The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014 TV Movie) User Reviews

Fun romcom with likable stars

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 16 November 2015]

Charming and fun Hallmark romcom about a handsome fireman (Brandon Routh) who takes in a stray cat, which leads him to meeting a veterinary student (Kimberly Sustad). Despite some obstacles, such as his witchy model girlfriend, the two become fast friends and eventually roommates. Will they become more? No, actually, they will not...because this is the only Hallmark movie ever made where the guy and the girl don't get together in the end.

I'm kidding, obviously. We all know where this will end up but, as they say, "it's the journey not the destination." The two leads are both extremely likable and attractive. Like everyone else, I'm familiar with Brandon Routh from Superman Returns and a few other movies and television shows. So I knew what to expect from him. Kimberly Sustad, however, I wasn't sure about. I could have sworn I'd seen her in something before. She looks vaguely familiar and her style of acting also seemed to ring some bells. However, I looked at her IMDb filmography and drew nothing but blanks. So I guess she just has one of those faces. Anyway, she's a treat to watch and easy to root for. She also has very nice chemistry with Routh. Can I just say how happy I was to see a male character in one of these things who wasn't rich and didn't have an MBA? The guy's ridiculously good-looking, brave, and dates models so, no, he's not Joe Everyman. But Hallmark has this annoying habit of writing the men in their romcoms to either be from a wealthy family or have some kind of business degree that lets us know he could be wealthy if he wanted to be. It's nice to see them stepping away from that irritating trope this time around. Anyway, it's a fun, lighthearted romantic comedy with a little bit of Christmas flavor. If you enjoy Hallmark movies then you'll probably like this one.

Chick flick is predictable but pleasant and easy to watch

[highwaytourist · 6/10 · 10 November 2014]

Here you have two nice, attractive people of the opposite gender bound for professional success. the problem is they're too busy for love and romance. The woman is a compassionate brunette pet store employee who's studying to become a veterinarian due to her love for animals. The man is a hunky and affable junior firefighter who upgrades and flips houses on the side. He does have a casual girlfriend, a glamorous but bitchy professional model who'll make the women viewers say, "Why can't he tell she's wrong for him?" Conveniently, he working on a beautiful Victorian dream house, while she's in a campus apartment that doesn't allow pets, and of course she loves cats and secretly keeps one. They live in a nice small town where most people know and are nice to each other. If you don't know how this story ends, than you've never watched Lifetime of the Hallmark Channel before. All that being said, it's completely painless to watch and it'll appeal to its target audience. The leads are likable, the supporting cast competent and the technical aspects are satisfactory. I enjoyed it enough and so will most people if the plot interests them.

Very sweet and totally predictable

[michaelannb · 6/10 · 9 November 2014]

Even as the plot set-up was unfolding, I knew it would be a Happily Ever After story-- is there any other kind of Hallmark Christmas story? What I didn't expect, whoever, was to find the script full of wry humor and gentle mocking. The emotional tone was low-key and no one overacted. Kimberley Sustads' warm and slightly ditzy character was within the range of believability and Brandon Routh's characterization of a reluctant firefighter gradually falling in love was also in keeping with the movie. The guys in the fire station were a little too perfect, but were still the kind of men we'd like for fathers or brothers. The movie was a bit too slowly paced and could have used about half an hour's worth of editing, but was overall a satisfying watch.

Pretty cute, and it's got kitties!

[HotToastyRag · 7/10 · 6 December 2019]

If you're a cat person, check out the Hallmark sweet movie, The Nine Lives of Christmas. If you're a dog person, check out The Search for Santa Paws. My fellow feline lovers will adore this one about cat playing cupid with an unlikely pair. Okay, that's not exactly the premise, but it does happen.

