Hallmark For All Seasons

“Time for You to Come Home for Christmas” originally aired on December 8 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel, starring one of my all-time female faves, Allison Sweeney, and Lucas Bryant, who some may recall from Hallmark’s 2016 movie “Summer Love” co-starring Rachael Leigh Cook.  “Time for You” was set in Provincetown, Virginia, but was actually filmed in Vancouver, Canada.

In a nutshell

I was dreading this movie because of the whole “sequel” idea (since there was a movie last year called “Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas” which I didn’t like all that much).  However, this is a standalone story that had NOTHING to do with the first movie, and I found that for the most part it was much better than I expected, and in the end I liked it a lot.

Plot (from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel website)

When Katherine (Sweeney) returns home a couple years after her husband passed, she meets a veteran named Jack (Bryant) who is on his own holiday journey. As Christmas nears, they learn of a bond that may be the miracle they need.

Actors

I like Allison Sweeney a lot.  I’ve loved her since her time on “Days of Our Lives” and she is in one of my all-time favorite Hallmark movies, 2015’s “Love on the Air.”  I knew that this alone would work in this movie’s favor.

I did not recognize Lucas Bryant from his “Summer Love” movie (even though I remember liking that one).  He made some weird choices in this movie that really made me not like his character very much.

Six Degrees of Kris Polaha: Lucas Bryant is three steps away.  He had a role in 2012’s “The Vow” which starred Channing Tatum.  Back in 2005 Tatum had a role in the Tom Cruise sci-fi flick “War of the Worlds” (the reason you don’t remember him being in that movie is that his scene was cut – but he was still technically “in it” for our purposes). Tatum co-starred with Amy Ryan in that movie.  Ryan then shared a movie credit with Polaha in 2013’s “Devil’s Knot.”

Chemistry

I so wish I could say the leads in “Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas” had chemistry.  Most of them did – the parents, the kid, the townspeople – they all had chemistry together, but Lucas Bryant’s Jack was the odd man out.  I don’t know what kind of notes he took about how to play the role of Jack, but my goodness was it a weird choice.  His character came off as creepy, morose, secretive (and not in a fun “Surprise!” kind of way) and depressing.

Some of the ways he delivered his lines made him seem more like a stalker than a suitor.  Truly, the ONLY scene where I thought, “Okay, now that was nice!” was when he asked her out on a date.  The way he reacted in that scene was nice, normal, and human.  Throughout the movie, Sweeney did her best playing against him, but not even The Queen of Daytime could salvage the off-putting performance of her co-star.

Tropes

I feel the need to ask – should trains be made a new trope option?  This is the 3rd or 4th movie this holiday season that has featured people taking the train.  I’m considering make it a square on my 2nd round of bingo cards for next year.

As for the already-identified tropes, we had a military storyline, a single parent, a widowed parent, a gorgeous house with a covered front porch, a lead character that sings, a cute dog, and tree shopping.  Not only that, but I spied some hot cocoa, some crafting/painting, ice skating, a snowball fight, a big scarf, a Christmas wish, and some CGI snow.  Not to be left out, though, a slow dance made another appearance as well.

Bingo Card Score for “Time for You to Come Home for Christmas”

Only eight spots covered, and no bingo.

Did I Hear/See That Right?

I’m sure there were plot points that were out of place or mishandled, but I was so distracted by the Debbie Downer vibe that Jack was giving off that I didn’t write a single thing down for this category.  I do recall being confused as to why Katherine’s mom felt the overwhelming need to retire versus just hiring some help at the bakery.

Feelgoods

I was very happy that the mistletoe used in the movie was actual mistletoe this time around.  And I loved the very opening scene of the movie when Tyler left the Snow Ball to go find Katherine and dance with her in the bakery.  Very nice.

Re-watchability

In spite of Lucas Bryant, I actually do think I would watch “Time for You to Come Home for Christmas” again.  It score high in most categories other than chemistry, which is why it landed where it did on my overall ranking below.

The Ranking

“Time for You to Come Home for Christmas” is in the upper third for the year!  It scored more points than “Holiday for Heroes” but the effect of weighted scoring on the chemistry category meant it fell one notch below overall.

