A Maple Valley Christmas

source: A Maple Valley Christmas

Moviecut—A Maple Valley Christmas

7.7 stars. Peyton List has that face for me. My imaginary soulmate has a visage very similar. I know many would probably disagree saying her face is flawed somehow, who knows, it's just my opinion. She is one of my favorite actresses mainly because she's decent overall, at least in specific roles, this being one. So now this review will be skewed in proportion to the angelic nature of her appearance and presence. Ok, I'll keep it real for the sake of consistency. The movie is not bad, it's laid back, has a nice slow pace. All the actors are good as usual these days for Hallmark. Back in the 2016 and prior movies, sometimes it would be hit and miss, but the last several years I feel the acting in general is of higher quality. I am pleasantly surprised in her sister's performance, she's a real heart stopper that one, lovely, and beautiful, charismatic, and a good actress. We have the privilege of two leading ladies in this movie. There are many old wounds that need healing in this story, and everyone is ready and able to mend each others hearts. A son has difficulty measuring up to his father's impossible standards, and a daughter is hard on herself, needs perspective and the ability to cope with failure. Together they help each other improve, and as a bonus they fall madly in love. The anticipation, friction, and tension is palpable, and really adds to the passion. I'd recommend this inspiring tale for anyone who also likes horses, outdoors, farms, and lots of trees and snow. The end was well crafted with forgiveness, closure, good food and Christmas joy.

I'm not really certain what's going on... this is the second cringey Hallmark movie I've watched today. I never leave mediocre or bad reviews for Hallmark movies because they are what they are... predictable and oftentimes cheesy. But in many ways that's what we love about them. This year, there seems to be a big disconnect in the chemistry between the leads. It's been really disappointing. This movie is a perfect example. While Andrew Walker always delivers a great performance, he has little to no chemistry with his leading lady. I can't imagine anyone is honestly rooting for them. Truth be told, she doesn't really have much of a rapport with anyone she interacts with in this movie, including her family. Perhaps she was just miscast - I don't recognize her. I also wasn't wild about the casting for his father. Perhaps Hallmark is just trying to rebound from the exodus. I've not spent any time on that other network, but chances are, it's taking a toll.

It was not awful, but not great. Peyton List is a beautiful actress. But her character or her was sooo fake. Who passionately kisses someone they barely know. If the roles had been reversed and he had kissed her out of the blue, the law would have been called, and charges would have been brought up. She stomped around being mad all the time. How does someone that works on a farm have beautiful hair all the time? Had she really worked on the farm, it would have been put up most of the time. The story might have worked if the characters had been developed better, or a better actress. Andrew Walker was fine. The sister and her husband were fine. I liked the brother-in-law.

Yes, these two have some smokin' chemistry. Very early in this film there is a kiss, then it takes the whole rest of the film to get back to the kiss. Different than other hallmark films in which you wait the entire movie until the final scene where there is a kiss. This film has a kiss early on...and it's a great kiss. It kept me engaged and watching the film. I wanted it to happen again. The story follows the older sister and co-owner of a family run maple farm. Together with her sister, Erica Holden has successfully diversified their business and made it successful. Which is good timing as their neighbor wants to retire and sell their land and at least one sister wants to expand the business to include more maple trees. In walks Aaron Davenport to scout the land for Davenport Development under his father's request. After Aaron meets Erica and learns why she wants their old family land back he tells her they won't make an offer...only his father has other ideas. This is a sweet romance that builds and has some side stories about love, family and adapting to change. Aaron Davenport is almost too good to be true, but this is fantasy and I am not complaining. Great escapism and I highlighted recommend it to romantics out there. The leads in this film had gorgeous eyes. I appreciated that the casting team picked sisters with similar colored eyes.

Not a Kellie Pickler movie but almost just as bad. I really like Andrew, but there was zero chemistry between him and Peyton. She was so mean to him and everyone throughout the whole movie, that it didn't make any sense that he would have even been attracted to her. Something seemed off about her, I honestly don't think she would have chemistry with anyone. Hallmark used to be my favorite channel to watch, but it is quickly becoming my least favorite. The story writing has gone downhill and many of the good actresses have left Hallmark for GMC Family. Let's just say, that their replacements have been sub-par at best. Unfortunately, GMC Family isn't part of my cable package, but I've been really enjoying Lifetime the past few weeks. On a positive note, "Three Wisemen and A Baby" was probably the most enjoyable Lifetime movie that I have seen in a really long time, great cast and storyline.

This movie has a lot more meat to it than most of the Hallmark Christmas films. On the one side a believable division between two sisters, and on the other side a believable division between father and son. Then there is the surprising decision from the mother, ready to retire and let her daughters take over the business. While some viewers didn't see a connection between the romantic leads, we did. They had plenty of screen time together doing the types of things that build friendship which can transition to more than friendship. So despite some of the reviews, we do like Andrew Walker in most of the stuff we've seen him in, and that gave us a reason to check it out. I'm glad we did.

I watched this for the male lead. Rarely does a movie go wrong with him in the male lead role. Until his film. His character was unsure of himself, he came off as both falsely overconfident with no power whatsoever and because of that meakly weak and aimless at the same time. I feel like the poor guy had an awful childhood, but come on a lot of us did and yet he had so many advantages and wealth and the script didn't give us much as far as his character goes. The script had a lot of filler actually. The female lead was very off-putting and constantly defensive. At first I felt like whoa calm down there and I seriously disliked her, until I realized how awful her family is to her. They're completely dismissive, self-centered, manipulative, and unfeeling when it comes to her. Her mom is incredibly selfish, abandoning her daughter's (who already have abandonment issues) to move to another country to be with a man she hasn't known long who seems like an awful and unrealistic match for her. Her reactions to her daughter feeling bothered by it all are cold and heartless too. Basically, "I don't care so get over it." Her sister is the worst though. She's completely manipulative and controlling, while gaslighting her sister into thinking that's how she is. I felt uncomfortable watching it. It seems like the mom and sister are exactly the same and older sister has been holding it all together while being dismissed, talked down to, and mistreated since the dad left. No wonder she's such a wreck. It's clear that her mom knows nothing about the business, so clearly she didn't actually run it and yet couldn't just give it to the sister who actually runs things and keeps the money coming in? No wonder she's so on edge and such a train wreck. The way her sister manipulated her into an apology and got everything she wants after first putting her older sister through emotional hell first, rather than accepting what was originally offered? The sister was awful. I really disliked the characters in this movie. Plus, the whole kissing the guy she literally just met who hasn't shown any interest beyond kindness, and acting like that was some great destined thing. I mean wow, how desperate. I hope the person who wrote this never writes again for Hallmark because this was awful.

Look, I enjoy the Lifetime/Hallmark Christmas movies and I watch a lot of them. I understand that they are cheesy and fluff, but fun. That being said, this one was excruciating! The main reason is the female lead. Her character is just awful. She is negative, self-centered, has no humor, no chemistry with the male lead, rude to her family - I could keep going. She talks about loving her life and being so into the Maple farm, but shows no actual emotion or affection to anyone in her life. How are we supposed to care?? There's no fun in watching if the protagonist is so ... unlikable. Skip this one.