A Fabled Holiday

I loved the literary references throughout the movie--and the basis of the movie's plot, itself based on an imaginary book known to the characters. The actors themselves do a wonderful job. The Christmas decorations are as stunning as ever. The holiday activity variations from the usual Americana (and ridiculously made-up "traditions" to avoid real religiously-inspired customs) was surprisingly fun and non-offensive. That said, though I didn't laugh enough, it was very enjoyable. I was left wondering if Wunderland is like an annual Christmas "Brigadoon." The "New Hallmark" movies are a little more difficult to find relaxing because the management seems to fear the classic guaranteed romcom levity and brightness (the channel's past distinctiveness from Lifetime and other channels). While character negativity is "real life," it gets in the way of the joy one expects from the romcom genre.

source: A Fabled Holiday

A Fabled Holiday is an absolute gem! Something magical draws 5 people to the beautiful Gingerbread Inn in Wunderbrook - and its here that the folks who run the inn will work their magic and wonders to heal these 5 guests. This is a bright, happy and uplifting movie and I hope that Hallmark makes more like this. The cast is fantastic and Ryan Paevey and Brooke D'Orsay are especially awesome! They're naturals and one feels like they're watching the characters and not actors playing a role. Cast these two more Hallmark! Great movie, beautiful sets/scenery, fantastic cast and a wonderful story line!

I knew they were in trouble when Lindsey Stirling was featured in the previews. Turns out, that was pretty much her entire participation. This is a story about people in crisis magically visiting a fairy tale land they had all read about as children. It is very hard to pull off a fairy land in a two hour Christmas movie, and as it turns out, other than an occasional bell ringing, there is very little else to suggest anything special is going on. A knowing look occasionally is about it. Ryan Paevey is good in almost everything, and he's pulled some movies out of the fire before. But not this one I'm afraid. I didn't care for the chemistry with the still-gorgeous Brooke D'Orsay, and I thought her acting was a little spotty in this. Admittedly hard to do a film like this, but the result was nothing special. Six.