A Christmas Love Story (2019 TV Movie) User Reviews

Surprising

[Jackbv123 · 8/10 · 18 December 2019]

Had I been in charge of the remote, I would not have picked this movie from the recording list, but saved it to watch after I'd worked through other titles. I'm not at all a fan of Kristin Chenoweth. Neither she nor Wolf are on my list of must see young and beautiful (or handsome) people. I've seen Chenoweth in other movies in this genre and I have not been impressed.

Was I wrong. I enjoyed this movie. The story had many well used elements, but I liked the way it was put together. I probably should have seen it coming, but I didn't anticipate the "twist" until the last minute. Wolf and Chenoweth connected OK. I also enjoy Christmas movies where professional artists give quality musical performances. I had no idea Chenoweth had a voice like that. (Then I day later, I saw her performing on PBS with a big choir, maybe Mormon Tabernacle?.)

Love and music festive-style

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 5 August 2020]

Other than my lifelong love of Christmas and that it was part of my Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas films quest, my reason (there is always a main reason for seeing something) for watching 'A Christmas Love Story' was Kristen Chenoweth. A very gifted and likeable performer and am always in awe at how such an amazing and powerful singing voice comes out of such a small person, most evident on all counts in her definitive version of "The Girl in 14G".

Am actually not going to be quite as enthusiastic as others have been in talking about 'A Christmas Love Story', it didn't quite wow me. Did find myself liking it quite a lot though, it didn't try to do too much while always showing signs of trying and there is a lot to like about it. 2019 has not been the best of years for Hallmark and their Christmas films, but 'A Christmas Love Story' agreed is up there as one of their better ones that year and can totally see the appeal.

Sure the romantic angle of the story is very standard Hallmark, with it doing very little new with very over-familiar story tropes used so many times. Very little is surprising here, though that was not unexpected as you do come to expect that from watching Hallmark Christmas films.

Did find some of the dialogue quite cheesy and the early stages are a bit on the thin side narratively which bogs the momentum down a bit.

However, there is a lot here that works. Really liked the performances. A lot of criticism has been directed towards Chenoweth's diction and admittedly her diction is usually clearer than here but the performance itself for me was actually quite charming and neither over-compensates or phones in. Vocally, she still has it and sounds amazing. Scott Wolf proves himself to be much more than just handsome looks, he seems at ease with his material without playing it too safe, is confident and never looks embarrassed or confused. He and Chenoweth's chemistry seems genuine and has charm and tenderness, even if it doesn't quite scintillate all the way through. Keith Robinson stood out in support. The characters are not meaty in development but didn't bore or annoy me at least, Katherine is interesting.

Furthermore, 'A Christmas Love Story' is well made visually. The scenery is beautiful and the camera certainly seemed to think so. Also loved the music here, this aspect can be problematic in Hallmark's films with a tendency to be too constant and too loud. Here the music is uplifting and has an infectiousness. The direction is solid enough, not exceptional but not routine or amateurish. The dialogue is mostly good-natured and light-hearted and even if the story is standard and derivative and a slow starter it is very sweet and doesn't feel cold emotionally. The setting, relatively different for Hallmark, is very well used and there is a neat twist towards the end that didn't come over as obvious.

On the whole, well above average and one of the 2019 Hallmark Christmas films that are worth watching. 7/10

A better than most films this christmas

[linda-plant2 · 8/10 · 21 December 2019]

Kristin Chenoweth is little known here in the UK, so had to check on Google whether she could actually sing as she does in the film ! Wow - a bit of a revelation that she does, and what a CV (resume) this lady has ! Had to agree with another reviewer though, that I should have watched with sub titles, as she doesn't enunciate clearly in her speaking voice - which is unusual for a singer of her calibre.

