Hallmark For All Seasons

Countdown to Christmas 2021

A Kiss Before Christmas

“A Kiss Before Christmas,” starring Teri Hatcher, James Denton and Marilu Henner, aired on November 21 during 2021’s Countdown to Christmas on Hallmark Channel. It was filmed in the Winnipeg area of Canada but set in Chicago.

Mark Amato and Tracy Andreen wrote the screenplay. Amato is responsible for a couple Hallmark holiday movies that I really like, such as 2016’s “A Christmas Detour,” and 2018’s “Christmas at Grand Valley.” Tracy Andreen is also responsible for a few of my favorites, such as 2017’s “Christmas Getaway” and last year’s Christmas With The Darlings. Jeff Beasley directed, having been responsible for one I liked a lot this year, Love Strikes Twice, but also being responsible for one I didn’t like, Snowkissed.

This movie poster is whimsical and fun. There’s nothing overtly Christmas other than the green tone and wreath in Teri Hatcher’s elevator, but I love that the elevator is the focus of the poster, letting us know it’s integral to the movie itself.

Music: The version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen that played when Ethan turned on his fancy bathroom shower was by Geoffrey Gascoyne. Later, when Ethan decorated his tree and sent Joyce poinsettias, we heard So, Santa by Dave Barnes. The last vocal song we heard in the movie was also by Dave Barnes, called Better Than Christmas Day.

In a nutshell

I liked it. I thought James Denton was great, and Teri Hatcher played well opposite him. It definitely paid off to cast two actors who have worked together previously!

The Plot of “A Kiss Before Christmas”

When nice-guy Ethan casually wishes his life had taken a different course, he wakes up the next day to find nothing is the same – he’s not married to his wife Joyce, he doesn’t have two teenaged kids and he’s CEO of his company. If he wants to reclaim his original life and the family he loves, he must convince Joyce he’s telling the truth and win her over…and he only has until Christmas Day.

Actors & Chemistry

This was a rare Hallmark movie where the male was the lead character. James Denton is quite popular with Hallmark fans, having been part of the “Good Witch” series for many years, as well as co-starring with Teri Hatcher on “Desperate Housewives.” I thought he was great, and at the end of the movie clearly channeling Jimmy Stewart at the end of “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

And while I may not be the biggest Teri Hatcher fan, I thought she was great in this movie. I do wish they’d given Marilu Henner a bit more to do, but, my goodness, can she give a tough glare when she wants to. She genuinely looked furious with Sean when she fired him for being an unethical land developer.

Tropes

City skyline opening shot. Ice skating! Is that a magical Santa? A promotion is on the line. The kids were decorating cookies in the kitchen. Plenty of empty coffee cups. Hot cocoa for Lottie Feldman. Upon waking after making a Christmas wish, Ethan discovers he works for the evil developer trying to raze the community center. And that he and Joyce are not married and do not get along any longer. Ethan decorated a tree at his house. A tree lighting. Joyce went tree shopping. And then they decorated HER tree. She wore a circle necklace.

Did I Hear/See That Right?

It was a pretty strong script, but I thought it was totally unnecessary to have him “forget” his daughter Trisha 2-3 days before the deadline, and then have Santa walk into the TV studio like an evil sorcerer a moment later. Very weird, even if that hiccup to the Christmas wish did cause Ethan to eventually claim what his true wish was when he inevitably forgot his whole family at the Christmas Eve party.

Feelgoods

The best line of the movie came at the Christmas Eve party, when Joyce is helping Ethan, and they both see Santa. This proves to Joyce that Ethan wasn’t making up his story about his other life, and she tells him “You should go. I’m waiting.” I thought that was great.

Re-watchability of “A Kiss Before Christmas”

James Denton was so delightful in this movie, and the story so well done, that I do anticipate watching this one again. Maybe not this year, but definitely in the future.

The Ranking

“A Kiss Before Christmas” is in a good spot! I’m over 50 movies for the year and it’s in a solid 13th place. That’s really good!

