Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017 TV Movie) User Reviews

Well....

[alanroberts-79559 · 6/10 · 30 December 2017]

Marie finds her Christmas spirit reawakened when her mother begins sending her the family's Christmas ornaments. As each ornament arrives, it brings a positive change to Marie's life, including an introduction to the handsome man from next door.

I have said this before but Jessica Lowndes has had to many surgical procedures and she looks frighting. It is hard to be charmed by that. In fact its a distractions!

A Little Magic

[Christmas-Reviewer · 6/10 · 11 December 2017]

I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 ( C H R I S T M A S ) MOVIES AND SPECIALS.

PLEASE BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY " C H R I S T M A S " MOVIES AS I CAN.

Marie finds her Christmas spirit reawakened when her mother begins sending her the family's Christmas ornaments. As each ornament arrives, it brings a positive change to Marie's life, including an introduction to the handsome man from next door.

This film makes some pretty tame choices however fine I am cool with that. What I expect from a "Christmas Film" this film delivers. Not the greatest but I enjoy the film for what it is. The film is "Magical"

Could have had more magic

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 3 August 2021]

Have actually seen a fair share of Hallmark Christmas films that have been surprisingly good and more, so they are absolutely capable of having a good film in them, hence why they keep getting watched by me. Despite giving 'Magical Christmas Ornaments' a mixed rating and am going to give it a fairly lukewarm review, it did have some potential even if expectations weren't entirely high. Seeing as Hallmark's Christmas offerings are so hit and miss and the overall quality very inconsistent.

'Magical Christmas Ornaments' is neither one of the hits or one of the misses. There are definitely worse Christmas films from Hallmark, as it is not in the mediocre at best or dud category, but there are also better as it is not quite surprisingly good level or particularly good. 'Magical Christmas Ornaments' is one of the just about watchable in between films of theirs, while not really living up to its absolutely lovely name that really grabbed my attention.

Am going to start with the good things, as 'Magical Christmas Ornaments' is not a complete humbug. It is graced by an immensely likeable Brendan Penny, who doesn't make his character too perfect or overplay his weaknesses. The supporting cast are also solid and make a lot of effort making on paper cliched characters interesting and like real people and not like flat caricatures.

It looks good, Hallmark always delivers on the scenery which always looks lovely regardless of any authenticity. The photography is not drab or gaudy, and while it is not showy as such it isn't too static. There is a nice festive atmosphere at times later on and the ornaments were a nice touch and not overused or gimmicky.

Jessica Lowndes didn't do it for me sadly however. Have nothing personal against her and am certainly not going to make personal comments about her appearance, as it is shallow and has no place in a review, but she has never sold it to me as an actress and this is another example of why. The performance just felt rather affected and also lacking in expression, plus her character is dull and never goes beyond a typical Hallmark cliche that doesn't really grow all that much or come over as easy to relate to (was actually frustrated by her behaviour early on). Her chemistry with Penny is mostly lacking, it has moments later on but could have been featured more and developed more. It feels like it goes nowhere for a while and then has a little development just like that.

When it comes to the dialogue, it is very awkward in flow and there is no heart to it. Both the cheese and sentiment go overboard, and there is too little in 'Magical Christmas Ornaments' to connect with emotionally. The story is not much of one at all for most of the length, much of the first portion is endless and pointless filler and what there is of the story is very dull, excessively predictable and at times silly with senseless motivations and rushed character development. The too neat and contrived ending can be seen from miles off. The direction is routine on the whole and the music is overbearing tonally and in placement.

Concluding, watchable but could have done with a lot more magic. 5/10.

Jessica and Brendan are okay together if not great.

[lzilinski · 7/10 · 25 September 2020]

Has much of the usual Hallmark Christmas movie plot points but the ornaments do put a bit of a different spin on it. Hallmark Christmas movies are all about predictability and comfort so if you're not into that sort of thing then Don't Watch These Movies. Also, if you're the type of person who buys Hallmark ornaments buy them and if you don't like them then don't buy them. You accuse Hallmark of being cynical but the true cynics are those who dwell on this Hallmark commercialism issue. Nobody is chaining anyone to a chair and making them watch a Hallmark movie. You don't like it don't watch. And for that person who boldly watches dozens of Hallmark movies even though he clearly dislikes them, just get a life. I have a sneaking suspicion that of the millions of people who watch Hallmark movies about 95 % of them like what they see and are okay with Jessica Lowndes being in Hallmark movies. I happen to like feel good movies, especially Christmas ones, so I watch these movies. For all those people who don't like Jessica Lowndes make-up how would you suppose a successful single career woman from New York City would look. Jessica Lowndes' make-up is certainly a bit of a signature for her but it certainly fits in this role. She has done several movies with wilder make up. For those of you who don't like her speech her style evokes New York City in this role. On "Over The Moon In Love" she has a slower, more toned down style. For those people who don't think she can act you need to check out her work on 90210 (the 2008-2013 series) and any one of her Lifetime Channel dramas. The roles she played are all polar opposites to the person she really is. She is a more accomplished actress than most of the other acting talent in Hallmark's movies and is a genuinely talented, hard working, and very well rounded individual in her actual life. If you didn't like her in a particular movie that's fine and it's okay to comment on that. But ripping her for her appearance or falsely accusing her of multiple plastic surgeries is unnecessary B.S. And Jessica is a spectacular musical talent as well, better than pretty much anyone else who's done a Hallmark movie in a major role with the possible exception of Kelly Pickler and even that could be up for debate. I would suggest that Jessica Lowndes' has a significantly large following for her Hallmark movies otherwise Hallmark wouldn't keep hiring her to make new ones.

