Hallmark For All Seasons

“Unlocking Christmas” aired on December 12, 2020 on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel.  Filmed in Ottawa, Canada, it is based on the novella by Fern Michaels found on a book called A Season to Celebrate. And this is where I admit that back in the day when I read copious numbers of romance novels, Fern Michaels was one of my favorite authors.

The movie starred OG Hallstar Taylor Cole as well as Steve Lund, who will now forever be known to me as Jake in Schitt’s Creek. Don McBrearty directed, having directed several Hallmark movies since 2016, including last year’s Double Holiday. Joey Elkins and Blake Silver wrote the screenplay.

Music info: The version of “Merry Little Christmas” that plays while they decorate the tree at Kate’s house was sung by a fabulous musician who goes by the name Sleeping at Last.  Unfortunately, he does not have the Christmas Collection Vol I album available on Amazon, but you can buy it from his website for only $12.  I adore his music, and his song Countdowns (affiliate link) is one of my all-time favorites.

In a nutshell

I liked movie a lot even though it was clear from the beginning who left the boxes for Kate and Kevin to find.  And even though the movie seemed to wrap up VERY quickly, and there were some small plotholes, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the whole thing.

Plot of “Unlocking Christmas”

When a mysterious key and holiday riddle land on their doorsteps, Kate and Kevin embark on a Christmas adventure they’ll never forget.

Actors

Taylor Cole has been acting for Hallmark since 2016, but it feels like it has been longer than that because so many of her movies are ones I watch every year, including “Christmas in Homestead.”  This movie represents the second time that she’s been paired with Steve Lund, the first one being 2017’s “The Art of Us.” He was working that COVID hair in this movie, wasn’t he? *lol*  I don’t mind – it looked good on him.

Chemistry

Cole and Lund have great chemistry together.  This is another example of a script letting the actors have some light moments of comedy as we got to know the characters, which I appreciated.

Tropes

The house had a front porch.  I love that Hallmark equates “homey” with front porches.  Almost every movie has at least one. Kevin is fresh out of the military. Kate and Kevin met up at a festival to solve the first clue. And it looked like a great festival, unlike some that are featured in these movies and only have 10-12 booths.

Kate wore a very large infinity scarf.  We got to see some crafting when they made homemade ornaments at the hospital.  Later on we had a minor slip and fall after their reindeer race at the festival. They drank hot apple cider from empty cups at the tree lighting.  And instead of CGI snow, I do believe we had legit snow at the tree lighting.  It was definitely really cold because you could see their breath when they spoke.

We got to see some ugly Christmas sweaters.  And we had an almost-almost kiss this time around. Kate invited Kevin and his parents over to decorate her Christmas tree.

And then we had the Big Misunderstanding due to an overheard phone call.  But it all got resolved and we ended with a sleigh ride in the snow and a kiss.

Bingo Card Score for “Unlocking Christmas”

I covered 10 spots, but no bingo. Feel free to download my free bingo cards and play along!

Did I Hear/See That Right?

Not sure I know of any military service that allows their soldiers to have such long hair.  Even in the era of COVID.  I know they never said how long he had been out before he came home, but it couldn’t have been too long.

When they sent the videos/photos to the troops, exactly WHICH troops? Kevin’s old base? And how – did they just randomly send it?  I know that you can sent letters, cards, stockings, gifts.  I’ve never heard of sending videos, and the movie never made clear exactly how they got connected with a base and sent the videos.

At the tree lighting, who thought it would be a good idea to have fireworks go off so close to a Christmas tree?

Kate signed on to do a fellowship for a year in Cedar Park, but then leaves to go Chicago a week or so later?  Is that even allowed?  Can you commit to a fellowship and then just leave after a week?

Feelgoods

My main feelgood was hearing Sleeping at Last sing while they decorated Kate’s tree.

Re-watchability

Yes, I’d rewatch “Unlocking Christmas” again.  The cast was solid, the story, despite its faults, was still fun and the dialogue well done.

The Ranking

“Unlocking Christmas” just missed out on the Top 10 for the year, and I think we can safely assume it won’t go much lower since we only have four movies left this Christmas season.

