It's December, so TV channels are flooded with Christmas films. But this is not my first Christmas film of the season. And Hallmark films are easily a go for it. TV movies have simple stories, so don't they to surprise me all the time. To create a story around Christmas is not that easy, because there are hundred of films comes every year based on the same festival. How it all starts and ends are almost predictable, but topic on which it rides on is very important. This one was about the tree. The decorated tree in the city centre that delights all the Chicagoans. But its responsibility to make sure are things are taken care comes under a young woman named Holly aka Miss Christmas.Just a week to go, Holly has reached the source destination for her new tree, but trouble awaits. That the family who own the tree is divided over donating it for some sentimental reason. Now she has to convince them, and how she does that with other personal events unfolds in the rest of the film. Being an animal and tree lover, I hated her approach. I never support such cruel act, just to please someone to enjoy the festival by killing a tree. Not just one, billions of people do it around the world which brings catastrophe in nature every year. Apart from that, the film was average. A family film, particularly for the female audience.5/10

This one is no different. Hallmark churns these out like they have an assembly line. Grab a producer; then a director. Look thru the inventory of available actors (they pretty much use the same pool of about 25) and take the next three in the queue and book them. Make sure at least the producer or the screen writer and one of the movie leads is from Canada. That way you get the tax breaks from the Canadian Film Commission. That's why They shoot these in Canada. This one takes place in Klaus, Wisconsin? Don't think so. Doesn't exist. Unfortunately, they shoot their Christmas movies (like this one) in July and August. Hardly the snow season, hence the wet streets, free of snow and the fake stuff sitting on bushes and sidewalks. In this one, stock footage is used for wide shots of snow-covered towns and forests, except where the son is finding and cutting his first tree. Look at his feet and you can see the soap suds blowing around his feet. Hallmark does shoot some of its movies in cold locations, where you can actually see the actor's breath frosting as they speak. The movie "Christmas Cookies" is a good example, but that was shot in Utah.Nothing new happens in this movie. There are no surprises and there really is no drama. You know exactly what's going to happen and it does. Slight twist at the end, but nothing that's going to make you spill your milk and cookies while you watch. The only technical glitch was when he showed her the initials carved in the tree by his parents some 30 odd years ago. Just as clear and crisp as if they have just been carved, when, in reality, the chemical makeup of the tree would have treated that carving as a wound to its bark and would have secreted a chemical to heal itself, and after 30 years, made the carving unrecognizable.But hey, it's Hallmark, and if you watch the credits roll, the one crew member you don't see is a continuity director.BTW, it's "Fair", not "Fare". 'Fare' is a fee you pay for travel. And "Steal", not "Steel." 'Steel' is what you get when you add carbon to molten iron.

I really liked the story of the McNary family and Holly was a sweetheart who fit right in. The tree was so special to the family and it was a tough decision that turned out perfectly. Holly and Sam clicked immediately and had great chemistry. It was great to see Marc Blucas in another Christmas movie, he always plays a wonderful romantic hero.

From the start of this movie I kept being impressed by the little things. Say what you like about the acting or the story or the production, and I will, but these things are the sum of how the story teller masters the little things.You could tell quickly that Brooke D'Orsay was going to convince us how wonderful Christmas is. And you could tell that she and Marc Blucas were going to connect. They did the little flirty things and the uncertainty, but most of all they did the emotions. And they kept doing it through the whole movie. Luke Roessler did his part too, as the 8 year old that sent the letter that started it all. The director didn't overwhelm us with him - his part was just right.The story did the little things too. We had most, if not all, of the Christmas traditions like hot chocolate and decorating. The story gave us the heart felt emotions of a man who finds again the Christmas that his late mom loved, and the woman who finds again what home is. And just when we thought there would be no surprise, we get that too (if the TV previews didn't give it away) and the story teller presented that well too, including a sweet little speech.I'm sure that there will be those who find this movie too sappy, or too much by formula, or too something. But this is a Hallmark Christmas romance movie. Sit down and expect just that and then watch as the story unfolds sweetly using all the little things of Christmas tradition and love.