Hallmark For All Seasons

Countdown to Christmas 2019

Hallmark’s “Check Inn to Christmas”

“Check Inn to Christmas” aired on Hallmark Channel on Tuesday, November 26 at 8 p.m. Rachel Boston and Wes Brown starred in this well-written, fun Christmas movie that was filmed in Utah despite being set in Colorado. Not sure why they didn’t just film in Colorado but maybe the tax benefits are better in Utah.

In a nutshell

I liked it. A lot. And sure I’m a huge Rachel Boston fan, but the fact is, Anna White’s script was great, Rachel and Wes Brown were perfectly cast for the roles, and I just really, really liked this movie!

I was a bit nervous when I saw that the script was by Anna White, who wrote last year’s “Christmas Made to Order,” which I did not like at all. However, this script had everything that other script did not. It was really well done and made all the better by the actors chosen to play the roles.

Check Inn to Christmas — image: Hallmark Crown Media

Plot

When Julia (Boston) returns to her hometown to spend the holidays at her family’s inn (while waiting to find out about a promotion at her law firm), she finds an old-standing family feud with nearby innkeeper’s family still going strong. Despite this, a romance arises between Julia and Ryan (Brown), the son of the competing inn’s owner.

Actors

As I said already, I adore Rachel Boston. I knew when I’m watching one of her movies that it’s going to be a heartfelt performance, and a good movie (she rarely picks dud screenplays). Wes Brown has suffered from not being cast with leading actresses that can hold their own, but in this movie, he positively shines and the pairing with Boston was clearly effortless on set. So, so good.

Add in a fun, quirky batch of secondary actors including a small role for 70s TV star Tim Reid as Julia’s boss, and 80s TV star Richard Karn as her dad, and the cast was clicking on all cylinders.

As for Six Degrees of Kris Polaha, veteran TV star Tim Reid is three steps away. Back in 2007, he had a role in “Trade” that also featured Linda Emond. Emond starred in 2008’s “The Missing Person” with Amy Ryan. Amy Ryan went on to co-star with Polaha in 2013’s “Devil’s Knot.”

Chemistry

So, so good. The chemistry was on point in “Check Inn to Christmas.” The entire cast was perfectly in sync with each other, but in particular, I loved the pairing of Rachel Boston and Wes Brown. It was simply outstanding and they definitely brought out the best in each other. I appreciated that the characters did not let the family feud interfere with their growing attraction with each other, and yet took the time to get to know each other again since they hadn’t known each other that well in high school.

Feelgoods

I did not write any particular moments down, but the whole movie resonated in such positive ways. I loved that the feud was really very innocent and that the families still kind of got along. It was more like a rivalry than a feud. I loved that he came and threw snowballs at her window to get her to go out with him for cocoa and conversation. I appreciated that the grandmother was still a vital part of the family – right down to her award-winning Buche de Noelle!

Tropes

I was so entranced by the movie that at some point I realized I had forgotten to track the tropes. But the ones I remembered were the Big City opening drone shot, TWO 80s TV stars, a sort-of snowball fight (albeit with snowballs being thrown through holes in a board versus at each other), and drinking hot cocoa (and NOT from empty coffee cups – it was just straight up hot cocoa with a couple marshmallows!). I also loved the “trip and save” moment when they were hanging the banner because that led to the amazing unexpected kiss! And of course, an entire baking scene during which BOTH families came together. Lastly, there was a Christmas dance during which the characters slow danced.

Bingo Card Score for “Check Inn to Christmas”

Only 6 spots covered, but who cares?!?!?!

Did I Hear/See That Right?

Last I checked, sticking a bunch of plugs into one outlet is not going to cause the entire Inn to lose power (it’ll just trip that particular outlet’s breaker (I speak from experience)).

Is the Cape Cod zoning law really a thing? I’ll admit I haven’t googled that, but surely just because it is legal in Cape Cod doesn’t mean it’s a law in Colorado?

Re-watchability

You guys, I’m already regretting “Check Inn to Christmas” off my Tivo after I finished watching it because I know for a fact I want to watch it again. The good news it is re-airing at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Nov 28 – I’ll be setting my Tivo for it!

The Ranking

“Check Inn to Christmas” is in my Top 20 for the year and in my Top 5 for the 2019 Hallmark Christmas movies. It was really good, y’all.