1. One Royal Holiday (air date: Oct 31) – 722 pts – weighted score: 121.8 (85.5%)
2. On the 12th Date of Christmas (air date: Nov 1) – 707 pts – weighted score: 119.2 (83.6%)
3. The Christmas House (air date: Nov 22) – 710 pts – weighted score: 118.6 (83.2%)
4. Sweet Autumn (air date: Oct 17) – 693 pts – weighted score: 118.5 (83.1%)
5. Good Morning, Christmas! (air date: Nov 25) – 698 pts – weighted score: 118.2 (82.9%)
6. A Timeless Christmas (air date: Nov 14) – 700 pts – weighted score: 117.7 (82.6%)
7. Deliver by Christmas (air date: Oct 25) – 697 pts – weighted score: 117.4 (82.4%)
8. Christmas With the Darlings (air date: Nov 8) – 691 pts – weighted score: 117.2 (82.2%)
9. Christmas Waltz (air date: Nov 29) – 694 pts – weighted score: 116.1 (81.5%)
10. Christmas by Starlight (air date: Nov 26) – 689 pts – weighted score: 115.9 (81.3%)
11. Unlocking Christmas (air date: Dec 12) – 687 pts – weighted score: 115.9 (81.3%)
12. A Glenbrooke Christmas (air date: Dec 12) – 695 pts – weighted score: 115.8 (81.2%)
13. Five Star Christmas (air date: Nov 27) – 688 pts – weighted score: 115.8 (81.2%)
14. Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater (air date: Nov 7) – 681 pts – weighted score: 115.8 (81.2%)
15. Love, Lights, Hanukkah! (air date: Dec 12) – 677 pts – weighted score: 114.1 (80.0%)
16. Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing (air date: Dec 5) – 672 pts – weighted score: 113.9 (79.9%)
17. The Christmas Bow (air date: Nov 8) – 676 pts – weighted score: 113.2 (79.4%)
18. Cranberry Christmas (air date: Oct 31) – 650 pts – weighted score: 112.1 (78.6%)
19. The Angel Tree (air date: Nov 21) – 670 pts – weighted score: 110.9 (77.8%)
20. Matching Hearts (air date: Feb 8) – 640 pts – weighted score: 109.0 (76.5%)
21. Winter in Vail (air date: Jan 4) – 623 pts – weighted score: 108.8 (76.4%)
22. Wedding Every Weekend (air date: Aug 15) – 639 pts – weighted score: 108.3 (76.0%)
23. Love in Store (air date: Feb 22) – 637 pts – weighted score: 108.2 (75.9%)
24. Christmas in Vienna (air date: Nov 14) – 636 pts – weighted score: 107.0 (75.1%)
25. A Nashville Christmas Carol (air date: Nov 21) – 634 pts – weighted score: 107.0 (75.1%)
26. A Little Christmas Charm (air date: Dec 6) – 656 pts – weighted score: 106.9 (75.0%)
27. Love on Harbor Island (air date: Aug 8) – 634 pts – weighted score: 106.9 (75.0%)
28. Holly & Ivy (air date: Oct 31) – 615 pts – weighted score: 106.8 (74.9%)
29. Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas (air date: Dec 5) – 615 pts – weighted score: 105.3 (73.9%)
30. The Secret Ingredient (air date: Feb 15) – 617 pts – weighted score: 105.2 (73.8%)
31. The Christmas Doctor (air date: Nov 15) – 605 pts (weighted score: 104.8 (73.5%)
32. Country at Heart (air date: Oct 3) – 611 pts – weighted score: 104.1 (73.1%)
33. You’re Bacon Me Crazy (air date: Apr 4) – 591 pts – weighted score: 104.0 (72.9%)
34. My Best Friend’s Bouquet (air date: Oct 10) – 599 pts – weighted score: 103.4 (72.5%)
35. The Christmas Ring (air date: Nov 7) – 609 pts – weighted score: 103.3 (72.5%)
36. Fashionably Yours (air date: Apr 11) – 594 pts – weighted score: 102.6 (72.0%)
37. Follow Your Heart (air date: Oct 4) – 585 pts – weighted score: 101.6 (71.3%)
38. A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love (air date: Nov 22) – 587 pts – weighted score: 100.9 (70.8%)
39. Christmas Tree Lane (air date: Oct 24) – 574 pts – weighted score: 100.3 (70.4%)
40. A Valentine’s Match (air date: Feb 1) – 562 pts – weighted score: 99.8 (70.0%)
41. Love On Iceland (air date: Jan 18) – 563 pts – weighted score: 99.4 (69.7%)
42. Christmas She Wrote (air date: Dec 6) – 591 pts – weighted score: 99.2 (69.6%)
43. Christmas Comes Twice (air date: Dec 13) – 583 pts – weighted score: 99.1 (69.5%)
44. Hearts of Winter (air date: Jan 25) – 561 pts – weighted score: 98.2 (68.9%)
45. Heart of the Holidays (air date: Nov 23) – 570 pts – weighted score: 97.9 (68.7%)
46. Jingle Bell Bride (air date: Oct 24) – 558 pts – weighted score: 97.9 (68.7%)
47. Just My Type (air date: Mar 28) – 565 pts – weighted score: 95.4 (66.9%)
48. Meet Me At Christmas (air date: Nov 15) 532 pts – weighted score: 91.1 (63.9%)
49. Bad Date Chronicles (air date: Feb 28) – 520 pts – weighted score: 91.0 (63.9%)
50. Love in Winterland (air date: Jan 11) – 508 pts – weighted score: 90.7 (63.6%)
51. Nature of Love (air date: Apr 18) – 520 pts – weighted score: 90.3 (63.3%)
52. If I Only Had Christmas (air date: Nov 29) – 535 pts – weighted score: 90.0 (63.2%)
53. USS Christmas (air date: Nov 28) – 521 pts – weighted score: 87.5 (61.4%)
54. Chateau Christmas (air date: Oct 25) – 502 pts – weighted score: 87.3 (61.3%)
55. Amazing Winter Romance (air date: Jan 20) – 487 pts – weighted score: 85.6 (60.1%)
56. Love Under the Olive Tree (air date: June 20) – 473 pts – weighted score: 85.0 (59.6%)
57. In the Key of Love (air date: Mar 14) – 470 pts – weighted score: 82.5 (57.9%)
58. Love in the Forecast (air date: Jun 13) – 440 pts – weighted score: 72.5 (50.8%)
59. Midway to Love (air date: June 26) – 410 pts – weighted score: 69.0 (48.4%)
60. Falling at Look Lodge (air date: Sept 26) – 350 pts – weighted score: 64.0 (44.9%)
61. Romance in the Air (air date: Aug 1) – 367 pts – weighted score: 63.2 (44.3%)
62. Follow Me to Daisy Hills (air date: Sept 19) – 337 pts – weighted score: 62.8 (44.1%)
63. How to Train Your Husband (air date: May 16) – 350 pts – weighted score: 62.5 (43.9%)

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

In any event, what did you think of “Unlocking Christmas”?  Comment below and let me know!