The storyline is good, and wont spoil it for others, but a surprising ending. An enjoyable watch, and shows what Hallmark can achieve with older and experienced actors in lead parts. They should do it more often !!

beautiful

[Kirpianuscus · 31 December 2020]

It is one of beautiful surprises. For story and for voices, for Scott Wolf and Eric Close, for atmosphere and, more important, for the message. But, especially, for Kristin Chenoweth giving to her character lovely, inspired brillance. The delicate themes are well used, to. And the twist just works. A film about parenthood, vocation, music, Christmas. Not great but surprising, in good sense, in profound sense. A beautiful film about things real important. And Chistmas in the fair light of emotions and options embroidery.

Unusually good for a Hallmark film

[rosey-14 · 7/10 · 30 April 2022]

I tend to watch the Hallmark films to de-stress, so don't require anything with real depth. Usually I find Scott Wolf a weak actor and unfortunately one I have never warmed too but in this he has a little more depth, probably brought out by Director and supporting actor Eric Close (a more likeable actor of this genre).

Kristen Chenoweth gave an adequate acting performance and an excellent singing performance.

It was a good premise for a film with a really strong supporting cast but would have been lifted more by stronger leads.

Sing out loud kid!

[adamjohns-42575 · 6/10 · 30 November 2020]

I think that if I had been making this film I would have had Eric Close as the lead male instead of Scott Wolf. Don't get me wrong, Scott did a good job, but when you have Eric there and so lovely with those smiling eyes, why would you put him in the background? Kristin can be a bit Marmite for me, but she did well in this one as well and you can't deny her vocal range is fantastic.

The story is very sweet and takes a different tack to the usual romance at Christmas schtick. I really like the family dynamic, the twists, the blossoming romance for the younger generation as well and of course it's full of the seasonal things that make these films winners for me. I also love anything with a good, heartfelt, emotional song in it.

Sure to be watched again.

The Gift of Love

[parksidedrive · 10/10 · 8 December 2019]

Hallmark Hall of Fame presents a remarkable Christmas movie that will be enjoyed for years to come. The outstanding singing talents of Kristin Chenoweth and newcomer Kevin Quinn is a special Hallmark card in movie form. Scott Wolf adds delightful acting to an important role in the story. It is a lovely story with drama to tug at your heartstrings and just enough fun to keep you smiling. Kudos to a great cast.

The music is glorious with superb direction by Eric Close (who also stars) to make it the perfect Christmas experience. Don't miss watching this one.

Hallmark, Thank you for a special treat this holiday season.

Wonderful music, terrible storY

[beachy-38431 · 7/10 · 9 December 2019]

The music in this movie was much better than any other Hallmark movie. Kristen Chenoweth's singing is far and above any other artist today. Disney found that out when she sang a duet with the star of that movie Decendents and blasted her off the stage. But when will Hallmark learn they have to do more and produce a romance movie for Hallmark Hall of Fame? Their movies in previous years we so good, ex. "The Russel Girl","Beyond the Blackboard","The Magic or Ordinary Days","Front of the Class" and so many more. While this movie had great music, it was as good as my local high school chorus, it was just another rehashed Hallmark love story. Next time I see one, the rating goes DOWN.

Best Hallmark Movie of 2019

[beth628 · 10/10 · 8 December 2019]

I know all Hallmark movies have a similar formula. But, this one has a little extra something that pushes it over the top. I think this is one of my favorite Hallmark movies of all time. Kristin Chenoweth and Scott Wolf are great co-stars and elevate the Hallmark formula for movies to top notch quality.

Confusing plot

[shannone1 · 6/10 · 12 December 2019]

The music was great and I adore Scott Wolf. But the plot had some big holes. The lead characters are pushing 50. Kristen's character was on Broadway 20 years earlier (so she would've been late 20s) She had a baby 17 years ago and said she had lost her parents and wasn't in a good financial place to keep him. She would have been around 30 years old and wrote and starred in a broadway show. It's like they tried to fit too many storylines in this one. It doesn't add up.

"So cliche, but a wee bit cute" spoken of mistletoe.