Engaging Story

[glanners-70803 · 6/10 · 3 January 2021]

Book editor Marie (Jessica Lowndes) has no Christmas spirit after a festive break-up and neighbour Nate (Brendan Penny), a paediatric nurse, endeavours to reignite it. Marie is also attempting to reboot the children's book sector at her publishers with push-back from her boss. So, there's a few things going on here and it takes a little time to find its feet, but we eventually get an engaging story with some good performances.

Penny is from Heaven!

[adamjohns-42575 · 6/10 · 18 January 2021]

Another Brendan Penny film and I don't mind one bit. He is just so charming and lovely. I'm not sure what he sees in Jessica Lowndes character though, I might have found it more likely if she'd ended up with her ex (Also hot by the way).

I did like the idea of the potential magic in the ornaments, it made the story flow well, without it actually being a fantasy story. The hospital element was also a nice touch and I love any reference to 'A Christmas Carol', but I've never understood why there is a toy drive for kids in hospital? Just because they broke their leg, it doesn't make their parents paupers who can't afford to buy a book or something? All I'm saying is that there might be other charities out there that need help more? Ones that provide water, food and shelter maybe?

It's not a bad film overall, I've made it sound a bit off in what I've written above, but with Brendan in it, how could we go wrong?

Jessica-Look at this movie and do the opposite.

[rebekahrox · 5/10 · 21 December 2018]

I don't want to pile on to poor Jessica Lowndes, so I will say that I quite enjoyed her in Christmas at Pemberley. I mentioned in that review that she had toned down her looks a bit. If Jessica wants to continue being a Hallmark staple, she needs to continue to follow the example in the recent movie. Caught about an hour of this earlier Hallmark movie last night. This one serves as a cautionary reminder of what Jessica should stay away from. Oh my Lord. That eye-liner! She looks like a reincarnation of Nefertiti. I am sure if she ever catches this one herself, she will be wondering what she was thinking. Hallmarks are better suited to the girl next door types, not the exotic beauties, in my opinion. I also agree with the commenter that pointed out her rapid fire delivery which serves to make her seem like a line-reader rather than a thoughtful actress who is really inhabiting her character. She also had the habit of speaking from the back of her throat like she was trying to be a ventriloquist. She must have been studying her craft a bit in the year since this movie, because she has really improved. She is not great, but she is on the right path.

Truly Magical!

[hnhoran · 9/10 · 15 February 2019]

I really enjoyed this one!!! Not only was the main character a kindred spirit, but she was also accompanied by a great best friend and a cute neighbor. I had a very fun time watching and now I'm craving Christmas!!!

A Lovely Ad

[statuskuo · 6/10 · 25 December 2018]

As most have succinctly put it, this is a 90+ minute ad for Hallmark's ornaments. Spent way too much time going through their surplus and perhaps a little less time on the title. The innocuous straight forward sale. Hiding in plain sight tactic could possibly work. But it's somehow a nice background flick that works for those who are broken hearted this time of year. Especially if you attempt to re-kindle a past flame but find it lacking in...magic. Marie (Jessica Lowndes) is a big city book editor who has lost all spirit of Christmas. Her next door neighbor Nate (Brendan Penny) likes to celebrate Christmas when he can away from his folks who dwell in Florida. He longs for a white Christmas, works at a children's hospital and wants to be a doctor someday. I'm not sure if they attempted to cram in, maybe something more endearing in a previous draft, but I don't think the story could handle any more ideal person in a garbage pit such as New York City. This is the 90's NYC where everyone holds the door for one another and wishes each other a Merry Christmas. So, you have to suspend that disbelief. Not to ruin the story for you, but yea, she falls for Nate's charms. Through thick dark eyeliner that makes her look really spooky and a Carly Simon level wide mouth, she is adorable herself. Pining for a lost first love that can't be re-kindled despite the fact that beau-hunk Clark (Stephen Huszas) returns wanting a second chance. The core of the story is magical ornaments, in case you didn't read the title. Marie's parents send these family ornaments that somehow serendipitously come true once hung on trees. A great gag for women, as they tend to believe in romantic magic. And pretty soon we see her guided by those events. Yes, corny as per Hallmark, but still one to get sucked into. It's good natured even in its perceived cynicism of the holiday. I often wonder if the card writers at Hallmark are more suicidal than the rest of us. It's enough to make it worth a peek during dark times around this holiday.

