It's was pretty boring. I feel like I've already watched two or three Christmas Lifetime movies where the main character designs department store windows. Hey Lifetime, can you pick a different career for you main characters? Why are they always in advertising, marketing or event planners?
19 Reviews
Jessica sings
Jackbv1235 January 2020
I have been saying over and over, including posting on the movie twitter sites, that I want more Christmas movies where some of the many musically talented actors sing whether it be some carols, or an original song. There have been some, and yet there have been missed opportunities in other cases. This was an excellent performance by Jessica Lowndes.
The story is more of the same stuff being churned out by the writers. A festival or a ball or a pageant is in jeopardy and the movie's star (from a big city) has to fix it and to do so she has to work with someone she doesn't like (yet). Meanwhile there is a crisis in her day job and a promotion at stake. I just described 100 Christmas movies just this decade and probably a lot more than that. This one didn't seem to have much to set it apart and therefore, we have to hope for an interesting relationship between the leads along with possibly some humor and good dialogue. Again I say, I didn't really see anything to set it apart in any of those regards.
I think I'm being generous with the rating thanks to Jessica's singing. Otherwise the movie isn't awful, but it isn't great and there are a lot better ones out there, even with the same basic premise.
BTW: I'm going to say it because so many people do, but it isn't a factor in my rating. Do people really hold balls or wedding in barns? Is there heat? Jessica walks in from the outside with snow falling behind her with bare shoulders, and the two wide barn doors are open to the outside. Don't get me wrong. She and the vision are beautiful, but maybe our Christmas movie culture needs to get over the white Christmas thing.
This is Lifetime, not Hallmark.
The story is more of the same stuff being churned out by the writers. A festival or a ball or a pageant is in jeopardy and the movie's star (from a big city) has to fix it and to do so she has to work with someone she doesn't like (yet). Meanwhile there is a crisis in her day job and a promotion at stake. I just described 100 Christmas movies just this decade and probably a lot more than that. This one didn't seem to have much to set it apart and therefore, we have to hope for an interesting relationship between the leads along with possibly some humor and good dialogue. Again I say, I didn't really see anything to set it apart in any of those regards.
I think I'm being generous with the rating thanks to Jessica's singing. Otherwise the movie isn't awful, but it isn't great and there are a lot better ones out there, even with the same basic premise.
BTW: I'm going to say it because so many people do, but it isn't a factor in my rating. Do people really hold balls or wedding in barns? Is there heat? Jessica walks in from the outside with snow falling behind her with bare shoulders, and the two wide barn doors are open to the outside. Don't get me wrong. She and the vision are beautiful, but maybe our Christmas movie culture needs to get over the white Christmas thing.
This is Lifetime, not Hallmark.
It's OK, but ...
ExiledRoyal10 December 2020
Maybe we're just uber critical ... or just from the wrong generation. But Jessica, Jessica, Jessica. Lose the vocal fry. It sounds like you're constantly gargling with frogs. We switched over to watch Attenborough. He's someone who knows real frogs.
Lost designer
raronhiarakwas18 November 2020
Just too weird of a storyline and characters
angelicsk200121 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Okay so Hallmark has made waaayy better movies than this one even with recurring premises.
I'm not a huge fan of Jessica Lowndes but I have enjoyed other movies she's done. As for BJ Britt, I'm not familiar with him, this is the first movie I've seen him in and I'm sure he's a terrific actor in whatever else he's done but in this movie there was no interest for me to want to like his character.
The leads had no chemistry whatsoever. There wasn't any romantic lead up to warrant the must have kiss at the end and every so called hint at a supposed brewing romance felt like it had to be mentioned because there was no body language to show it. I don't usually critique children because they are just purely innocent in their role although some really do have talent but oye they made this one to be very annoying. It was like when she had to deliver her line they just cued her right in and sent her back out.
The storyline was boring and the events were not interesting. When Adam was upset about Mia going back to Boston to salvage her job, that ticked me off. She said from the beginning that she had to be back to work by a certain day and in addition on the day she had to fix a big problem. So why give her flack for leaving the festival planning to go back and do her job. A whole town was there to help and Mia's sister would have had some experience to be able to take over. Adam could have just been cool about it not be exaggeratedly upset. On the flip side, the Barrington window display was horrible. The memories was a nice touch but the back drop for it was totally offkey. If Mia only knew she was going to go back to do such none sense to the display, then it was better she stayed to coordinate the festival instead.
Overall, this movie was just too weird for me. I watched it because I can't put down a Hallmark movie just like that and I was really hoping that there was a big save somewhere but I was just cringing and rolling my eyes the whole way through.
This is not going on my re-watch list.
