Hallmark Review: 'It's Christmas, Eve'

Following her beloved father's passing, musician Eve Morgan (played by real-life musician LeAnn Rimes) is now a "will-o'-the-wisp" interim school superintendent who has recently moved back home to deal with the financial difficulties facing her town's local schools. Soon after arriving into town and moving back in with her mother Nella (Gwynth Walsh), Eve runs into local single dad Liam Bailey (Tyler Hynes)—who not only happens to be her new neighbor, but is also the music teacher at the high school Eve is working at. The kicker? The school's budget problems leave no visible option other than to cut the school's art and music programs.

While the revelation of her purpose in town initially causing awkwardness between them, Eve and Liam begin working together to find a way to raise enough money to keep art and music going. The pair eventually begin working on a district wide Christmas music festival, hoping it will raise enough town support and donations to keep the programs alive. With the help of friends and family, Eve and Liam fight to keep art and music alive for their town—while Eve must also come to terms with both her father's death and her musical past and decide if she's really content to continue her life of drifting.

"Protagonist Fights to Save _____ from Financial Downfall and Closure" is an oft-used made-for-TV Christmas film plot, though in the case of this film, the thing being fought to save are classes rather than something physical (say, the school itself). In another breath of fresh air, It's Christmas, Eve also throws in a few other plot lines familiar to longtime Hallmark fans, allowing the writers to play around with them all and create something oddly unique. There's also a special layer of authenticity to the whole piece, allowing the film to do what all Hallmark movies should strive to do: Allow the viewers two hours to feel the holiday spirit and just feel happy.

The strong cast helps in this goal in every respect, with even the side characters bringing something to the table. Anyone thinking LeAnn Rimes was solely hired for her singing will be floored by how genuine she makes the film's titular protagonist, giving Eve emotional depth and making the viewer really root for her to find the happiness she deserves. Tyler Hynes similarly shines as charismatic yet grounded single father Liam, who has a running gag that will be greatly appreciated by the more Genre Savvy Hallmark viewer. Lara Gilchrist and Giles Panton also provide genuine charm as Eve's old friends and a married couple with children, with Panton in particular throwing himself into the adorably quirky Brad James. Laurie Murdoch is also a surprisingly developed side character as Nella's husband John, having a scene with Walsh that exemplifies the chemistry between them and wraps up with a sure fire tug at the heartstrings.

This high caliber acting makes the story's fairly standard beats enjoyable to watch, with even the arcs of Liam's daughter Abby and chronically shy student Duane Snodgrass (both of whom have arcs seasoned Hallmark viewers will now the progress of immediately) becoming heartwarming to witness thanks to the strong performances of Eden Summer Gilmore and Josh Bogert.

But above all else, what surprised me about It's Christmas, Eve is Eve's ultimate story arc. Because ultimately, Eve's story isn't about her falling in love with Liam. Instead, it's about her working to overcome the pain of her father's death as well as her doubt regarding her musical talent--a story line far more emotionally investing (and empowering) than the typical "romantically repressed woman needs handsome stranger to open her heart to love" beat. With that and Rimes' dedication to conveying Eve's transformation throughout the film, putting It's Christmas, Eve a notch above other films in Hallmark's catalog. With all that in mind, it should be no surprise that It's Christmas, Eve comes with my highest recommendation.

Score: 10 out of 10 coffee-related meet cutes.