Two Turtle Doves (air date: Nov 1) – 742 pts – weighted score: 123.7 (86.8%)
Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses (air date: Oct 26) – 719 pts – weighted score: 121.0 (84.9%)
Love to the Rescue RE-RANKED (air date: March 23) – 708 pts – weighted score: 120.6 (84.6%)
Winter Love Story (air date: January 19) – 685 pts – weighted score: 115.8 (81.2%)
Mystery 101 (air date: January 27 (HMM)) – 454 pts – weighted score: 94.2 (80.5%)
Love on the Menu (air date: February 23) – 642 pts – weighted score: 113.8 (79.9%)
Holiday Hearts (air date: Nov 23) – 663 pts – weighted score: 113.0 (79.3%)
Bottled With Love (air date: April 13) – 649 pts – weighted score: 112.2 (78.7%)
Love Takes Flight (air date: April 27) – 670 pts – weighted score: 111.0 (77.9%)
Love, Romance & Chocolate (air date: February 16) – 627 pts – weighted score: 110.2 (77.3%)
The Last Bridesmaid (air date: June 22) – 643 pts – weighted score: 109.2 (76.6%)
Love, Fall and Order (air date: Oct 12) – 636 pts – weighted score: 109.0 (76.5%)
Paris, Wine & Romance (air date: May 4) – 638 pts – weighted score: 108.3 (76.0%)
My Boyfriend’s Back: Wedding March 5 (air date: June 8) – 635 pts – weighted score: 108.0 (75.8%)
Over the Moon in Love (air date: Oct 5) – 613 pts – weighted score: 106.3 (74.6%)
Flip That Romance (air date: March 16) – 597 pts – weighted score: 105.8 (74.2%)
Check Inn to Christmas (air date: Nov 26) – 619 pts – weighted score: 105.7 (74.1%)
My One and Only (air date: Aug 31) – 597 pts – weighted score: 105.6 (74.1%)
Mystery 101: Playing Dead (air date: June 23 (HMM)) – 425 pts – weighted score: 86.5 (73.9%)
A Summer Romance (air date: Aug 17) – 577 pts – weighted score: 103.7 (72.7%)
True Love Blooms (air date: April 6) – 598 pts – weighted score: 103.1 (72.3%)
Forever in My Heart (air date: Sept 14) – 560 pts – weighted score: 102.4 (71.8%)
The Mistletoe Secret (air date: Nov 11) – 585 pts – weighted score: 102.2 (71.7%)
Christmas Under the Stars (air date: Nov 16) – 576 pts – weighted score: 101.8 (71.4%)
The Story of Us (air date: February 9) – 605 pts – weighted score: 101.3 (71.1%)
Holiday for Heroes (air date: Nov 8) – 566 pts – weighted score: 99.8 (70.0%)
A Brush with Love (air date: March 30) – 563 pts – weighted score: 97.7 (68.6%)
Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays – 558 pts – weighted score: 97.7 (68.6%)
A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love (air date: Nov 17) – 548 pts – weighted score: 96.9 (68.0%)
Ruby Herring: Silent Witness (air date: January 20 (HMM)) – 357 pts – weighted score: 79.5 (67.9%)
Love, Unleashed (air date: July 6, 2019) – 559 pts – weighted score: 96.2 (67.5%)
Love Under the Rainbow (air date: March 9) – 581 pts – weighted score: 96.0 (67.4%)
One Winter Proposal (air date: January 12) – 535 pts – weighted score: 95.8 (67.2%)
Just Add Romance (air date: March 2) – 548 pts – weighted score: 95.6 (67.1%)
Christmas Scavenger Hunt (air date: Nov 3) – 561 pts – weighted score: 95.4 (66.9%)
From Friend to Fiance (air date: May 25) – 555 pts – weighted score: 94.8% (66.5%)
Picture a Perfect Christmas (air date: Nov 10) – 529 pts – weighted score: 94.6 (66.4%)
A Christmas Duet (air date: Nov 25) – 540 pts – weighted score: 94.1 (66.0%)
Write Before Christmas (air date: Nov 17) – 529 pts – weighted score: 94.1 (66.0%)
Christmas Camp (air date: July 11) – 530 pts – weighted score: 93.9 (65.9%)
Our Christmas Love Song (air date: Nov 24) – 537 pts – weighted score: 93.4 (65.5%)
Love and Sunshine (air date: Aug 3) – 504 pts – weighted score: 91.7 (64.3%)
Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For (air date: March 10 (HMM) – 354 pts – weighted score: 74.1 (63.3%)
A Christmas Miracle (air date: Nov 14) – 494 pts – weighted score: 90.1 (63.2%)
Sister of the Bride (air date: June 29) – 516 pts – weighted score: 89.8 (63.0%)
Valentine in the Vineyard (air date: February 2) – 503 pts – weighted score: 89.5 (62.8%)
Love, Take Two (air date: June 15) – 507 pts – weighted score: 87.8 (61.6%)
All Summer Long (air date: Aug 24) – 512 pts – weighted score: 87.7 (61.5%)
Snowcoming (air date: January 26) – 485 pts – weighted score: 87.3 (61.2%)
The Winter Castle (air date: January 5) – 475 pts – weighted score: 85.9 (60.2%)
Merry & Bright (air date: Nov 2) – 483 pts – weighted score: 84.4 (59.2%)
Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2 (air date: Nov 24) – 465 pts – weighted score: 83.4 (58.5%)
Nostalgic Christmas (air date: Oct 31) – 446 pts – weighted score: 79.2 (55.6%)
A Merry Christmas Match (air date: Oct 25) – 455 pts – weighted score: 78.3 (54.9%)
Sailing Into Love (air date: May 18) – 455 pts – weighted score: 78.0 (54.7%)
Rome in Love (air date: July 27) – 436 pts – weighted score: 76.7 (53.8%)
A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas (air date: Nov 7) – 398 pts – weighted score: 72.3 (50.7%)
A Taste of Summer (air date: Aug 10) – 403 pts – weighted score: 70.9 (49.7%)
A Winter Princess (air date: January 18) – 380 pts – weighted score: 70.5 (49.5%)
A Feeling of Home (air date: May 11) – 386 pts – weighted score: 69.7% (48.9%)
Love in the Sun (air date: June 1) – 361 pts – weighted score: 62.5 (43.8%)