Christmas With the Darlings | C

Hallmark Channel Premiere | November 8, 2020

Cheers to a movie that was just okay

ad placement gets an A

In this movie, Jessica is the personal assistant to the Darlington family/corporation. She plans to move into another position with the company's legal team, but she first volunteers to spend Christmas watching the three orphaned children of Darlington brother # 2. Brother # 1 is the head of the company and is very busy. Brother # 3 is irresponsible but lovable, absent but surprisingly charitable, free-spirited but secretly business savvy. (He's the love interest in case you can't tell.) By the end, Jessica and brother # 3 plan a great Christmas party, make the nieces and nephews feel right at home, and broker an important business deal for the company.

I gave this movie a C because it was fine, but I had a hard time liking the characters. I found them all pretty insufferable, except for Mrs. Brooks, who really saved the movie by being sweet and grandmotherly. In fact, I would like for Mrs. Brooks to move in with my family. I will say that the second hour of the movie is far better than the first, and the ending is pretty happy, so there's that.

Hallmark gets an A on: Campbells ad placement; scarves; Mrs. Brooks

Hallmark gets a D on: the dress; unrelatable characters

Grade: C

* Note Grading Scale:

A = This is seriously a good movie. It will remain on my DVR for the season.

B = Totally exceeded my expectations. I'm happy to recommend.

C = This is an average Hallmark movie. Good holiday fun.

D = I'm disappointed... but I watched it. Why not?

F = I actually had a hard time getting through this one. And that says a lot.