Hallmark For All Seasons

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving day yesterday.  Our house had a leisurely day decorating the house for Christmas, which was capped off by an amazing Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixins!  Speaking of fixins, “The Christmas Club” aired on Hallmark Channel on Wednesday, November 27 at 8 p.m.  This movie, with a great script by Julie Sherman Wolfe, starred the luminous Elizabeth Mitchell and Hallstar Cameron Mathison.  It was based on the book of the same name by author Barbara Hinske (although I’ve read that the movie changed enough from the book that they really are two standalone entities at this point).  The movie was set in Minneapolis but was filmed in and around Winnipeg, Canada.

In a nutshell

I hope you all liked it because I certainly did!  During the Christmas movie preview show several weeks ago, this movie stood out for me as one to look forward to.  And it did not disappoint!

Plot (from Hallmark’s website)

Two busy strangers, Olivia (Mitchell) and Edward (Mathison) meet when they help an elderly woman find her lost Christmas savings. Thanks to fate and Christmas magic, they also find something they were both missing: true love.

Actors

I’ve always been an Elizabeth Mitchell fan.  From “Lost” to two of the “Santa Clause” movies to “ER” – I’ve just always appreciated her immense talent.  Then Hallmark had to go and pair her up with Cameron Mathison, who is as solid an actor as can be found – he never disappoints (even when he plays the Bad Boyfriend in “Window Wonderland!”

As for Six Degrees of Kris Polaha, Elizabeth Mitchell is only two steps away.  She starred in 2011’s “Answers to Nothing” with Greg Germann who went on to co-star with Polaha in 2014’s “Atlas Shrugged, Part III.”

Chemistry

Mitchell and Mathison.  Oh my word.  These two were perfectly paired from minute one.  Hallmark is killing it this year with the pairs they’ve put together.  I loved how soft-spoken and gentle Olivia was, and how immediately smitten Edward was with her.

Feelgoods

I did have a couple feels with this movie!  Really, I had feels throughout the whole thing.  Julie Sherman Wolfe’s script was dynamic and fun, but also heartfelt without being schmaltzy.

It started off with the two of them giving money to Gertrude, who lost her money in the street due to a gust of wind.  Olivia and Edward agree to pool their money together to give to Gertrude.  That is TOTALLY something I would do if I got a sense that someone was genuinely in distress.  I’d be leary, like Edward, but fully on-board like Olivia.

I laughed when Olivia was with her mom, who mentioned making a meal with all the fixins.  Then Olivia responds by saying, “I like how you say ‘fixins’ like you are from the South.”  It’s those throwaway natural moments that make JSW’s scripts stand out over some others.

I loved when Olivia saw Gertrude at the Christmas festival, and Gertrude says, “My husband works here,” and it’s clear at that point she’s referring to the might-be-the-real-Santa.  Clever girl.

And lastly, I loved how this movie, in the midst of all the various “events,” was basically just two people getting to know each other over the course of time.  That’s so rare in these movies, and it called to mind “Winter Love Song” (which I also loved) from the beginning of the year.  And not only that, but Edward just wanted to spend time with Olivia but still not overstep.

Another funny moment came when Olivia gets mad at Edward, but yet they knew they’d see each other that night.  She says, “Ignore you later,” before stalking off.  So great, and I need to use that.

Tropes

So. Many Tropes.  SO MANY!

To start off, the obligatory big city drone shot to open the movie, a Christmas festival, some CGI snow, and Olivia wearing a big scarf.  Then the movie doubled down by having the cute kids build a snowman, then go out for some hot cocoa, which then causes Olivia to wipe some whipped cream off Edward’s face, and then Olivia meets a could-be-real-Santa and makes a Christmas wish.  C’mon -really?

But that’s not all!  They go to a tree lighting, they bake cookies, there’s a house with a covered front porch, Olivia wears a circle pendant necklace, an ornament was given as a gift, and the big kiss was in the last scene of the movie (alas, no snow fall during the kiss).

Bingo Card Score for “The Christmas Club”

13 out of 25 spots covered, but no bingo.  I was shocked, to be honest, because it seemed like I was dropping coins on my card left and right.

Did I Hear/See That Right?

