Hallmark Review: 'Write Before Christmas'

Jessica Winthrop (Torrey DeVitto) has always went above and beyond to make every Christmas special. But after a heinous break-up days before Christmas, Jessica is ready to give up on both relationships and Christmas this year. But after looking over the set of five Christmas cards she was intending to use to send to her boyfriend, Jessica gets an idea: send those cards to the people in her life who have had a great deal of impact.

The recipients include: her best friend Mimi (Kimberley Shoniker), her army enlisted brother Carter (Madison Smith), her aunt Lila (Lolita Davidovich), her former music teacher Ms. Miller, and pop star/former boy band member Jax (Drew Seeley). While her cards each have an unexpected impact on the lives of the people she sent them to, Jessica finds her forging a surprising friendship with Ms. Miller's photographer son Luke (Chad Michael Murray), who may just spark some change in Jessica's life as well.

In a manner reminiscent of films like Love, Actually and Valentine's Day, Write Before Christmas is a film that juggles a handful of stories that are in some way connected to one another. Unlike those films, however, Write Before Christmas makes no secret of the fact that the blossoming relationship between Jessica and Luke is where its spotlight is, as the film puts a notably greater focus on them than on the other characters affected by Jessica's cards. But despite the other side plots getting shortchanged when it comes to screentime, most make solid use of the time they're allotted and the film makes sure the story it does put most of its focus on is a compelling one.

Torrey DeVitto and Chad Michael Murray bring charm and likability to their characters, and play well off of each other as two people who are aware of their mutual attraction, but are uncertain of whether or not to act on it due to being burned in the past when it comes to relationships. While both Jessica and Luke end up falling victim to the much maligned "Third Act Misunderstanding" trope, it segues into an interesting third act in which both characters begin focusing on themselves and working to improve their own lives--without worrying about getting back together. It makes for an interesting variation, even if the film eventually goes back to the formula in time for the finale.

Going in descending order of strength, the strongest of the "Christmas Card Subplots" would be Lila's, with Lolita Davidovich and Grant Show having great chemistry as two widowed people forming a connection that builds into something more. Davidovich brings a warmth to Lila in her interactions with both Tom and Jessica, and Show is charming in a slightly adorkable way as Tom. Jax's subplot has the distinction of being the only one not centered (to some degree) on a romantic relationship, instead focusing around how Jessica's Christmas card (which details how his music helped her during her time grieving her parents' deaths) inspiring Jax to get back to songwriting and make amends with his former bandmates. Drew Seeley is plenty likable as Jax, though he truly shines once Jax reunites with former bandmates Perry and Tim, with Seeley sharing a charming chemistry with Garfield Wilson and Johnny Ghorbani as old friends reconnecting and making amends for their past estrangement.

At the bottom of the barrel, however, are the subplots involving Jessica's brother Carter and her best friend Mimi. Madison Smith and Lanie McAuley are charming together as Carter and Angie strike up a mutual attraction, with McAuley bringing some emotion to Angie as she opens up about her troubled home life. But ultimately, their story arc not only transpires exactly the way you expect it to, but it also ends on an unsatisfying note and the potential for doses of realism brought on by Lanie's backstory and the military setting of Carter and Angie's romance are both abandoned. Their subplot, however, pales in comparison to the underbaked story involving Mimi and her husband John (played by David Quinlan), which is given so little attention that neither Quinlan or Kimberley Shoniker have a chance to make much of an impression or develop any sense of chemistry together.

Despite being a mixed bag when it comes to being an ensemble film, Write Before Christmas makes the most of the plots that do get the spotlight they need to thrive, becoming a heartfelt film that centers around love among family and friends as well as the standard romantic love that serves as Hallmark's bread and butter. With a little deviation bringing a bit of spice to the otherwise formula-driven film, in combination with a charming cast, Write Before Christmas is a warm holiday flick about the power small acts of kindness can have--tailor made for family viewing.

Score: 6.5 out of 10 doorstop fruitcakes.