Cute mover, weak lead.

[rightisright · 5/10 · 10 December 2017]

I liked the conceit of this movie with parents sending various Christmas tree ornaments to help their daughter get her Christmas spirit back. Brendan Penny from Motive gives a steady performance as the male lead. My problem is with the star Jessica Lowndes. She's just not up to carrying a story herself. She should be the supportive friend type. Of course, my exhaustive attempt to slog through every new Hallmark Christmas movie may have colored my opinion here.

Lovely movie.

[MIssM19 · 8/10 · 10 December 2017]

This movie was just beautiful. I'm currently listening to famous Christmas songs and I think that's what all these movies are about, at least for me. A reminder of a "magical" time of the year.

Speaking of magical, the story with the ornaments was charming, I really appreciate having an original plot, even with the typical Hallmark elements that just can't be absent (like the -ex- boyfriend, and the main character only realizing things at the end)

Regarding the characters, does Brendan Penny have chemistry with all his co-leads? The chemistry was there and I was charmed by him once again. I did liked Marie but sometimes she just seemed off. However, I enjoyed her journey.

To sum up, this movie is average, but it does have a lovely plot regarding the ornaments. You should really watch it.

Christmas magic

[Jackbv123 · 7/10 · 6 December 2017]

This movie has some powerful elements in the story. I also think the story is a little more complex than the usual Hallmark Christmas movie.

Jessica Lowndes plays Marie. Marie has some heavy scars from a past relationship that ended Christmas Eve. She is having trouble healing. We find out more about it when Clark comes into the story. The book he is writing deepens Marie's conflict because his story is the story of their relationship together. And yet it seemed strange to me that she did not react more negatively at first when this came about.

Before Clark reappeared, Marie had been on a journey to healing through a new relationship with her neighbor Nate. The movie takes us through Marie's struggles and her attempts to heal.

The ornaments are part of the story. Marie sees them as magical and I think the movie tries to use them as symbols for different aspects of her journey.

In addition to everything else going on in the story, we have children in a hospital at Christmas. Marie and Nate take a special interest in them which gives us some heartwarming moments.

Jessica Lowndes is not my favorite actress so I'm not sure I'm objective, but because I felt her emotions so strongly, I think she must have done a good job. Brendan Penny does a good job opposite her.

Speaking totally subjectively, despite feeling the emotions, something just wasn't right for me. Perhaps it was how the different elements were arranged, or perhaps there was just too much jammed into the story for the time allowed. I feel like I would have liked to experience the story in a book instead of a movie.

It could have been good

[manfredpeter-09628 · 4/10 · 14 July 2020]

Jessica Lowndes puts me in bad mood (hence the review). She needs speech therapist, acting lessons And new make up artist. Totally lifeless and annoying. Hard to imagine that some sweet handsome guy could be interested in her. Rest of cast good. Why would Brendan Penney agree to working with her? Hate to be negative. Hope she's independently wealthy. Forgot to mention that she never takes her dog out when she gets home. Boy, really annoying

Two Hour Ad for Ornaments!

[kz917-1 · 6/10 · 1 January 2018]

Cute enough...

Woman receives ornaments from her mother as she is recuperating from a break-up. Dashing next door neighbor works at the hospital and sparks soon fly.

nice

[Kirpianuscus · 12 November 2018]

A charming love story, not original but comfortable romance, with seductive plot, decent performances, lovely symbols and children. So, that kind of Christmas film working as milk with cookies. Predictable but soft, delicate but good game of nuances of tension, silky and reflectic dilemmas of many from us. And lovely secondary performances. A love story in the right costume.

Sexist

[xmissgibsonx · 6/10 · 1 December 2020]

I was really enjoying this film until the scene where they get a new fiction writer and the cafe scene where they assume the writer is a man. It is 2020, women are fiction writers too!

Bad, bad, bad

[chiltonsjillfreeport · 1/10 · 31 December 2019]

For me, there are 2 kinds of Jessica Lowndes HMC films: most I delete after < 15 minutes, and the couple I've groaned or slept through to the end.

