Definitely one of the best of this years movies. Great songs and acting and JT Hodges was amazing.

What a refreshing change from that "other" network that can't seem to come up with anything original for new Christmas movie ideas!! And anytime a movie actually uses the actors, singing their own original songs, gets a "10" every time!

If you like a certain style of music then you will probably love this movie. Otherwise, well maybe, maybe not.

The story develops along the lines similar to A Star is Born. Beyond that the story is derivative and predictable in a Christmas movie kind of way. At least neither alcohol nor drugs are an issue.

There are several short musical performances including several Holiday songs and one original Christmas song. Erica Durance and JT Hodges sing the original song together. Is Durance a legitimate musical performer? Her voice is pleasant enough but she didn't have "presence" which is odd, because in the story, she was supposed to be teaching Spence things about performing just along those lines. Mostly the musical talent of the movie is Hodges especially since he does most of the pure Holiday songs and the arrangements for those are upbeat. There are more songs than most Christmas movies.

What about chemistry. For at least half the movie, I had the expectation that Spence was using Layla to get ahead, so I didn't trust any potential chemistry. I can't say if it was there, but it didn't seem like it to me.

Edited by me later: Most urgently, I believe the synopsis on this site has been changed so I have now deleted what I said about that synopsis which is no longer true.

After watching again, I was a little harsh on Erica Durance, who I actually love (Smallville and Saving Hope). He voice is more than just "pleasant". It is good, although I still wouldn't put it up there with Hodges for star quality. And now, watching the story knowing all of it, yes there was some chemistry. At times it was overshadowed by other things in the plot.