[cgvsluis · 5/10 · 3 January 2021]

Kristin Chenoweth's petite self is as gorgeous as ever! She plays Katherine a single former Broadway star turned music teacher/youth choir director who gave up a child for adoption some eighteen years prior so her child would be happy and have a better life. A high school senior volunteers for extra credit to help with the youth choir...but what was to be a one day volunteer job ends up becoming so much more when Katherine hears him sing and is impressed with his raw talent. While picking up the holiday concert wings across town she meets Greg in a ride share who turns out to be our volunteer, Danny's father. Greg is a widower and ends up needing convincing to let Danny sing in the choir, concerned that Danny will be distracted from his goal of applying for colleges...Greg is initially reluctant. This prompts Katherine to drive to their home in Connecticut, where she spends a weekend doing non-city traditional Christmas activities and convincing Greg to let Danny Sing in their Christmas concert. Greg and Katherine start to develop a believable relationship...supported by their warm friends, both his and hers.

"She's not the most subtle, but I'd be lost without her."

There was a really good supporting cast and it was nice to see people treating each other well and being in long term healthy, supportive relationships.

There were some great Christmas values put forward in this film: sacrifice, adoption, putting your child's happiness first, and being a hard-worker.

"There is danger of a little relaxing." "You know I'm not a relaxer?"

"Maybe it is meant to be."

A Real Miracle!

[ppetretich-1 · 10/10 · 8 December 2019]

The two leads are amazing from the first time they meet to the very surprising ending! You'll have to watch this beautifully made film?

You will remember this movie for a long time, this could be a classic!

A Christmas Love Story

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 7/10 · 17 December 2019]

7/10 - one of the better Hallmark additions this year (and that has a lot to do with Kristin Chenoweth)

Huh?

[ukxenafan1 · 4/10 · 14 November 2020]

Watching this film on TV this afternoon. I like Kristen Chenoweth but something bugged me. Both she and Scott Wolf were born in 1968 and were over 50 when the film was made. Kristen's character says she gave her child up for adoption as she was so young. The kid is looking at colleges to go to so presumably is 17 or 18. That makes her around 30 when she gave birth - or she is supposed to be about 35-38? Extremely predictable and formulaic with two actors too good for this bland mush fest.

A Christmas Love Story

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 7/10 · 17 December 2019]

7/10 - one of the better Hallmark additions this year (and that has a lot to do with Kristen Chenoweth)

Beautiful music ... but ....

[mguelkerwilson · 6/10 · 25 March 2024]

As far as Hallmark movies, especially Christmas ones, go, this one checks all the boxes. And with an added bonus, a beautiful song performed by Kristin Chenoweth and her young co-star.

One of the story arcs - that little twist at the end when you learn that Danny is Chenoweth's biological son, that she gave up for adoption - didn't sit well with me, as an adopted child myself. While I don't normally care that these movies are works of fiction, this hit a little too closely. Chenoweth, also an adopted child, is an advocate, but she is among those who paint adoption rosy and magical. Sure, this movie touched on the biological mom and child reuniting, but as what happens with most movies that attempt to cover adoption, the story ends with "all is well." This happy conclusion feeds the very one-sided view of adoption that most people have, and that Chenoweth pushes. It doesn't begin to cover the pain and rejection so many adopted children experience when their attempts to meet their biological mother and/or father go south, and it happens more than you'd think.

All that said, this being a Hallmark movie, my expectations should not have been anything more than how the movie ended.

Just beautiful

[jennspector · 10/10 · 8 December 2019]

My first review, but my 10000000th hallmark movie watched! This one was great from start to finish and had the right amount of cheesiness, humor and romance. Excellent

Love you like a Christmas Love Song

[sini-200 · 7/10 · 3 January 2024]

I saw 'A A christmas Love Story' by accident. I saw it on my TV, thinking, I could watch that one day and I did. It did not disappoint, even being a cliche Hallway Christmas romcom. I'm a fan of Kristen Chenoweth, so I knew she'd slay this one too. She and Scott Wolf had great chemistry too.

Sure the romantic angle of the story is very standard Hallmark as any other, with it doing very little new with very over-familiar story tropes used so many times. The Christmas decorations are off the roof as always. Very to be surprised with the plot, though there were some nice "plot twist" revelation at the end.

Quality

[Lew777 · 8/10 · 27 December 2019]

A proper movie. Good singing, great believable acting and excellent chemistry between all parties.

