8.0 stars.
Here is one of those very rare outliers I like to call a hidden gem of Hallmark Christmas archives. 'Christmas at Grand Valley' is a dark horse that I curiously feel is a bundle of entertainment, the total package of wonderment overflowing with children's dreams and adults' hopeful wishes.
There is an obvious disconnect for many Hallmark frequenters here, and I see no cause for it. This is why I call this an outlier, and rightly so.
Staying at Grand Valley is one of the delightful experiences I've had with a Christmas town, the ambience, the nice people, the Christmas cheer. We are swept into a story about an influential man (Elliot) from Chicago and his two endearing children and how they fall in love with an artist (McKellar) who is currently having "painter's block", and is in need of a muse. Their fates converge in her hometown of Grand Valley at a Christmas lodge. He has been assigned to review the lodge's finances to see if it should remain or be acquired and possibly dismantled and turned into something else. She is dead set against any changes to this magical lodge, because to her it is irreplaceable. The drama escalates, but they have an intense affinity for one another that cannot be repressed. He will find a way to save the lodge because of his deep affection for her and likewise she will find a way to forgive him if he can't.
Is the dialogue rudimentary? I suppose in many parts it is, however McKellar and Elliot have one of the best chemistries I've seen to date. For their performances alone this gets a high rating. Now let's not forget all of the supporting cast and the children. This is truly one of the greats. You'd have to really dislike McKellar to dislike this movie, there can be no other explanation.
Here is one of those very rare outliers I like to call a hidden gem of Hallmark Christmas archives. 'Christmas at Grand Valley' is a dark horse that I curiously feel is a bundle of entertainment, the total package of wonderment overflowing with children's dreams and adults' hopeful wishes.
There is an obvious disconnect for many Hallmark frequenters here, and I see no cause for it. This is why I call this an outlier, and rightly so.
Staying at Grand Valley is one of the delightful experiences I've had with a Christmas town, the ambience, the nice people, the Christmas cheer. We are swept into a story about an influential man (Elliot) from Chicago and his two endearing children and how they fall in love with an artist (McKellar) who is currently having "painter's block", and is in need of a muse. Their fates converge in her hometown of Grand Valley at a Christmas lodge. He has been assigned to review the lodge's finances to see if it should remain or be acquired and possibly dismantled and turned into something else. She is dead set against any changes to this magical lodge, because to her it is irreplaceable. The drama escalates, but they have an intense affinity for one another that cannot be repressed. He will find a way to save the lodge because of his deep affection for her and likewise she will find a way to forgive him if he can't.
Is the dialogue rudimentary? I suppose in many parts it is, however McKellar and Elliot have one of the best chemistries I've seen to date. For their performances alone this gets a high rating. Now let's not forget all of the supporting cast and the children. This is truly one of the greats. You'd have to really dislike McKellar to dislike this movie, there can be no other explanation.