I did raise my eyebrows in disbelief during some sections of the movie, despite my adoration.  First, Edward spends a decent portion of his time checking his phone, and yet when he asks for Olivia’s number, they write it on a napkin?  I know it was for a plot device a scene later, but still.  It’s 2019.  We get numbers and put them into our phone.  Not on a napkin.

Secondly, when Edward was trying to talk Olivia into opening her own dance studio, she expresses doubt about her ability to get a loan.  He scoffs and tells her it wouldn’t be a problem.  Um, Edward?  You don’t know Olivia’s financial situation or history.  She could have a dozen maxed out credit cards in her wallet.  She could have a credit score of 500.  I acknowledge that you are attracted to her and want to encourage her, but you don’t know whether or not she’ll be able to get a loan.

The dance recital at the end of the movie.  Was it really only 3 minutes long?  Did I miss an announcement that the snowflakes dance was the last one of the event?  Because it seemed to me like we saw the dance and then the show was over.

Lastly, I’m not sure why Olivia got SO mad at Edward for helping her with the loan.  It was not really explained HOW he helped – just that he put in a good word.  What’s wrong with that?  I understand that Olivia felt the need to stand on her own two feet, but she DID.  She pursued the studio, she applied for the loan, she got the loan.  No bank would give out a business loan if they didn’t believe it would succeed, I don’t care how good a word was given by someone else.  So there was not really a reason for her to get that upset about it.

Re-watchability

Yep.  100% I’ll be watching this one again!  It was another mature story, with no silliness, that just gave room for the characters to breathe and get to know each other.

The Ranking

“The Christmas Club” just missed out on the Top 20 for the year but it IS now in my Top 5 for the 2019 Hallmark Christmas movies.  It was a great movie!