I'm not a huge fan of Jessica Lowndes but I have enjoyed other movies she's done. As for BJ Britt, I'm not familiar with him, this is the first movie I've seen him in and I'm sure he's a terrific actor in whatever else he's done but in this movie there was no interest for me to want to like his character.
The leads had no chemistry whatsoever. There wasn't any romantic lead up to warrant the must have kiss at the end and every so called hint at a supposed brewing romance felt like it had to be mentioned because there was no body language to show it. I don't usually critique children because they are just purely innocent in their role although some really do have talent but oye they made this one to be very annoying. It was like when she had to deliver her line they just cued her right in and sent her back out.
The storyline was boring and the events were not interesting. When Adam was upset about Mia going back to Boston to salvage her job, that ticked me off. She said from the beginning that she had to be back to work by a certain day and in addition on the day she had to fix a big problem. So why give her flack for leaving the festival planning to go back and do her job. A whole town was there to help and Mia's sister would have had some experience to be able to take over. Adam could have just been cool about it not be exaggeratedly upset. On the flip side, the Barrington window display was horrible. The memories was a nice touch but the back drop for it was totally offkey. If Mia only knew she was going to go back to do such none sense to the display, then it was better she stayed to coordinate the festival instead.
Overall, this movie was just too weird for me. I watched it because I can't put down a Hallmark movie just like that and I was really hoping that there was a big save somewhere but I was just cringing and rolling my eyes the whole way through.
This is not going on my re-watch list.
Good Movie
ballouvince20 June 2021
Not worth rediscovering
TheLittleSongbird26 October 2021
Just to say now, in my view not all Lifetime's Christmas offerings are bad. Actually was pleasantly surprised by some, which has been true of my film viewings of Hallmark/Lifetime etc Christmas films in general over-time. The concept is not really very exciting and is quite more of the same (if you see one Lifetime Christmas film and then you see 49 more or something it's like seeing one film fifty times), but there have been Lifetime Christmas films that still work in spite of that because of having charm and good enough acting.
Lifetime have sometimes done well with the Christmas offerings centering heavily around saving businesses, including in 2019. 'Rediscovering Christmas' is not one of those films. Of a very mixed to unimpressive year, 'Rediscovering Christmas' is by quite some way one of the worst of the 2019 batch for Lifetime if not quite the worst. Not completely unwatchable, but 'Rediscovering Christmas' fails more than it succeeds. Though there is some credit due for a component that is usually a weak link in their films is one of the best things.
'Rediscovering Christmas' has a few good things. The scenery is nice. As is the music, which is easy on the ears and is not intrusive or over-used. The final song is single worthy.
Best of all is Jessica Lowndes. Am usually not a fan of Lowndes and usually find her a weak link in her films, just find her performances lacking in variety and expression and don't find her at ease. Here she is completely at ease and is the most charming and nuanced she's been to me.
It is however a performance that deserved a much better film. The rest of the cast are the complete opposite, with BJ Britt being both charisma-free and annoying. Not only does he and Lowndes not have any chemistry together in a very under-developed romance, they are very mismatched too and his appeal to her escapes me. Didn't care for the characters other than Lowndes, everybody else are walking ciphers. The direction is only functional at best and has little spark.
The editing can be sloppy and the photography has nothing distinct to it. The script is like a cobbling together of over-familiar cliches, and then there is the overkill cheesiness and schmaltziness to the awkwardly flowing lines. The story is not just a tired variation of a done to death scenario but is also very, very thin, which does affect the pacing. Which tends to be pedestrian. It also has no charm and takes itself too seriously. 'Rediscovering Christmas' has some truly cliched character writing, that gives the characters like one or two character traits and not much else.
Overall, pretty weak. 3/10.
Lifetime have sometimes done well with the Christmas offerings centering heavily around saving businesses, including in 2019. 'Rediscovering Christmas' is not one of those films. Of a very mixed to unimpressive year, 'Rediscovering Christmas' is by quite some way one of the worst of the 2019 batch for Lifetime if not quite the worst. Not completely unwatchable, but 'Rediscovering Christmas' fails more than it succeeds. Though there is some credit due for a component that is usually a weak link in their films is one of the best things.
'Rediscovering Christmas' has a few good things. The scenery is nice. As is the music, which is easy on the ears and is not intrusive or over-used. The final song is single worthy.
Best of all is Jessica Lowndes. Am usually not a fan of Lowndes and usually find her a weak link in her films, just find her performances lacking in variety and expression and don't find her at ease. Here she is completely at ease and is the most charming and nuanced she's been to me.
It is however a performance that deserved a much better film. The rest of the cast are the complete opposite, with BJ Britt being both charisma-free and annoying. Not only does he and Lowndes not have any chemistry together in a very under-developed romance, they are very mismatched too and his appeal to her escapes me. Didn't care for the characters other than Lowndes, everybody else are walking ciphers. The direction is only functional at best and has little spark.
