The movie has a promising storyline with the lead female character being an astronomer and that's already refreshing! But the ending scene was a huge disappointment where it felt like she compromised herself and blew up the one chance to record the meteor shower to prove her "humble" side to everyone including the man she was falling for. It was so disheartening! And so unrealistic considering she managed to get all her heavy equipment down the mountain where she was alone and into her car without help (the help was only for fixing her tire?) given that she had no experience with it. We all know that the potential couple always comes together in the end - this is the trademark of Hallmark movies. But a good movie always ties it together in a meaningful way and this one did not.

I thought about how the ending could have been different and here's my version of the script that may have been more meaningful and more of good Hallmark:

Our heroine Madeline heads up the mountain alone on the final evening after the last day's fallout with Ryan. She dutifully sets up her telescope equipment but feels dejected seeing the empty chair next to her where Ryan had been sitting next to her the last few days and really misses him. In that moment she knows he's far more important to her than this awaited once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event. On an impulse she mounts the house and goes into the town, leaving everything as-is. There she gives her speech from the heart, minus the car tire fixed bit. Celeste does her "turn the lights off" protest and soon enough, there is a beautiful meteor shower, and after that, a Christmas star too, which Madeline tells Celeste is her mom. Then Ryan steps up and asks Madeline, "What about your recording?" to which she replies, "I don't know." He says to her, "Come with me" and takes her up the mountain together on horseback. She fusses with her computer and gasps, "It's perfect, with the town lights being off thanks to Celeste." She then tells Ryan she has decided the name the meteor after Celeste, because both of them mean so much to her. At this, Ryan takes her in her arms and kisses her. The next day, the family is shown sitting happily together while Madeline receives a phone call from her boss. "The meteor coverage is perfect", he says. "In fact, we have decided to recommend Summit View as the location for the new observatory. What do you think?" Madeline replies, "Yes, there's even a power ranger station who can work closely with us." And we know Ryan's job is saved. The movie ends with Ryan asking her, "So what are you doing for new year's?" To which she replies, "Spending it with people who are my real stars." And they kiss, with everyone around them smiling, including Celeste, who has found a new mom.

Oh, this would have been a much better ending and heart-warming instead of the currently disappointing one!

So disappointing. I don't expect much from these movies, but this one was not good. The story was okay up until the leading lady gives up on her career goal because the cute guy was cranky. The acting was absolutely flat. Daniel Lessing is usually so good, but this wasn't his best. I don't blame him, I blame the writer and director.

Having Daniel Lissing in the cast is what drew me to this movie. He's a great actor and I still love his movies. This one was great from start to finish. I know nothing about astronomy, yet the Christmas Star proved to be the miracle star and was promoted well in this movie. As always, true love prevails at the end and even the Mayor does a good job helping along the way.

This is a clean, well acted movie and I would even watch it again next year.