Jessica is...sad, or happy, or angry...she grimaces, purses her lips, looks blank. Maybe she wears bricks of make-up to feign real expressions? It turns everything into exclamation marks!

I bailed the second I realized we would be tormented with Hallmark ads/FaceTime calls w/Mom, who speaks to her like a (dim) child.

A more complex plot than most; resolves well

[Pete-Claus · 8/10 · 11 January 2020]

The joy of the Christmas season is helped along, a bit, as a heroine searches for her true path. A nice movie with a satisfying ending. Enjoyed it very much.

Magical Christmas ornament

[mitchellrharl · 4/10 · 7 November 2019]

Hallmark needs to match lead and costars better Jessica Lowndes wears too much black eyeliner and usually love Brendan Penny but blah chemistry costars are great kids are great .

Jessica Lowndes Stars in Another Excellent Christmas Movie

[gehewe · 9/10 · 8 March 2019]

The first time I saw Jessica Lowndes was in A DECEMBER BRIDE (2016) with Daniel Lissing as co-star which was a 10 rating for me. I thought the movie was so good because of Daniel Lissing, but after seeing this one, I think Jessica was the reason. She is perfect as the center of the movie. She has the ability to carry the emotion with her expressions. This one was not as good as December Bride, but it is well done. This is the second Christmas movie I've seen with Brendan Penny and in both they used him perfectly. PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND MISTLETOE (2018) with Lacey Chabert was the other. Long time starring actor Tim Matheson played a role in this film and throughout I was wondering where I had seen him before. Jessica did a great job with the Christmas ornaments and the pediatric hospital kids were a nice touch. Jessica has a little dog in her New York apartment as well.

A sweet hallmark romance that reignites the Christmas sentiment within our heroine.

[cgvsluis · 5/10 · 26 October 2021]

"Say yes to something besides a double shift."-Nate

This is a sweet Hallmark Christmas movie in which Nate our medical professional helps book editor and neighbor, Marie, bring a little Christmas back into her life after their initial bah-humbug meet-cute. Marie's mom and dad start sending her Christmas ornaments also to put a little Christmas magic back in to her life. Nate puts his foot in it, not knowing the source of Marie's anti-Christmas sentiment is a bad Christmas breakup, so he apologizes with a Christmas tree and helps Marie decorate it. Nate invites Marie ice skating and they start to share their life stories. Nate went into nursing thanks to his beloved grandfather. Marie has been stuck publishing non-fiction when her true love is to publish fiction and open her own boutique publishing house. Nate encourages her to go for it...and coincidentally one of her favorite authors tries something new, a delightful Christmas story for kids that her boss doesn't want to publish.

The one thing Marie and Nate have in common is their love for The Christmas Story.

"Inspiring the future today." Is the motto that Marie wanted to use for her boutique publishing house. Something that her ex, Clark, who shows up with a book idea that Marie has been put in charge of publishing.

"I learned that if you Scrooge you loose."-Marie.

"I believed that those ornaments were magical."-Marie

"That's the beauty of life, it changes based on our perspective."-Marie's mom.

The culmination of this story ends in Marie bringing a very special Christmas to a group of kids stuck in the hospital for Christmas, a very beautiful moment.

A Very Special Porn Star Christmas

[zyxnix · 8/10 · 26 December 2017]

I'm sorry but the leading lady in a Christmas movie should have a certain Girl Next Door/ BFF quality to her. Marie looks like a porn star. Overall, this story is good and the production is right on track. However, at times it seemed like I was watching an extended commercial for Hallmark Christmas Ornaments. A little product placement is OK, but let's not create an entire movie themed around pushing our product. That being said, I need to get some Hallmark Christmas ornaments.

Love this quote from the movie!

[taraleighh · 10/10 · 10 November 2018]

"Chapters close and begin but the story of you will never end. Keep marching forward and rolling boulders will turn into stepping stones." Marie: it means with storms, come rainbows. You just gotta believe.

Magical.

[kevend-16818 · 10/10 · 15 June 2020]

One of my favourite Christmas films. Jessica Lowndes is brilliant, I was absorbed from start to finish with her performance. It was excellent to follow the progress through the film as to what ornament would be sent next and the way they all intertwined with her life and the neighbour next door. A great Christmas film with a lovely ending. Good supporting cast made it well worth watching.

Unpredictably Magical

[WickedRogers · 9/10 · 16 December 2017]

As predictable and similar as most Christmas movies are (especially Hallmark originals) this is surprisingly unpredictable and very original. It is definitely a fresh story of a woman's rekindled love of everyone's favorite holiday and a chance at finding the love of another. Julianne Alexander shines in this new Christmas movie that is sure to be a classic for years to come.