Christmas Cookies (2016)

I'll tell you why so serious

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

This movie gets lost and has some disconnected plot points, but overall it is worth watching once. The leads are interesting to watch but lack chemistry. "Jake" is a little dull and Hannah is kind of all over the place. What annoyed me most was the portrayal of a corporate takeover and related negotiation....what was shown was complete...bologna. Companies do not send a single person to negotiate for a buyout, nor do such negotiations occur on the factory floor in an open area surrounded by employees. CEOs do not travel to meetings alone to negotiate, and usually quality, legal, HR, IT, and compliance have a seat at the table and give critical input on any corporate acquisition. Also, as much as this movie likes to believe that emotions and passion can save a company circling the drain, in the real world a failing company requires liquidation or a complete overhaul to return it to profitability...which always includes layoffs and replacement of most management.

When Hannah meets Jake, there's a little friction especially over the contract that Jake is stalling on. As he "mulls" it over, they get to know each other and enjoy the process. A cute little girl helps move the process along. They are a nice couple but I can't say the performances were either outstanding or poor - they were pleasant.Meanwhile, Hannah falls in love with the town. In fact this is probably just as much of the story as Jake and Hannah.Through the story, there seems to be a mystery lurking in the shadows. If you paid attention you possibly saw the answer to the town's problems, but the movie saves it for a last minute reveal.

This is, of course, "only" a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie - one among many.But it's also one of the most charming ones I've seen. Jill Wagner is a revelation, and completely engaging as Hannah Harper, a New York executive sent to the town of Cookie Jar to close the sale of Aunt Sally's Christmas Cookie company to her large conglomerate. She must negotiate with the handsome nephew of the original owner, and sparks fly - it's a Hallmark movie, duh.It will take oodles of cookies, lots of love, and a little bit of last-minute Christmas magic, but everything will be all right in the end.A very sweet, tasty treat for Christmas 2016.

There are lots of similar Hallmark movies around Christmas time. Often they involve a bailout of a struggling business in a small town and this movie is no exception. But this one is above average for a couple of reasons. The leads are likable attractive and not annoying. Jill Wagner is lively without being too perky as the corporate executive trying to bail out the cookie company in a quaint town. Wes Brown is the head of the struggling cookie company who wants to keep the factory and the town going. Of course romance ensues in a gradual not too cute way. The little Christmas traditions are quite alright and the rides on the sled look fun. Also the cookies are delicious looking. So there is an appetizing focus to the movie. The weakness is the solution to the problem seems a bit sudden and unconvincing - but what do you expect from this kind of movie.