Hallmark For All Seasons

Lest you think I forgot – I have one more movie from Saturday, November 30 to review!  That night in addition to the Rome movie, we were treated to “Sense Sensibility & Snowmen” starring Erin Krakow and Luke Macfarlane.  Both are very well known to Hallmarkies, she from the super-popular “When Calls the Heart” and him from a myriad of prior Hallmark appearances such as “The Shoe Addict’s Christmas” last year and “Just Add Romance” from early spring.   This movie was written by Melissa de la Cruz (who was also responsible for last year’s “Pride Prejudice and Mistletoe”) and Samantha Harman (who wrote “Small Town Christmas” – my favorite Christmas movie last year).  This movie was filmed in good old Vancouver, Canada.

In a nutshell

When the movie was over, and I saw who one of the writers was for this movie (re: Harman) I realized that’s why I liked this movie.  It had decent writing and Krakow playing 100% against type AND Kimberly Sustad to boot.  Result? I enjoyed it.  Did I LOVE it?  No.  But it was easily more enjoyable than the Rome movie that aired the same night.

Plot (from Hallmark Channel website)

The film centers on Christmas enthusiast party planners Ella (Krakow) and her sister, Marianne, who clash with their client, Edward (MacFarlane), who is a not-so-jolly toy company CEO.

Actors

This movie had three Hallstars that I really enjoy watching.  Krakow is always stellar, and I enjoyed how she really has stretched her acting chops for Hallmark this year.  She normally plays a very virtuous, almost-too-perfect Elizabeth on “When Calls the Heart.”  This past summer played a very different character in “A Summer Romance” with Ryan Paevey – someone much more stoic and reserved.  And then here in “Sense” she was bubbly, outgoing and fun.

Macfarlane is always a good leading man and didn’t disappoint in “Snowmen” – I don’t believe he’s ever been paired up with Krakow, so it was fun watching two old school Hallstars act against each other.  Even moreso, it was fun having Sustad and Krakow together.  My how they truly seemed like sisters!

As for Six Degrees of Kris Polaha, Luke Macfarlane is three steps away!  He starred in 2004’s “Kinsey,” in which David Harbour (later of “Stranger Things”) had a small role.  Harbour went on to appear in “Thin Ice” in 2011, with co-star Mike Hagerty.  Hagerty had a role in 2014’s “Back in the Day,” which also starred Polaha.

Chemistry

Krakow and Sustad should play sisters again if the opportunity arises.  They were so good together in this movie, and I wish they had more scenes together.  Krakow and Macfarlane were great together as well, and it’s a pairing I wouldn’t mind seeing again.

Feelgoods

I normally don’t gush about what party decor looks like, but the set designers for “Snowmen” did a fabulous job with the event that Ella and Marianne put together for Edward.  That party space was LOVELY.

Tropes

More than a few in this one.  Ella wore SEVERAL large scarves (and I want that candy cane scarf even though I never wear coats, much less scarves).  They drank hot cocoa, they attended a tree lighting, the decorated Edward’s Christmas tree at his house.  But let’s talk about those snowmen.  THANK YOU to Hallmark for finally letting people make what appeared to be legit snowmen made with actual snow (even if it was snow generated by a snow making machine).  The snowmen in this movie were wonky and warped and AWESOME. Ella and Edward also had a very short snowball fight with that same snow.

There were not one, but two Big Misunderstandings.  First, Marianne assumed because Ella had printed out a flyer for a screenwriting class that it meant Ella was leaving (more on that later) and Ella saw Edward and Lucy hugging it out and assumed they were really dating.

But not to be outdone, the Laurents went on a sleigh ride, Ella and Edward slow danced at the party, and snow started falling when Edward and Ella kissed near the end of the movie.

Bingo Card Score for “Sense Sensibility & Snowmen”

Even with all those tropes, I only covered 6 spots on my bingo card.  Rough board that night.

Did I Hear/See That Right?

I’ve got a couple issues with the movie, which is what brought down its overall score.

First, this movie was set in Chicago.  In winter. And yet none of these characters seem to experience any of the typical harsh winter weather that Chicago is famous for.  Devastating cold winds that are the main reason for the vast network of underground tunnels throughout the city?  Not an issue in “Snowmen!”  All that’s needed is a cute winter scarf and you are good to go! It was also laughable that Ella and Marianne would show up at Edward’s Christmas pastry in sleeveless dresses.  Sure, the party is indoors not outdoors, but those were NOT winter dresses – those are summer dresses.

My other main quibble is that when Marianne confronts Ella about the screenwriting seminar in NYC, Ella clearly states that her friend asked her about it, but that she’s not interested and TOLD HER FRIEND AS MUCH.  But for some reason Marianne doesn’t accept that answer, but instead gets upset at Ella for even considering it.  Even though Ella said she wanted to help DashWorks grow.  I got irritated with the blatant “we need an argument here to move the story along” feeling behind the entire unnecessary argument.

One last small thing – at the beginning of the movie when Ella and Marianne are coordinating the theater party, I heard a character tell Marianne that Ella had written a great speech for her.  Ummm…I don’t think party planners also write the speeches for the party hosts?  I’ve never hired a party planner, but I really can’t think that this an optional item you can purchase as part of your party.

Re-watchability

I can see myself watching this one again, mainly for Krakow and Sustad.  I really like them and they were both really good in this movie.

The Ranking

“Sense Sensibility & Snowmen” is right in the middle, which feels right to me when I look at the movies a few spots above and below it.  I think I did like it more than the Ruby Herring mystery though. In any event, Erin Krakow was the real winner in this movie – it was a rare chance for her to play someone completely against type, which won the movie for me.