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. Time for You to Come Home for Christmas (air date: Dec 8) – 582 pts – weighted score: 98.4 (69.1%)
30. A Brush with Love (air date: March 30) – 563 pts – weighted score: 97.7 (68.6%)
31. Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays – 558 pts – weighted score: 97.7 (68.6%)
32. A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love (air date: Nov 17) – 548 pts – weighted score: 96.9 (68.0%)
33. Ruby Herring: Silent Witness (air date: January 20 (HMM)) – 357 pts – weighted score: 79.5 (67.9%)
34. Love, Unleashed (air date: July 6, 2019) – 559 pts – weighted score: 96.2 (67.5%)
35. Sense Sensibility & Snowmen (air date: Nov 30) – 560 pts – weighted score: 96.1 (67.4%)
36. Love Under the Rainbow (air date: March 9) – 581 pts – weighted score: 96.0 (67.4%)
37. One Winter Proposal (air date: January 12) – 535 pts – weighted score: 95.8 (67.2%)
38. Just Add Romance (air date: March 2) – 548 pts – weighted score: 95.6 (67.1%)
39. Christmas Scavenger Hunt (air date: Nov 3) – 561 pts – weighted score: 95.4 (66.9%)
40. From Friend to Fiance (air date: May 25) – 555 pts – weighted score: 94.8% (66.5%)
41. Christmas at Dollywood (air date: Dec 8) – 553 pts – weighted score: 94.6 (66.4%)
42. Picture a Perfect Christmas (air date: Nov 10) – 529 pts – weighted score: 94.6 (66.4%)
43. A Christmas Duet (air date: Nov 25) – 540 pts – weighted score: 94.1 (66.0%)
44. Write Before Christmas (air date: Nov 17) – 529 pts – weighted score: 94.1 (66.0%)
45. Christmas Camp (air date: July 11) – 530 pts – weighted score: 93.9 (65.9%)
46. Our Christmas Love Song (air date: Nov 24) – 537 pts – weighted score: 93.4 (65.5%)
47. Love and Sunshine (air date: Aug 3) – 504 pts – weighted score: 91.7 (64.3%)
48. Crossword Mysteries: A Puzzle to Die For (air date: March 10 (HMM) – 354 pts – weighted score: 74.1 (63.3%)
49. A Christmas Miracle (air date: Nov 14) – 494 pts – weighted score: 90.1 (63.2%)
50. Christmas at the Plaza (air date: Nov 28) – 517 pts – weighted score: 90.0 (63.1%)
51. Sister of the Bride (air date: June 29) – 516 pts – weighted score: 89.8 (63.0%)
52. Valentine in the Vineyard (air date: February 2) – 503 pts – weighted score: 89.5 (62.8%)
53. Love, Take Two (air date: June 15) – 507 pts – weighted score: 87.8 (61.6%)
54. All Summer Long (air date: Aug 24) – 512 pts – weighted score: 87.7 (61.5%)
55. Snowcoming (air date: January 26) – 485 pts – weighted score: 87.3 (61.2%)
56. Christmas in Rome (air date: Nov 30) – 494 pts – weighted score: 86.8 (60.9%)
57. The Winter Castle (air date: January 5) – 475 pts – weighted score: 85.9 (60.2%)
58. A Christmas Love Story (air date: Dec 7) – 525 pts – weighted score: 85.1 (59.7%)
59. Merry & Bright (air date: Nov 2) – 483 pts – weighted score: 84.4 (59.2%)
60. Christmas Town (air date: Dec 7) – 508 pts – weighted score: 83.8 (58.8%)
61. Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2 (air date: Nov 24) – 465 pts – weighted score: 83.4 (58.5%)
62. Nostalgic Christmas (air date: Oct 31) – 446 pts – weighted score: 79.2 (55.6%)
63. A Merry Christmas Match (air date: Oct 25) – 455 pts – weighted score: 78.3 (54.9%)
64. Sailing Into Love (air date: May 18) – 455 pts – weighted score: 78.0 (54.7%)
65. Rome in Love (air date: July 27) – 436 pts – weighted score: 76.7 (53.8%)
66. A Homecoming for the Holidays (air date: Dec 7) – 458 pts – weighted score: 75.9 (53.2%)
67. A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas (air date: Nov 7) – 398 pts – weighted score: 72.3 (50.7%)
68. A Taste of Summer (air date: Aug 10) – 403 pts – weighted score: 70.9 (49.7%)
69. A Winter Princess (air date: January 18) – 380 pts – weighted score: 70.5 (49.5%)
70. A Feeling of Home (air date: May 11) – 386 pts – weighted score: 69.7% (48.9%)
71. 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 “Time for You to Come Home for Christmas”?  Comment below and let me know!

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