Nostalgic Christmas exceeded my expectations | B

Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Premiere | October 31, 2019

Just so we're clear, we are going to make this horse as high-tech as possible. This will provide a nice contrast to the superior, wooden toys that I will choose to make in the end.

Nostalgic Christmas premiered on Halloween. As a conscientious objector, I left it on the DVR and watched it on November 1st. I have my principles, after all.

I did not expect to like this movie. Mostly, I hated the title. It feels like they didn't even try. Naming a Hallmark movie Nostalgic Christmas is sort of like naming a Halloween movie Scary Halloween. I know that Hallmark is premiering a billion new movies this year, but I feel they could spend a bit more time on their names.

Despite this, I liked this movie, and I am happy to recommend it to Hallmark fans. It has all of the great Hallmark elements, including the ever-present battle between quality, old toys that our grandparents played with and new, overpriced, plastic things that connect to wifi and will no doubt break within a week. It also contrasts big city living and small town charm; this time, Hallmark stays true to itself and lets the small town win.

In the movie, Anne returns home to help her dad pack up his toy store, which he is selling in order to retire and move closer to his kids. The town is full of likable characters, including an old high school flame (she's not picking him) and a widower who intends to save the local mill that employs everyone (he's the one). His daughter wants to audition for the Christmas pageant but is afraid to sing in front of people, leading us to the inevitable final scene in which the whole town comes together, everything works out perfectly for everyone, and a little girl overcomes her stage fright to sing a Christmas song that will give you feelings, even though you realize how silly that is.

I know you're not going to pick me. I'm just here to provide the important ex-boyfriend/ amicable breakup plot element. It has been obvious from the beginning that you would pick the guy who looks like Thor.

Hallmark gets an A on: Wardrobe, specifically her coats (I love winter coats, and these were top-notch); Brooke D'Orsay, who is super likable; Trevor Donovan; the wooden Santas, a plot element I was determined not to like, but they won me over

Hallmark gets a D on: His coat, which he insists on carrying around with him everywhere; not trying harder on the title; fake snow; lack of chemistry; scene in which the family sings carols while decorating the tree - this was too corny, even for me.

Grade: B

* 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.