable that it kept this viewer from staying focussed on the film. The beautiful and very talented Lindy Booth appears to have lost so much weight,she seems to be either ill or anorexic. She has been in many Hallmark movies, looking healthy and vital, and appropriate. But in this film, she looks frighteningly thin. One hopes she is well. and one hopes, further, that she is not attempting to stay this thin in order to appear younger. Her physical appearance in this movie was startling and worrisome.

This is an intelligent, mature Christmas film and deserves watching.

No chemistry between the leads. Their story just didn't come together for me, nor was it interesting. The secondary characters were much more engaging. Although Lindy Booth is an excellent actress, even she could not save this humbug.

Sentiment is what Hallmark is all about, so it's no surprise when they make a sentimental movie. This film about an estate seller and a man who runs a veteran-staffed housecleaning service is just that. Lindy Booth is always one of my favorites, so I was glad to see she made a Christmas movie this year. I did not find the chemistry between the leads to be strong, but it didn't effect things much. Good supporting cast, especially the crotchety Alan, who I thought was great. I would rate this slightly above average.

I love Hallmark Christmas movies, but I find they fall into several categories. Some have relatively large casts with plenty of extras to provide atmosphere, while others are sparsely populated, with sparingly used music and extras. Usually, it has to do with the popularity of the main stars. While Lindy Booth has certainly been in her share of Hallmark films, this one sure was lacking in supporting cast members. A lot of time it was simply the two leads working by themselves in the house. Even at the party scene, the extras were all blurred, as there probably were very few. Unfortunately, this seemed to be a movie made on an extremely limited budget, even for Hallmark, and it didn't give off much warmth or holiday feel. I will skip future showings of this film.