Christmas with Holly (2012)

hyped garbage

From my favorite movies..

Beautiful, moving film.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

If I could, I'd give this movie a 10-plus vote! In a word, it's *MAGICAL*.I bought the DVD and I watch it from time to time *throughout the year*! (most frequently during the winter holiday season).This is a truly uplifting, *feel good* movie.I loved and understood how Holly bonded with her Uncle Alex. Growing up, Alex had apparently been picked on and made fun of (presumably because he was an extremely bright science nerd), which made him feel like an outsider. Holly was only 6 when she lost her mother, stopped talking, and in her grief withdrew from those around her and became an outsider.So, it's not surprising that when Holly begins to speak again and she's asked which of the three Nagel brothers is her "favorite uncle", she looks at each of them carefully, then breaks out into a smile and declares "Uncle Alex" !! I also liked how the initially cantankerous relationships among the three Nagel brothers gradually evolved into kindness, understanding and respect.Scott, who owns his own construction company and is juggling his job with remodeling his own house, starts out as grouchy and gruff. Alex seems to be a perpetual student, working on a Dissertation in marine biology, funded by academic grants. Mark, the youngest of the three, co-owns the local coffee house in Friday Harbor and is Holly's legal guardian -- but as Cara, Mark's business partner, points out -- Mark is "more than that".There are so many heart-warming scenes throughout this movie, but one of my favorite moments is a funny one -- it's the scene on the staircase in Scott's house when Alex and Holly are sitting next to each and he turns to Holly and says "don't go in my room" !! The look on Holly's face is priceless!

I have read other reviews posted, saying it was sappy with uninteresting characters and I say, NOT! If you are the type of person who attends film festivals and thrives on subtitles, maybe so. If you just need a plain old fashioned heart warming tale, this is it! Needless to say, I purchased it for my collection. I am a hopeless romantic and I love Christmas, so this was a given. I think it is a wonderful story of love lost and love found, of family trials and the enduring spirit of a families ties. I say give it a chance and you will not leave without shedding a tear or bursting out in joyous laughter. I have five brothers, so the brother scenes are a hoot! Break out the popcorn and tissues!

I watched this movie on TV when it came out, and came away with rather mixed feelings. On the plus side, most of the characters are likable, and the message about the importance of family is good. On the other hand, there isn't much of a plot, and except for a few moments the movie isn't very interesting. Hallmark has produced excellent movies in the past, such as the year-round "Front of the Class," but "Christmas with Holly" isn't one of them.There are three characters - Mark, Holly, and Maggie - Who are facing different challenges. Mark has suddenly become the guardian of the young Holly, who lost her mom three months ago. Holly is so upset about the loss of her mom that she won't speak, causing additional trouble for Mark. Maggie was planning on getting married, but her fiancé never showed up at the wedding. All these characters move to the small town of Friday Harbor, WA to start new lives. Maggie opens a new toy store, which is discovered by Holly right away. Mark starts to slowly build a connection with Maggie, but is still in a relationship with someone else - This relationship goes downhill because his girlfriend doesn't like the fact that Holly is now in the picture, and is not happy when she finds out that Mark has made a new friend in town. All three main characters come together at the end of the story, but the ending is not certain (Holly is speaking again, but you can make up your own story as to what eventually happens with Mark and Maggie).

At the start of the movie, Tim and Maggie are getting married. Only Tim never shows up, though Maggie's dress is gorgeous.In Seattle, three months after her mother Victoria died, first-grader Holly hasn't talked yet and she is having trouble in school. Victoria wanted her brother Mark to take Holly if anything happened to her (she didn't tell Mark who the father was), and so far Uncle Mark is doing a good job, but he doesn't want Holly to be held back because of her problems. Shelby is his girlfriend, and while she is nice enough, she won't put Holly's needs above her own.The solution is to move to the charming little island town where he and Cara run T.A.N. Coffee. There is a good school there which should help Holly.The island is reached only by ferry. And it just so happens that on the ferry, Mark and Holly meet Maggie, Maggie's logical sister Kate, and Olive, the dog Kate got stuck with when her roommate moved out. Maggie thinks Holly is just adorable, though Kate thinks she likes Mark too.Mark and Holly move in with Mark's macho construction worker brother Scott. Their science nerd brother Alex, who works when he gets grants and may move to Maine, also lives there, and he can cook. But the house is big and while the older brothers are both macho jerks who still treat Mark like a kid, Holly could be a good influence. With little work to do, Scott is in the process of renovating, and a pretty pink room for Holly becomes part of that process.Former toy company employee Maggie has dreamed of opening a toy store of her own. She has bought Magic Mirror Toys on the island, though she gets in a disagreement with the longtime manager and sends the older woman packing. This means Kate is stuck working for her instead of going back to college, but Maggie needs her intelligence.Thanksgiving is a disaster, but the brothers have not been together since they lost their father and their mother didn't want to celebrate.The day after is the big grand opening for the toy store. Holly and Mark happen to visit and Maggie and Holly have one of several really special moments.Soon, Holly is in school, and starting to improve. She hasn't talked but she really likes that toy store.You don't have to be Alex to know where this is going.Holly is adorable even when she doesn't speak or even smile. There's just something about her.The main characters are appealing enough. Sean Faris and Eloise Mumford (who looks like Katherine Heigl to me) do a good enough job for Lifetime. This is a Hallmark Hall of Fame production, though, but they're okay. Catherine Berube as the voice of reason probably does the best job of anyone.The town is one of those pleasant small towns, but with a little more culture than Mayberry. The people there are nice for the most part.The best moments involve Maggie and Holly and that tiny house where the fairy lives.And Maggie can Riverdance!It's a nice Christmas story, even of it doesn't quite reach the level of a Hallmark production.