Handsome firefighter Brandon Routh gets adopted by a stray orange marmalade kitty when he wanders into his house and refuses to leave. Brandon doesn't have the ideal lifestyle for a pet, but he can't help himself and the kitty quickly becomes the station's mascot. Meanwhile, Kimberley Sustad is struggling to afford her tuition and keep her job at a pet store, and also to keep her landlord from finding out she has a cat in her apartment. They meet buying cat food, and even though one wants commitment and one doesn't, they just might fall in love. Even if this movie didn't take place during Christmas, and even if there weren't cats in it, I'd really like it. The dialogue and chemistry are refreshingly natural. Brandon is very convincing as a bachelor afraid of commitment, supported and egged on by his coworkers and friends Gregory Harrison, Dalias Blake, and Sean Tyson. Kimberley is equally convincing as a woman with other priorities besides love, but who feels pain as deep as the next person. Check out this sweet kitty Christmas movie; it'll surprise you how much you'll enjoy it.

Sad I didn't watch this sooner!

[Anonnamus · 9/10 · 18 February 2019]

This is a charming film that contains all the best things; romance, humor, and animals. It's rare you find two extremely likable leads yet Nine Lives of Christmas has managed to do just that.

Sustad is an underused actress whose roles are usually only supporting. She is wonderful as a lead. Beautiful with a wonderfully expressive face, she needs to be cast as the main character in so much more. Routh is eye candy, but he does it so well. Their chemistry is believable and I enjoyed every second of this movie. For you Hallmark fans, I highly recommend putting this at the top of your watch list.

liking the couple

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 31 December 2018]

Zachary Stone (Brandon Routh) is the hot fireman who doesn't believe in love. Marilee White (Kimberley Sustad) is the cat whisperer who doesn't have time for love. Zachary rescues a cat but his selfish model girlfriend Blair (Chelsea Hobbs) hates cats. He and Marilee keep running into each other. She's hot for Brown Eyes but is unsure of herself. While avoiding another setup from her overprotective younger sister, she lies about her new boyfriend Brown Eyes.

Routh is adorably cute. Sustad is able to dress down to be the plain Jane of the story. That's the classic romantic move where the Hollywood-homely girl takes off her glasses to reveal her outer beauty. Of course, his girlfriend is a B and her best friend (in this case the sister) is supportive although they're usually the comedy relief. The only problem for this movie is the limited obstacles. Other than Blair, there is no real obstacle. After Blair leaves, they are left with themselves as their biggest enemy and they're not much of one. Also, Routh does not project as a guy who doesn't believe in love. He's all gooey softy inside. The romance needs an insurmountable obstacle or at least, have Blair stick around a little longer. The last misunderstanding is really cheap in terms of story writing. I like the couple and that helps a lot in a Hallmark movie.

Hallmark Scores Big With This Sweet Holiday Charmer

[francesfarmersrevengeonseattle · 10/10 · 18 April 2016]

Holiday magic with kitties and a male lead (Superman Brandon Routh) who really seems to love cats! This is one of Hallmark's better Christmas offerings. Its full of sweetness and lovely romance.

The only negative is that its supposed to be set in Portland, Oregon during the Christmas season. Winter in Portland is generally cool, cloudy and rainy. All of the outside scenes for this film are filled with brilliant green grass, trees with heavy foliage and bright sunlight. To be sure its late spring or summer somewhere. The filming took place in Canada; seems the scouts could have come up with a more 'Christmas-y' Canadian snow scape than the location chosen. Im still baffled as to why the film would advertise Portland in the first place.

Kimberly Sustad as Merilee is just adorable as the kind hearted Vet student who isn't looking for love. She's smart, beautiful and loves animals. Brandon Routh as Zachary is sweet and certainly handsome, but never seems really enamored by Marilee. I appreciate that Hallmark let his character be a normal hard working guy, and not some fancy suit from the manor born. I notice that seems to be a trend in a lot of Hallmark productions, and this was refreshing.

Still, the performances are thoughtfully executed, and both of the lead actors are lovely and talented and a real treat to watch. Gregory Harrison's small supporting role as the Fire Chief and Zachary's friend and mentor, is living proof that some men just get better and more handsome with age!

Put this one on the must watch list for your Christmas movie lineup. Hallmark should take a tip from its own production and make more Christmas offerings like this. This cute film has Nine Lives and then some!

