Write Before Christmas

A positive story about sharing and concern for folks. We need a little more of that today. Enjoy a nice, feel good movie.

Write Before Christmas is an entertaining ride that is probably good enough for Top 5 in 2019's run of Christmas Hallmark movies. It pleasantly diverts from the normal formula by actually following 4 connected but not interweaving stories: 3 romances and 1 boy band reunion (as odd as that sounds). The main couple, Jessica and Luke, are cute with charming enough chemistry. The older couple is entirely predictable but works mostly thanks to the guy. And then you have the military couple, which is not only a unique plot thread for Hallmark with a male soldier wooing a female soldier but is also probably the best written arc of the movie. The fourth thread has to do with the lead member of a split-up boy band. Jessica's card to him eventually inspired him to reunite the band and appreciate his brother more. All necessary only to precipitate the end of the movie. All four of these threads bring something a little different to the show, which is a good thing. Different viewers will have their favorites of the four threads, or at least, the 3 couples. The down side to this, of course, is that if you really liked a particular couple, you don't get to spend a lot of time with them. In the end, all the characters and especially all the romances end up pretty thin. The lead couple meet in one scene, have basically one day together in a prolonged couple of scenes, and then aren't together again until the end of the movie. The end is straightforward, predictable, but satisfying, especially the final scene with both couples together.

Really was intrigued by the premise, while the structure is not a new one in film overall it is different and unconventional for Hallmark. Which was appreciated, after seeing so many Hallmark Christmas films overtime that follow a similar formula. There have been understandable comparisons to 'Love Actually', which will intrigue anybody that likes that film (myself included, duck). And while Hallmark's festive efforts fit in the quite big in quantity average and less group, there are winners as well.

'Write Before Christmas' on the most part is one of those winners. It is a refreshing change of pace for Hallmark, and is not too predictable a film surprisingly in its own right as well. As far as the 2019 Christmas films go, 'Write Before Christmas' is one of the better ones in my view. When comparing it with other Christmas films of Hallmark too, it fares pretty favourably as well. It's not a great or flawless film but it was a very charming watch and kudos to it in trying to do something different.

Lets get the not so good things out of the way. Do agree with somebody else that 'Write Before Christmas' does feel over-plotted at times. The film does not have a dull moment and is eventful, but considering the number of subplots and characters this is a Hallmark film that would actually have benefitted from doing less. Having not as many subplots and as many characters, and developing what and who was left more would have helped.

The dialogue is not always great, some awkwardness and cheese at times early on. Like most Hallmark films, there are parts that feel over-scored and the ending is over too soon and wrapped up too neatly.

However, there are a lot of things that 'Write Before Christmas' does well. The production values still manage to be pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganized and the scenery has a real charm to it. Enough of the script is thoughtful and doesn't come over as sickly sweet or cheesy. The direction is accommodating while also having enough momentum.

A further big benefit is the acting, Torrey DeVitto is appealing in the female lead role as is Chad Michael Murray (who shows that he has grown as an actor compared to the teenage heart-throb roles he did fifteen plus years ago) in his. Lolita Davidovitch amuses and charms. While there are too many subplots, 'Write Before Christmas' does better than expected at balancing them and connecting them together, the light-hearted heart-warming tone being consistent. The characters aren't meaty but were still not too hard to get behind.

Concluding, not great and a bit too cluttered but quite well done and pleasant. 7/10

Jessica sends five letters to people who had any kind of influence in her life. Those letter somehow affect their lives for the better, including her own. Original and beautiful premise, which was well developed.

I had low expectations for this one, and I'm glad I did. Torrey DeVito and Chad Michael Murray had great chemistry. And Drew Selley, that's a face I haven't seen in a while, it was a nice surprise.

It kind of reminds you of Love, Actually, different stories but all of them connected. I'm glad Hallmark gives us, even if it's once in a while, something different than the predictable movies we get all the time.

The cutest 90 min card commercial Ive seen

Different storyline, which I appreciate. Still manages to hit certain tropes like getting upset because you can t just TALK to each other. Cute, funny, multiple romances, and nary a small town, a high powered Christmas hating exec, or a single parent with a precocious matchmaking child in sight. Worth a watch.

Also, if you send people Hallmark cards, you too could fall in love and positively impact absolutely everyone around you