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. Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy (air date: Nov 29) – 627 pts – weighted score: 107.0 (75.1%)
16. Over the Moon in Love (air date: Oct 5) – 613 pts – weighted score: 106.3 (74.6%)
17. Flip That Romance (air date: March 16) – 597 pts – weighted score: 105.8 (74.2%)
18. Check Inn to Christmas (air date: Nov 26) – 619 pts – weighted score: 105.7 (74.1%)
19. My One and Only (air date: Aug 31) – 597 pts – weighted score: 105.6 (74.1%)
20. Mystery 101: Playing Dead (air date: June 23 (HMM)) – 425 pts – weighted score: 86.5 (73.9%)
21. A Summer Romance (air date: Aug 17) – 577 pts – weighted score: 103.7 (72.7%)
22. The Christmas Club (air date: Nov 27) – 588 pts – weighted score: 103.5 (72.6%)
23. True Love Blooms (air date: April 6) – 598 pts – weighted score: 103.1 (72.3%)
24. Forever in My Heart (air date: Sept 14) – 560 pts – weighted score: 102.4 (71.8%)
25. The Mistletoe Secret (air date: Nov 11) – 585 pts – weighted score: 102.2 (71.7%)
26. Christmas Under the Stars (air date: Nov 16) – 576 pts – weighted score: 101.8 (71.4%)
27. The Story of Us (air date: February 9) – 605 pts – weighted score: 101.3 (71.1%)
28. Holiday for Heroes (air date: Nov 8) – 566 pts – weighted score: 99.8 (70.0%)
29. A Brush with Love (air date: March 30) – 563 pts – weighted score: 97.7 (68.6%)
30. Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays – 558 pts – weighted score: 97.7 (68.6%)
31. A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love (air date: Nov 17) – 548 pts – weighted score: 96.9 (68.0%)
32. Ruby Herring: Silent Witness (air date: January 20 (HMM)) – 357 pts – weighted score: 79.5 (67.9%)
33. Love, Unleashed (air date: July 6, 2019) – 559 pts – weighted score: 96.2 (67.5%)
34. Sense Sensibility & Snowmen (air date: Nov 30) – 560 pts – weighted score: 96.1 (67.4%)
35. Love Under the Rainbow (air date: March 9) – 581 pts – weighted score: 96.0 (67.4%)
36. One Winter Proposal (air date: January 12) – 535 pts – weighted score: 95.8 (67.2%)
37. Just Add Romance (air date: March 2) – 548 pts – weighted score: 95.6 (67.1%)
38. Christmas Scavenger Hunt (air date: Nov 3) – 561 pts – weighted score: 95.4 (66.9%)
39. From Friend to Fiance (air date: May 25) – 555 pts – weighted score: 94.8% (66.5%)
40. Picture a Perfect Christmas (air date: Nov 10) – 529 pts – weighted score: 94.6 (66.4%)
41. A Christmas Duet (air date: Nov 25) – 540 pts – weighted score: 94.1 (66.0%)
42. Write Before Christmas (air date: Nov 17) – 529 pts – weighted score: 94.1 (66.0%)
43. Christmas Camp (air date: July 11) – 530 pts – weighted score: 93.9 (65.9%)
44. Our Christmas Love Song (air date: Nov 24) – 537 pts – weighted score: 93.4 (65.5%)
45. Love and Sunshine (air date: Aug 3) – 504 pts – weighted score: 91.7 (64.3%)
46. Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For (air date: March 10 (HMM) – 354 pts – weighted score: 74.1 (63.3%)
47. A Christmas Miracle (air date: Nov 14) – 494 pts – weighted score: 90.1 (63.2%)
48. Christmas at the Plaza (air date: Nov 28) – 517 pts – weighted score: 90.0 (63.1%)
49. Sister of the Bride (air date: June 29) – 516 pts – weighted score: 89.8 (63.0%)
50. Valentine in the Vineyard (air date: February 2) – 503 pts – weighted score: 89.5 (62.8%)
51. Love, Take Two (air date: June 15) – 507 pts – weighted score: 87.8 (61.6%)
52. All Summer Long (air date: Aug 24) – 512 pts – weighted score: 87.7 (61.5%)
53. Snowcoming (air date: January 26) – 485 pts – weighted score: 87.3 (61.2%)
54. Christmas in Rome (air date: Nov 30) – 494 pts – weighted score: 86.8 (60.9%)
55. The Winter Castle (air date: January 5) – 475 pts – weighted score: 85.9 (60.2%)
56. Merry & Bright (air date: Nov 2) – 483 pts – weighted score: 84.4 (59.2%)
57. Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2 (air date: Nov 24) – 465 pts – weighted score: 83.4 (58.5%)
58. Nostalgic Christmas (air date: Oct 31) – 446 pts – weighted score: 79.2 (55.6%)
59. A Merry Christmas Match (air date: Oct 25) – 455 pts – weighted score: 78.3 (54.9%)
60. Sailing Into Love (air date: May 18) – 455 pts – weighted score: 78.0 (54.7%)
61. Rome in Love (air date: July 27) – 436 pts – weighted score: 76.7 (53.8%)
62. A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas (air date: Nov 7) – 398 pts – weighted score: 72.3 (50.7%)
63. A Taste of Summer (air date: Aug 10) – 403 pts – weighted score: 70.9 (49.7%)
64. A Winter Princess (air date: January 18) – 380 pts – weighted score: 70.5 (49.5%)
65. A Feeling of Home (air date: May 11) – 386 pts – weighted score: 69.7% (48.9%)
66. 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 “Sense Sensibility & Snowmen”?  Comment below and let me know!

Hallmark’s “Sense Sensibility & Snowmen” Share on X