Very Good by Made-for-TV standards

[doctorsmoothlove · 6/10 · 20 November 2019]

"The Nine Lives of Christmas" demonstrates that even a simple script can become an immensely enjoyable movie just because of the actors cast. The actors make human beings out of what would otherwise be repetitive story. Brandon Routh and Kimberly Sustad effectively portray vulnerable people at different stages in life. He is a hotshot in the local fire station who dates whomever he wants. He seems to sleepwalk through his life while never appearing really satisfied with anything. She is an overworked, anxious young woman facing tremendous peer pressure to be with a guy.

Sustad's face is very emotive. She looks sufficiently neurotic each time she "accidentally" sees Routh's Hot Guy face. She is studying to be a veterinarian while working at a locally owned pet store. His girlfriend's father operates the pet store. She is a great bad guy character. She dresses in chic clothing for the world inhabited in this film, has no patience for him or anyone and is otherwise very spoiled. It's her spiritual ugliness that awakens something latent in him, some desire for something deeper.

This brings Sustad and Routh together. Unlike many films of this type, they don't have a big revelatory "in love" moment. The relationship plays out more realistically. He does not want to be honest with himself that he likes this woman, and she doesn't want to allow herself to get close to anyone. There's an obvious physical attraction between them. They eventually do get together after a contrived development in the final 10 minutes that ruins the pacing. It's this part that distinguishes the film from the best of the best.

The cats bring them together. His adopted cat and her cat get along. This brings each of them some feeling of approval of the blooming relationship between. The cats each have their own scenes of being charming. I don't feel like the story requires cats but they offer comic relief and a metaphor for the script to reference.

What most impresses is the cinematic allusions to Routh as a superhero. There's one scene where he abruptly rushes toward the camera faster than a speeding bullet. He even appears to be wearing a cape in one shot. While nothing special, Hallmark films are often visually dull. I appreciated the creative effort to include these allusions for cinephiles.

A First-Rate Hallmark Romance

[lenxz1 · 9/10 · 26 November 2014]

This is a typical Hallmark Christmas romance movie, but more captivating than most. Of course, you know how everything will turn out, but the process depends upon how attractive and appealing the main characters are. Both leads in this film, Brandon Routh as fireman Zachary Stone and Kimberly Sustad as veterinary student Marilee White, are A-one. They are both instantly likable (in Miss Sustad's case exceedingly lovable) and romance lovers will immediately be rooting for them and intrigued by how they will get together.

OK, this may be enough, but then throw in the animal characters, and those who are pet owners or who love animals will find the two cats adorable. And the pets are not there just for their attraction, but they play essential roles in the plot. So what we have is indeed a warm and fuzzy (pun intentional) love story that is just fun to sit back and enjoy without expecting anything more than that--it is enough.

My wife and I enjoyed the movie so much that we purchased a copy of the short novel by Sheila Roberts that it is based upon. The plot of the book has some major differences, but the adaptation for the screenplay was very well done and was true to the overall effect of the novel.

I would love to see Kimberly Sustad featured in more Hallmark movies. She is such a talented and endearing actress, with a different kind of beauty all her own--a unique look that is far more interesting than that of the cookie-cutter Miss America types.

Surprisingly not terrible

[vniktron3000 · 6/10 · 13 November 2017]

Has all the obvious cliché bits of a Christmas romance movie but it's not bad. The main character is really natural and endearing to make it pleasant to watch, although the guy is a mannequin with a weird personality.

There's a lot of parts where both characters exposition dump or explain their inner thoughts by talking to cats in full sentences, but it's just cringy enough to be funny.

The best part though is the band of super wholesome fire fighters who give each other relationship advice and really love cats. This guy couldn't have a more supportive workplace. We should all learn from this wise fire chief.

A lovely romantic film lifted by good acting.

[jarvis54 · 8/10 · 22 December 2014]

Ironically I first saw the leading actress in another Rom com where she played the sister of the main female character. And when I saw Kimberly Sustad I immediately believed she could hold her own in her own movie. So here she is the lead in this movie and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Okay let's be fair, this is not a movie that will end up on the Oscar best film short list. It is a movie that once the main characters are identified you pretty much know what is going to happen and just go along for the ride. So what for me lifted this movie above average? Kimberly Sustad. And why? Well there are not that many actresses that can really do emotions well. Kimberly managed to convey sadness and joy really well with her eyes watering up with tears almost flowing. Believe me this is not easy to pull off, so many actresses cry and there are no tears at all. I'm glad Brandon Routh recovered from superman. All in all this is a light and enjoyable Rom com that is light and fluffy and not a bad way to spend an hour and a half.

