The movie itself is nothing particularly innovative. A man feels if he'd made one particular decision at a crucial juncture, his life would have been better. So Santa shows up and let's him see what his life would have been like. Of course, that crucial juncture is what led him to meet and marry his wife. In order to get his old life back, he turns to the woman his wife has become (and she, of course, thinks he's crazy).
Nothing special about the film really but I was struck at how experienced actors (like Denton and Hatcher) come off in a Hallmark movie. Boy, does it make a difference! Many of these films star younger (and less experienced) actors who only underscore the superficiality of the Hallmark movie brand (with some exceptions). But take some pros and the pablum that is Hallmark sure goes down smoothly. Hatcher and Denton don't have to stretch their acting skills much but they bring a confidence and conviction to the roles that makes them very enjoyable to watch. I say put more fifty-somethings in these movies!
A Kiss Before Christmas
2021
Action / Romance
A Kiss Before Christmas
2021
Action / Romance
7.2Keywords: christmas
Plot summary
It's Christmas Eve, 20 years to the day that Ethan Holt and Joyce Holt née Hollander met when they were stuck together in an elevator on the 18th floor for four hours in the office building where he worked and still works as a Project Manager for Bellingham Developments. While Ethan loves history teacher Joyce and their two mid-teen adopted children, biological siblings Colin and Trisha, he isn't fully invested in their lives in focusing on "his" problems, the pull within him more pronounced as Joyce, and Colin soon heading off to college, wants to go back to school herself in pursuing what was her original career goal to be a lawyer, something that Ethan dismisses. What Ethan laments is not having gotten ahead in the company in being "the good guy" as opposed to Vice-President Sean Doyle who, having started out at the same time in the company as Ethan, does a fraction of the work in cutting corners but has steadily moved up the ladder with his cutthroat attitude in focusing solely on the bottom line with no regard to the negative affects on the people with whom he deals. As Ethan contemplates complying to a request by Sean to buy-out by whatever means the sole holdout stalling a development project, this request to get Sean out of a lie to President Rona Bellingham, success in this task which may secure his promotion to the executive ranks on a recommendation by Sean to Rona, Ethan pours his heart out to a train-station Santa, wishing that on that day 20 years ago that he got on the elevator with Sean to make a meeting with Rona that led to Sean's promotion instead of getting on the elevator with Joyce. "Santa" grants Ethan his wish as he awakens on December 1st of this year to find himself now co-partner of the company with Sean in Rona having retired. While he has all the money and authority he has wanted, Ethan, in this alternate life, has done so Sean's way. He is also not only not married to Joyce, which means the two of them not having adopted Colin and Trisha, but that Joyce, now a crusading lawyer, is fighting him on one of the company's development projects. Ethan learns from Santa that he has until Christmas to figure out what he wants and how to achieve it, if this new life which would mean losing any memory of his past life forever.
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Nice movie and nice to see Teri Hatcher
This is such a wonderful movie!
So far this is the best movie of the 2021 Hallmark premier lineup. Terry Hatcher is as gorgeous as ever and James Denton is so handsome. They are both great actors with such good chemistry. Marilu Henner was superb as always. Even the misunderstanding was resolved quickly and the kiss at the end was not fake. I even shed a few tears during a few of the scenes. Keep it up hallmark!
Oldie, yet goodie.
Santa grants you to review the implications of your life choices and try to mend your soul. It's a story line that has been so over used to become a cliche'. Other aspects or situations in this movie are cliche', as well. By the way, why are developers always portrayed as heartless, greedy villains? I am not one, yet my heart feels for them! On the good side, this show provides some new twists to the old yarn and is, definitely, a Christmas tale. Teri Hatcher and James Denton are a good match and live up to the expectations. The result is a likeable movie that delivers kind feelings and emotions, worthy of the season.