The Santa Stakeout (air date: Oct 24) – 730 pts – weighted score: 122.3 (85.8%)
A Christmas Family Tree (air date: Nov 14) – 730 pts – weighted score: 121.9 (85.5%)
You, Me and The Christmas Trees (air date: Oct 22) – 716 pts – weighted score: 121.3 (85.1%)
Crashing Through The Snow (air date: July 10) – 705 pts – weighted score: 118.1 (82.8%)
One December Night (air date: Nov 13) – 695 pts – weighted score: 116.3 (81.6%)
A Mrs. Miracle Christmas (air date: Nov 6) – 688 pts – weighted score: 116.2 (81.5%)
Boyfriends of Christmas Past (air date: Oct 23) – 673 pts – weighted score: 116.1 (81.5%)
Next Stop, Christmas (air date: Nov 6) – 682 pts – weighted score: 114.7 (80.5%)
It Was Always You (air date: Feb 27) – 668 pts – weighted score: 114.2 (80.1%)
The Christmas Promise (air date: Oct 30) – 675 pts – weighted score: 114.1 (80.0%)
Gingerbread Miracle (air date: Nov 5) – 671 pts – weighted score: 114.0 (80.0%)
Christmas In My Heart (air date: Oct 23) – 675 pts – weighted score: 113.9 (79.9%)
A Kiss Before Christmas (air date: Nov 21) – 671 pts – weighted score: 111.9 (78.5%)
Open at Christmas (air date: Nov 12) – 658 pts – weighted score: 111.6 (78.3%)
You Had Me At Aloha (air date: June 5) – 675 pts – weighted score: 111.4 (78.1%)
Sweet Carolina (air date: May 15) – 648 pts – weighted score: 110.1 (77.2%)
Taking a Shot at Love (air date: Jan 2) – 641 pts – weighted score: 108.9 (76.4%)
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (air date: Mar 27) – 636 pts – weighted score: 108.5 (76.1%)
Right in Front of Me (air date: Apr 18) – 637 pts – weighted score: 108.0 (75.8%)
As Luck Would Have It (air date: Apr 10) – 638 pts – weighted score: 107.7 (75.5%)
Her Pen Pal (air date: June 19) – 636 pts – weighted score: 107.1 (75.1%)
The Baker’s Son (air date: June 13) – 637 pts – weighted score: 106.3 (74.6%)
South Beach Love (air date: Oct 9) – 615 pts – weighted score: 105.8 (74.2%)
Love Strikes Twice (air date: Oct 2) – 608 pts – weighted score: 105.2 (73.8%)
A Holiday in Harlem (air date: Nov 7) – 628 pts – weighted score: 105.1 (73.7%)
Christmas Sail (air date: Oct 31) – 606 pts – weighted score: 105.1 (73.7%)
Christmas in Harmony (air date: Oct 29) – 605 pts – weighted score: 104.8 (73.5%)
A Christmas Treasure (air date: Nov 7) – 625 pts – weighted score: 104.6 (73.4%)
A Winter Getaway (air date: Jan 23) – 620 pts – weighted score: 104.4 (73.3%)
Coyote Creek Christmas (air date: Oct 30) – 614 pts – weighted score: 104.3 (73.2%)
Love, For Real (air date: July 31) – 607 pts – weighted score: 103.6 (72.7%)
Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone (air date: Oct 1) – 595 pts – weighted score: 103.0 (72.2%)
Mix Up in the Mediterranean (air date: Feb 20) – 590 pts – weighted score: 102.5 (71.9%)
Advice to Love By (air date: Oct 16) – 599 pts – weighted score: 102.2 (71.7)
Two For The Win (air date: Jan 16) – 603 pts – weighted score: 101.8 (71.4%)
Taking the Reins (air date: Sept 28) – 574 pts – weighted score: 101.2 (71.0%)
Raise a Glass to Love (air date: Sept 18) – 590 pts – weighted score: 100.7 (70.7%)
Chasing Waterfalls (air date: Mar 20) – 570 pts – weighted score: 100.3 (70.4%)
Roadhouse Romance (air date: Sept 11) – 571 pts – weighted score: 100.2 (70.3%)
Sweet Pecan Summer (air date: ) – 576 pts – weighted score: 97.3 (68.3%)
Sand Dollar Cove (air date: June 26) – 557 pts – weighted score: 96.8 (67.9%)
Hearts Down Under (air date: Apr 24) – 547 pts – weighted score: 95.2 (66.8%)
Fit for a Prince (air date: Mar 6) – 546 pts – weighted score: 94.6 (66.4%)
A New Year’s Resolution (air date: Jan 9) – 516 pts – weighted score: 90.5 (63.5%)
Finding Love in Mountain View (air date: ) – 504 pts – weighted score: 89.5 (62.8%)
A Little Daytime Drama (air date: Aug 21) – 511 pts – weighted score: 87.7 (61.5%)
Baby, It’s Cold Inside (air date: May 8) – 495 pts – weighted score: 85.6 (60.0%)
Playing Cupid (air date: Feb 13) – 466 pts – weighted score: 82.6 (58.0%)
Beverly Hills Wedding (air date: Feb 6) – 431 pts – weighted score: 80.6 (56.5%)
Journey of my Heart (air date: ) – 450 pts – weighted score: 76.0 (53.3%)
Snowkissed (air date: Jan 31) – 402 pts – weighted score: 76.0 (53.3%)