You can feel the love

[Jackbv123 · 7/10 · 9 November 2017]

This story is about the insecurity and uncertainty of the two leads, Zach and Marilee. Neither of them is willing to admit that they have something that might be worth making a commitment. Beyond that, it is a pretty straightforward story. They meet by accident; they get thrown together; they spend time together; they love. They just won't admit that what they have is the lifetime kind of love.

Brandon Routh and Kimberly Sustad fit so well together. Their characters are a joy to watch together and that is what makes this movie enjoyable. Add the humor factor of watching them be so clumsy around each other, sometimes physically and sometimes relationally.

The story may be no big deal, but it is enjoyable to watch.

I Really Like the Cat

[boblipton · 5/10 · 9 November 2014]

He's a hunky fireman -- Brandon Routh, who recently played Superman -- who's going to be the cover on the calendar, with a girlfriend who's a model. Kimberly Sustad's holding down a full-time job in a pet store and studying to be a veterinarian -- she keeps falling asleep in class, only to give the complete answers in her sleep. It's obvious to even the most casual viewer what's going to happen.

However, that's rarely a problem in a romantic comedy. It's always apparent from the beginning that the two leads are going to wind up together. What can be interesting is the way they get there. Here the connection is a ginger tabby that he rescues. Thereafter circumstances keep throwing them together, as do their friends, with all the subtlety of jackhammers -- the leads never notice.

The movie is chock full of extraneous characters who show up for a scene or two to motivate the action and then vanish -- presumably they are fitted in better in the book this is based on. The Christmas aspect of the movie is incidental.

However the leads perform their roles with a great deal of anxious charm, and the cat they got for the ginger tabby is a charming clown. More than good enough.

Funnier and better written than the usual Xmas romance

[phd_travel · 7/10 · 7 January 2016]

The dialog and humor are better than the usual Hallmark Xmas romance. There are some funny one liners. The cats are surprisingly cute too.

A firefighter (Brandon Routh) and a veterinary student (Kimberly Sustad) meet. He has an unsuitable bitchy girlfriend played by Chelsea Hobbs who looks great and acts well. There is an interesting message compatibility and personality over superficial things like looks. As the vet, Kimberly Sustad is a tall actress even when next to Brandon Routh.

A non irritating, not over cutesy, occasionally laugh worthy Hallmark Xmas movie.

Wonderful! Please make Nine more lovely movies just as good as this one!

[inkblot11 · 9/10 · 8 February 2016]

Zachary (Brandon Routh) is one busy firefighter. In addition to his heroic career, Zack buys fixer-upper houses and remodels them in his spare time, then moves on. Very handsome, he is also dating a beautiful model. But, as he tells his firehouse captain (Gregory Harrison) he is NOT about to go steady, get attached, get married. His reasoning is his parents had a miserable union. Meanwhile, Marilee (Kimberly Sustad) is also a lady on the go. In her last year of vet school, she also works at a pet supply store. Despite her landlady banning animals, Marilee also has a gorgeous cat, Duchess, in hiding at her place. Our Marilee makes it clear to her very successful real estate agent sister that she does NOT want any blind dates. One day, Zack finds a handsome stray cat, Ambrose, who he discovers has lost his owner. The firefighter is reluctant to let him in the house, but one day becomes two, becomes three, and becomes Ambrose can sleep on my bed and do anything he wants. Galpal doesn't like the feline at all. As one might guess, Zack and Marliee cross paths and, through a series of mishaps, Marliee ends up apartmentless and jobless. Zach comes to her rescue by offering her the separate rooms in his under-construction house. To his surprise, Marilee can paint and do home repairs, too. Could the gentleman who doesn't want a permanent connection and the lady too busy for love fall for each other? How about Duchess and Ambrose taking a shine to one another, too? This wonderful hallmark movie has charms for everyone. Cat lovers, of course, will especially love the two talented felines, but anyone who clamors for romcoms will love it and those who don't usually go for em will like it also. the cast is attractive and talented, the sets nice, the costumes great, the script a joy, and the direction surefooted. Dear movie makers, will take at least nine more romances with these great elements.