The editing can be sloppy and the photography has nothing distinct to it. The script is like a cobbling together of over-familiar cliches, and then there is the overkill cheesiness and schmaltziness to the awkwardly flowing lines. The story is not just a tired variation of a done to death scenario but is also very, very thin, which does affect the pacing. Which tends to be pedestrian. It also has no charm and takes itself too seriously. 'Rediscovering Christmas' has some truly cliched character writing, that gives the characters like one or two character traits and not much else.
Overall, pretty weak. 3/10.
Loved the story, the romance, the locale and especially the supporting cast
herbqedi1 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
David Naughton as the Dad was pitch perfect for this movie. I love his subtly sweet romance with the male lead's mother. His unconditional love sets the undercurrent for everything else. He has an irrepressible soul even if I have to look hard to see his once beautifully boyish face. I found BJ Britt quite convincing in the male lead whose tough know-it-all-comfortable-in-my-own-skin exterior hides an open wound of self-blame concerning the former family Christmas business. Jessica Lowndes is a force of nature as per usual and her relationship with Sister Sara is nice and non-intrusive. The comic interludes with Emily and grand dame Jessica Walter are wonderful and fitting. The solution to the Boston Department Store Christmas window was very clever.
It was a terrific feel-good movie I'm glad I chose to usher in the New Year.
A bunch of nothing happens.
doctorsmoothlove21 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Rediscovering Christmas" is another assembly line Christmas film from Lifetime. If you read the credits, you may notice it was written by Karen Schaler, the writer of Netflix's "The Christmas Prince." You may remember that film for being more schmaltzy than story-driven. The same is true here but it somehow has even less story.
An interior designer (Jessia Lowndes) working for a department store (I guess?) has to make an appealing window display in time for Christmas. The store doesn't get enough screen time for us to know why it is failing. I guess young people with their "online shopping" has cut into the traditional retail space. That is the first instance in which the film has a weird anti-internet theme. It comes off as if a curmudgeonly person wrote this script though the author is a younger woman.
Lowndes is tricked home by her father to help her younger sister host a holiday party with the town's lawyer (B.J. Britt). Britt is another younger person with an anti-internet stance. He can't stand the idea of the town's Christmas festival being publicized on social media. The way Lowndes talks to Britt (do we have a hashtag?) seem really awkward to me. The actress seems to cringe her way through the cheesy dialog.
Lowndes decides to call in sick to work to continue working on the festival. She puts her assistant in charge to deal with the crabby department store boss. The boss is really difficult to deal with but at least the new hire is there. The festival which she's planning is to commemorate the meeting of Britt's grandparents. Don't both of these characters seem egotistical to you? I couldn't connect to either of them. At least they deserve each other.
It doesn't help matters that the leads despite their mutual beauty have little chemistry with each other. They spend a lot of time planning the event and interact like co-workers more than anything else. At least Lowndes has a good musical number in the final moments. I'd stay skip this one unless you are a Christmas fanatic.
An interior designer (Jessia Lowndes) working for a department store (I guess?) has to make an appealing window display in time for Christmas. The store doesn't get enough screen time for us to know why it is failing. I guess young people with their "online shopping" has cut into the traditional retail space. That is the first instance in which the film has a weird anti-internet theme. It comes off as if a curmudgeonly person wrote this script though the author is a younger woman.
Lowndes is tricked home by her father to help her younger sister host a holiday party with the town's lawyer (B.J. Britt). Britt is another younger person with an anti-internet stance. He can't stand the idea of the town's Christmas festival being publicized on social media. The way Lowndes talks to Britt (do we have a hashtag?) seem really awkward to me. The actress seems to cringe her way through the cheesy dialog.
Lowndes decides to call in sick to work to continue working on the festival. She puts her assistant in charge to deal with the crabby department store boss. The boss is really difficult to deal with but at least the new hire is there. The festival which she's planning is to commemorate the meeting of Britt's grandparents. Don't both of these characters seem egotistical to you? I couldn't connect to either of them. At least they deserve each other.
It doesn't help matters that the leads despite their mutual beauty have little chemistry with each other. They spend a lot of time planning the event and interact like co-workers more than anything else. At least Lowndes has a good musical number in the final moments. I'd stay skip this one unless you are a Christmas fanatic.
In a land beyond Woke
Essex_Rider12 December 2020
Come on, this was a movie made in the cause of wokeness. There was no character development, no empathy with the main (or any) of the players. It was a movie laid down to the alter of wokedom. Rubbish and I switched it off after 35 minutes.