1. Two Turtle Doves (air date: Nov 1) – 742 pts – weighted score: 123.7 (86.8%)
2. Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses (air date: Oct 26) – 719 pts – weighted score: 121.0 (84.9%)
3. Love to the Rescue RE-RANKED (air date: March 23) – 708 pts – weighted score: 120.6 (84.6%)
4. Winter Love Story (air date: January 19) – 685 pts – weighted score: 115.8 (81.2%)
5. Mystery 101 (air date: January 27 (HMM)) – 454 pts – weighted score: 94.2 (80.5%)
6. Love on the Menu (air date: February 23) – 642 pts – weighted score: 113.8 (79.9%)
7. Holiday Hearts (air date: Nov 23) – 663 pts – weighted score: 113.0 (79.3%)
8. Bottled With Love (air date: April 13) – 649 pts – weighted score: 112.2 (78.7%)
9. Love Takes Flight (air date: April 27) – 670 pts – weighted score: 111.0 (77.9%)
10. Love, Romance & Chocolate (air date: February 16) – 627 pts – weighted score: 110.2 (77.3%)
11. The Last Bridesmaid (air date: June 22) – 643 pts – weighted score: 109.2 (76.6%)
12. Love, Fall and Order (air date: Oct 12) – 636 pts – weighted score: 109.0 (76.5%)
13. Paris, Wine & Romance (air date: May 4) – 638 pts – weighted score: 108.3 (76.0%)
14. My Boyfriend’s Back: Wedding March 5 (air date: June 8) – 635 pts – weighted score: 108.0 (75.8%)
15. Over the Moon in Love (air date: Oct 5) – 613 pts – weighted score: 106.3 (74.6%)
16. Flip That Romance (air date: March 16) – 597 pts – weighted score: 105.8 (74.2%)
17. Check Inn to Christmas (air date: Nov 26) – 619 pts – weighted score: 105.7 (74.1%)
18. My One and Only (air date: Aug 31) – 597 pts – weighted score: 105.6 (74.1%)
19. Mystery 101: Playing Dead (air date: June 23 (HMM)) – 425 pts – weighted score: 86.5 (73.9%)
20. A Summer Romance (air date: Aug 17) – 577 pts – weighted score: 103.7 (72.7%)
21. The Christmas Club (air date: Nov 27) – 588 pts – weighted score: 103.5 (72.6%)
22. True Love Blooms (air date: April 6) – 598 pts – weighted score: 103.1 (72.3%)
23. Forever in My Heart (air date: Sept 14) – 560 pts – weighted score: 102.4 (71.8%)
24. The Mistletoe Secret (air date: Nov 11) – 585 pts – weighted score: 102.2 (71.7%)
25. Christmas Under the Stars (air date: Nov 16) – 576 pts – weighted score: 101.8 (71.4%)
26. The Story of Us (air date: February 9) – 605 pts – weighted score: 101.3 (71.1%)
27. Holiday for Heroes (air date: Nov 8) – 566 pts – weighted score: 99.8 (70.0%)
28. A Brush with Love (air date: March 30) – 563 pts – weighted score: 97.7 (68.6%)
29. Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays – 558 pts – weighted score: 97.7 (68.6%)
30. A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love (air date: Nov 17) – 548 pts – weighted score: 96.9 (68.0%)
31. Ruby Herring: Silent Witness (air date: January 20 (HMM)) – 357 pts – weighted score: 79.5 (67.9%)
32. Love, Unleashed (air date: July 6, 2019) – 559 pts – weighted score: 96.2 (67.5%)
33. Love Under the Rainbow (air date: March 9) – 581 pts – weighted score: 96.0 (67.4%)
34. One Winter Proposal (air date: January 12) – 535 pts – weighted score: 95.8 (67.2%)
35. Just Add Romance (air date: March 2) – 548 pts – weighted score: 95.6 (67.1%)
36. Christmas Scavenger Hunt (air date: Nov 3) – 561 pts – weighted score: 95.4 (66.9%)
37. From Friend to Fiance (air date: May 25) – 555 pts – weighted score: 94.8% (66.5%)
38. Picture a Perfect Christmas (air date: Nov 10) – 529 pts – weighted score: 94.6 (66.4%)
39. A Christmas Duet (air date: Nov 25) – 540 pts – weighted score: 94.1 (66.0%)
40. Write Before Christmas (air date: Nov 17) – 529 pts – weighted score: 94.1 (66.0%)
41. Christmas Camp (air date: July 11) – 530 pts – weighted score: 93.9 (65.9%)
42. Our Christmas Love Song (air date: Nov 24) – 537 pts – weighted score: 93.4 (65.5%)
43. Love and Sunshine (air date: Aug 3) – 504 pts – weighted score: 91.7 (64.3%)
44. Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For (air date: March 10 (HMM) – 354 pts – weighted score: 74.1 (63.3%)
45. A Christmas Miracle (air date: Nov 14) – 494 pts – weighted score: 90.1 (63.2%)
46. Sister of the Bride (air date: June 29) – 516 pts – weighted score: 89.8 (63.0%)
47. Valentine in the Vineyard (air date: February 2) – 503 pts – weighted score: 89.5 (62.8%)
48. Love, Take Two (air date: June 15) – 507 pts – weighted score: 87.8 (61.6%)
49. All Summer Long (air date: Aug 24) – 512 pts – weighted score: 87.7 (61.5%)
50. Snowcoming (air date: January 26) – 485 pts – weighted score: 87.3 (61.2%)
51. The Winter Castle (air date: January 5) – 475 pts – weighted score: 85.9 (60.2%)
52. Merry & Bright (air date: Nov 2) – 483 pts – weighted score: 84.4 (59.2%)
53. Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2 (air date: Nov 24) – 465 pts – weighted score: 83.4 (58.5%)
54. Nostalgic Christmas (air date: Oct 31) – 446 pts – weighted score: 79.2 (55.6%)
55. A Merry Christmas Match (air date: Oct 25) – 455 pts – weighted score: 78.3 (54.9%)
56. Sailing Into Love (air date: May 18) – 455 pts – weighted score: 78.0 (54.7%)
57. Rome in Love (air date: July 27) – 436 pts – weighted score: 76.7 (53.8%)
58. A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas (air date: Nov 7) – 398 pts – weighted score: 72.3 (50.7%)
59. A Taste of Summer (air date: Aug 10) – 403 pts – weighted score: 70.9 (49.7%)
60. A Winter Princess (air date: January 18) – 380 pts – weighted score: 70.5 (49.5%)
61. A Feeling of Home (air date: May 11) – 386 pts – weighted score: 69.7% (48.9%)
62. Love in the Sun (air date: June 1) – 361 pts – weighted score: 62.5 (43.8%)

To see where this movie lands in my overall rankings of Hallmark movies, visit my Hallmark Movie Rankings page!

What did you think of “The Christmas Club”?  Comment below and let me know!

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