Suprisingly good!

[IdaSlapter · 7/10 · 24 November 2022]

It took a little while to get going, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out good it was. A large part of that is due to the self-deprecating comedic timing of Kimberly Sustad.

She turns what could've been a cheesy meet-cute into a believably genuine encounter. Because of this key scene, I kept watching and am glad I did.

Brandon Routh was good too. And special kudos go out to 'Ambrose' the lovey-dovey cat who steals every scene he's in.

Lastly, it's refreshing to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie that isn't overloaded with Christmas trees, garlands, gazebos, gingerbread cookie festivals, etc., etc.

This movie proves those 'extra's aren't necessary.

Way Above The Average Hallmark Christmas Movie

[Christmas-Reviewer · 8/10 · 28 October 2017]

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE

Zachary is a handsome bachelor who enjoys the liberties of being single. When a stray cat adopts Zach as his owner, Zach falls in love with the little guy in spite of the fact that he wants to stay away from responsibility. His new pet brings him into contact with Merilee White, a beautiful woman who is Zach's opposite. Through his new pet, Zach begins to see that being accountability-free isn't as fulfilling as he thought and that the wrong woman might just be the perfect match.

Now I have been a Brandon Routh fan since "Superman Returns". I think if that film had a better Lois Lane then Brandon would have become a household name.

What is great about this film is that the relationships people have with one another "feel real". I love the relationship between Brandon and his boss.

Now we all know how these Christmas films will end and this is no different. However it's the journey that takes to wonderful and almost unexpected places!

Technical error

[aewoodall · 6/10 · 13 December 2015]

Cute Christmas movie, yet I did catch one technical error early on. When in the grocery store shopping, the main characters meet each other for the first time, and Marilee advises Zachary not to get off brand dry cat food because in male cats, it can be bad for their prostate health... Well male cats actually don't have a prostate! She might need a few extra years of school. Other than that, this is a typical charming Hallmark Christmas movie! I love the animals - and that's what drew me towards the movie. As a Veterinary Technician and also a daughter of a retired Veterinarian, this movie was right up my ally. Just what I needed to put me in the holiday spirit. Love the romantic holiday movies, they are full of charm.

One of best Hallmark movies

[Calaxphes · 10/10 · 22 December 2019]

Chemistry between the leads is great; good supporting cast; and adorable cats. I watch this one every year.

Enjoyable, but...

[MIssM19 · 6/10 · 9 March 2017]

I wasn't going to write a review because this movie has so many already but despite this being a lovely movie I have to write it down, maybe someone will feel like I did.

It was a nice enjoyable movie, it was good to see animals for a change and the leads did a great job, but I didn't feel that chemistry or story that makes me smile like a goof.

I don't if it's because I wasn't looking forward to watching this but it didn't felt special to me, "Chrismassy" enough, maybe it was because Christmas was not the main plot in the story, I really don't know.

I, as well, noticed a few minor mistakes in the story, like it was mentioned on several reviews, and pardon me if i'm mistaken, but at the end when Zachary took the truck, what would have happen if a call came up? Where were the rest of the crew? - Maybe I have so many hours of Chicago Fire - but things like this that few people notice sometimes annoys me. Thins like this makes it a typical Hallmark movie. Somehow "far from the real world".

I'm writing this on March 2017 and i'm reading a book from Jill Shalvis, "The trouble with the mistletoe" which will be taken to the little screen this Christmas season 2017/2018 and there are SO MANY things that are JUST LIKE THIS MOVIE -storylines and details- so I hope they can make it "unique" without making similar to this.

Great Movie

[cammietime · 10/10 · 9 December 2017]

This is another Hallmark Christmas movie that they hit out of the park. Nowhere to be found are convenient freak snowstorms, the real Santa pretending to be a fake Santa granting magical wishes, or the all too common notorious wooden male love interest who has zero context. All in all the can of cheese was used sparingly in this movie.