Even the songs couldn't help this

[ssc7 · 4/10 · 12 November 2020]

The music was fantastic, especially the snippets from the choir. But for something that should have been so heart ripping, we get 5 minutes of the feels and the rest of ho hum. I usually like Kristin Chenoweth, especially in Deck the Halls, but just didn't think her and Scott clicked. Plus just didn't care for her in this, she's always so wrapped up in the music part, but the script just didn't help with the romance or her life. Sorry but not going on my lists of Christmas Hallmark faves. The last 30 minutes was really the only good part.

Wonderful!!

[melindacushmanminish · 10/10 · 9 December 2019]

This is the best, so far, of the 2019 season! Not the typical Hallmark Christmas story of someone going home and falling in love with an old flame, almost not working out, but of course, together in the end. This is a great fresh story with a little unexpected twist of how they come together. Also, the music is awesome!

Moments worthy of watching

[nancyldraper · 4/10 · 12 December 2019]

This is my 2nd of 3 attempts to find a Christmas movie I like this year. The draw was Kristin Chenoweth's great voice and it was a sweetener that Scott Wolf was co-starring (I was a fan of PARTY OF FIVE) but I can't give this a passing grade. The writing was bad, with the exception of Wolf, the acting was disappointing and the romance was unconvincing. There are two highlights, the unexpected under-plot and the duet at the end is spectacular. I give this film a 4 (poor) out of 10. {Christmas Romance}

The best Christmas movie of 2019!

[domer-88239 · 10/10 · 17 December 2019]

You expect that a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie will be good, but "A Christmas Love Story" is wonderful, and sure to bring a tear to your eye while you're smiling with joy!

The entire cast - especially the superb and radiant Kristin Chenoweth - is a joy to watch. The relationships felt real. The plot twist was truly unexpected as the story unfolded, and took the show to another level!

This movie will be the one you will look forward to seeing again, year after year.

So many moving parts and such a wonderful feeling

[MickyG333 · 8/10 · 29 December 2022]

7.6 stars.

There is something special about this story and I was so glad for the opportunity to experience all the cast together. The leads (Chenoweth and Wolf) are very charismatic and work very well together. I swear she looks better with age, and he don't look so bad, if I say so myself. I didn't realize they are the same age.

What an ensemble, the singing, the music teacher (Chenoweth), her quirks, and being a perfectionist, but sweet and caring, and the love interest (Wolf) being such a neat guy in the office and with her, and at home as a unique and fun loving dad; even though he has been uptight since the wife died. And the son, a beautiful singer, and doesn't even realize it, and very easy to like in his role. The piano player is a naturally charismatic actor as well, and I am drinking in this team of performers, the whole movie is a choir in itself, so many moving parts, just a wonderful feeling.

There is not one specific aspect of this film that stands out as supernatural, although almost every part of it is excellent, so if you really want a top notch Christmas, music, teenagers singing, pulling at the heart strings, inspiring experience; then you must see this. There were a couple moments I cried hard and it hurt.

This caters to people my age, and it would be rated 8.0+ if not simply lacking a fully realized romance and more fantastic music. The music is a nice addition, but I was hoping for just a bit more in that department (I'm spoiled with musicals). In contrast, the lighting, and sound were phenomenal, especially the dialogue which always sounded full and clear, unlike so many Hallmark movies where they can't seem to capture anything outdoors. That was a breath of fresh air for once. In conclusion, although this movie fundamentally satisfying, I still need that additional pop, x-factor essence...

I will plan to watch this 3 times a decade.

It's a vanity film with some good singing

[duveyoung · 4/10 · 13 December 2019]

But ugh. I cringed again and again. None of the chemistry worked. I would give it one star except for the last ten minutes. It DID get my tears flowing, yep, but it was a very long slog of a film to see before the tissues came out.

Great production values and all that art, of course. It's not low budget,and that helps, but soooooooooooooooo cringy.

My opinion is practiced. I've seen at least 25 Christmas films in the last month. I wanted this film to work.