At least Lifetime does diversity.
librau222 December 2019
The Singing and Jessica Lowndes made this film.
kevend-1681827 June 2020
At last the producers are letting the multi-talented Jessica Lowndes sing. Her "The Best Gift" was absolutely fabulous. I'm pleased the producers are letting the cast spread their wings some. The storyline didnt really take my breath away, I thought BJ Britt was awful and uninterested in his role as were others in the cast. Without Jessica Lowndes it would not have been particularly watchable to be honest. I have given this a 9/10 off the back of the singing from Jessica and her acting. I hope Hallmark give her more movies with more singing.
Disappointing
edubscrete20 December 2019
As a diehard Jessica Lowndes fan, I was disappointed with this movie. Her performance was fine - as usual. But, the supporting cast was not. Maybe it was the writing. Maybe Hallmark really does do Christmas better. Ms. Lowndes' Hallmark movies are amazing. And oh BTW, I am an African American male. So no racist beliefs, thoughts, tendencies or the like here. This movie just didn't grab me and provide all the feels you expect and consistently receive from her movies.
The perfect pair
henryvic-3845628 November 2022
Jessica and BJ are the perfect pair. This pairing intimidates some and make some very envious and jealous and bitter. But Sparks flew from the screen. Her beauty shape and his strong shape next to her was a Wonder to watch. Her singing is magnificent her song are strong the story had a little bit of drama bringing the two together but it was worth it to watch every moment. These parents are always strong and that is why they get the biggest reaction. Everybody watches. BJ has tons and tons of chemistry. And together Jessica and BJ light up the screen. Some other guy that would be preferred by the naysayers would be limp. And lame. BJ's character was worried and rightly so but Jessica's character Save the Day and began a wonderful relationship between the two that is top notch. It's unfortunate what's still going on out there. The reasons that are hidden by way of the naysayers, is backwards primitive and so 1950s. To be too cowardly to admit what the reason is that the naysayers disapprove of this relationship takes away from the season. Judging from other reviews that applaud the idea of division, what a sad day. Only harmonious people have worthy rating to give.
I've discovered that I didn't like B.J. Britt!
adamjohns-4257521 February 2021
I'm not actually sure how I managed to finish this film in the mood I was in today. This was the third film I came to and my usual passion for Christmas films seems to have cooled somewhat in the February rain.
I did finish it though and the story was ok, but it needed Luke Macfarlane or Jesse Hutch to compliment Jessica Lowndes. I did not care for B.J. Britt at all. He was actually quite obnoxious and very unlikeable. The rest of the cast were nothing special either. Did anyone else want the Dad to wash his greasy looking hair? Yucky!
I probably won't watch it again.
I did finish it though and the story was ok, but it needed Luke Macfarlane or Jesse Hutch to compliment Jessica Lowndes. I did not care for B.J. Britt at all. He was actually quite obnoxious and very unlikeable. The rest of the cast were nothing special either. Did anyone else want the Dad to wash his greasy looking hair? Yucky!
I probably won't watch it again.
Really mismatched
ronbokirk16 December 2019
I have always loved Jessica's movies, but this one was unwatchable . There was absolutely no chemistry with her leading man, no fireworks, no emotions, nothing!! I watched 30 minutes of it and finally turned it off. It was really too bad to watch.
They only seem to become friends
phd_travel21 December 2019
Hallmark's new trend towards diversity. This movie has a romance between white woman and a black man. Pretty Jessica Lowndes and BJ Britt star. The decorating process isn't that interesting. The romance isn't terribly convincing they don't seem to fall in love - just become friends. She sings a bit here and that's nice.
It was pretty good
nunnant23 December 2019
An okay movie
4nne2 January 2024
This film is okay, just that. It's not great, it's not really bad. The story is not new nor suprising.
It is however a movie you don't want to see twice. The second time around - Over 1 year later and not planned, I just happend to walk across it again this year while having the flu and the title didn't sound familiar, but 10 minutes in I knew - is just to mutch.
I like feel-good movies, I like the predictable 'everything is going to be alright', especially when I'm sick. But this storyline is just a bit to blend. To be honest there doesn't seem to happen that mutch.
And while happening in very many christmas movies (and yes I know it is a very small thing...) I have to say: No-one ever, ever warmed up by just hanging a scarf behind the neck (without wrapping it around).
It is however a movie you don't want to see twice. The second time around - Over 1 year later and not planned, I just happend to walk across it again this year while having the flu and the title didn't sound familiar, but 10 minutes in I knew - is just to mutch.
I like feel-good movies, I like the predictable 'everything is going to be alright', especially when I'm sick. But this storyline is just a bit to blend. To be honest there doesn't seem to happen that mutch.
And while happening in very many christmas movies (and yes I know it is a very small thing...) I have to say: No-one ever, ever warmed up by just hanging a scarf behind the neck (without wrapping it around).
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