This movie is carried by the female lead Kimberly Sustad. She is refreshingly not perfect and does the 'cute girl next door' thing extremely well. This is a change from most Hallmark Christmas movies where the female lead looks and acts like a TV weather lady or infomercial spokeswoman.

The male love interest in this movie happily has context - a firehouse team to ask him questions that round out his character. Yes, the firemen seem a little forced but that is OK.

What I liked best about this movie is that compared to all other Hallmark Christmas movies this one actually did a fantastic job of truly and accurately portraying what people are like who love each other and live together. It was like this was real world and not some Hallmark la la land. It was like you could know the two leads in your real life.

The cat thing was not really necessary but it was nice to see animals that are not horses incorporated into a Hallmark Christmas movie.

wrong title but sweet story

[novagirl11 · 6/10 · 27 April 2020]

It was nice to see Brandon Routh as a different kind of hero. His shallow model girlfriend (Chelsea Hobbs) was frustratingly annoying and malicious. I thought the addition of the mountain lion story was a very cute touch. I didn't particularly like Kimberly Sustad's wardrobe in this, and I find the title a bit inappropriate, but other than that it was a good Hallmark Christmas movie.

Cats and hose

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 22 December 2015]

The Nine Lives of Christmas is an Hallmark festive themed romantic movie, in this case the presence of Brandon Routh made it one of its highest rated films of the year.

Routh plays a hunky fireman, the kind that models for a fundraising calendar. He is going out with an attractive but shallow model, saves lives and even ends up adopting a tabby cat. An all round super guy one might say.

Kimberly Sustad is studying to be a vet and holds down a job in a pet store which means she has no time for a love life.

A chance meeting in a supermarket and an interest in cats means that both keep having random encounters which of course slowly leads to love even though Routh is happy to remain single and Sustad wishes to avoid commitments until she qualifies as a vet.

The film only has a loose festive connection but it has plenty of easy charm even though the plot is slightly hokey.

Almost 8 years after he played Superman for his one and only appearance Routh displays more charisma in this made for television film than Henry Cavill the present holder of the red cape.

Very charming

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 17 March 2024]

'The Nine Lives of Christmas' (2014)

Opening thoughts: Throughout my whole Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas film completest quest undertaken from late 2019 and still ongoing, an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with Hallmark's output. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. One could see that with most of Hallmark's output but not all.

2014 was a very mixed bag for Hallmark, not just their particularly variable Countdown to Christmas output but for that year overall. One of the best offerings for Hallmark in 2014 is 'The Nine Lives of Christmas', which for me was also one of the few Countdown to Christmas films from that year to be above good. The premise is one of those potentially too schmaltzy/cutesy ones, but here executed very well. A good representation of the always dependable Kimberley Sustad and also shows how much Brandon Routh's acting has matured.

Bad things: Maybe it gets off to a little too slow a start, with the film taking a little too long to set up.

Will agree that a few of the secondary characters don't add very much and that their appearances are too come and go rather than being properly fleshed out.

Good things: On the other hand, Sustad is truly charming and heartfelt throughout. Routh is equally amiable and charmingly easy going and shows great maturity. Their chemistry is as fresh and sweet, always looking natural. The supporting cast do make the most of what they are given and the cat is absolutely adorable and worthy of many hugs. The film just about avoids sugar overload territory (which could easily have happened when reading the synopsis).

Production values are slick and attractive and the music isn't sickly or melodramatic. The dialogue doesn't come over as cheesy or schmaltzy and has a nice light hearted tone. Despite starting off unsure, the story is immensely charming and heart-warming. The ending is very touching and enough is done to allow one to care for the characters.

Closing thoughts: Overall, very well done.

8/10.

Enjoyable

[niknak70 · 7/10 · 21 November 2023]

This is an enjoyable movie mostly because of the lead actors. There are a few funny mistakes, like his model girlfriend saying she was doing editorial for Vogue in a Gucci dress, but then when he asked what the ad was for, she said toothpaste. Vogue editorials are fashion spreads, not ads. But the story is heartwarming, a "feel good" Christmas movie with normal characters (not over the top). It's one of Hallmark's older movies, which are generally less thrown together with product placements (though there is a Walmart bag in there). Great for background while you're addressing Christmas cards and wrapping gifts!