A Cowboy Christmas Romance

This family is messed up. But it almost makes sense how they got this way. And this movie is a little edgy for a Christmas movie. It is also a little complicated for the average Christmas movie.

The story starts out like so many, but Lexi is not at all likeable in the beginning. Lexi is a successful business woman. She closes deals. That's code for she manipulates people into the outcome she wants. The next deal which might interfere with Christmas vacation requires her to go home or at least to her hometown. Lexi hates her hometown and she is very very angry at her father. She hasn't been home in ten years and hasn't communicated with her family either. We get clues as to why along the way but it isn't totally spelled out until late in the story.

The title has Romance in it, but I think that the romance is half or less than half of the story. It is also rushed because of everything else in the story. And then there is the sex scene. Oh what a big deal. Lifetime TV's first sex scene in a Christmas movie. Oh gee. I thought it was underwhelming even for what might be called borderline family TV. There is nothing close to nudity except a shirtless man, also seen from far away in his boxers, and glimpses of a woman in her bra. The sex itself is passed over, as the Trivia on this site says, in a fade to black way.

Like many Christmas movies, the ending wraps everything up for everyone, maybe too nicely. There was at least one twist, but not completely unpredictable.

I give this movie a semi-positive rating (7 is my default for good but not great). It kept me interested. But it won't be the first thing I watch a second time.

I thought it was a nice cowboy movie but I have seen better. It kind of dragged for me. It has the plot with the big city company trying to buy the cowboy single-father's ranch. It had a few romantic scenes, kisses but Hallmark has more these days too, just not the sleeping together on-screen parts which isn't missed. Other than some mentions of Santa, other Christmas things and a family dinner at the end there wasn't much Christmas. Mostly just the feud within and between 2 families over a ranch. The cast was good. I won't watch it again. But if you are into cowboy romances you might like it. My favorite cowboy romance is Hallmark's Straight From the Heart.

I am a faithful holiday romance watcher. This is better than average and among the best I have seen so far in the 2023 season. I saved the recording and would watch again.

Good: Chemistry between the two leads was good. I love Jana Kramer and she was well cast here. Spice level was mild enough for basic cable TV but better than the distinct lack of spice on the other more "wholesome" networks. Story was good, and most of the characters were believable.

Bad: The eldest brother seemed to be trying way too hard throughout the entire movie to be a villain without actually ultimately being a villain. That seemed unnecessary to me. The worst and most unbelievable character was Abby though. She was played by a girl clearly in her teens, but was written as though she was much younger. The dad has to sing her to sleep, she believes in Santa, talks very childish, etc. So, that was strange to me. They needed to write her as a teen or cast a younger girl, maybe 7 or 8 years old. That bothered be throughout the entire movie.

Neutral Comment: Apart from being set at Christmas time, this is not a Christmas movie. This could take place at any time of year and not change the story at all. Absolutely nothing was related to Christmas. That didn't bother me at all, not just felt worth mentioning.

Overall, very watchable and even enjoyable movie.

Some who are critical are so because it IS a rom com. The rating should be made among not just rom coms - and there are better - but among Christmas rom coms and there are VERY few that can match this one. The plot is actually fresh, albeit as I read the previews I thought this was going just another person returning to their home town at Christmas to broker a deal. It turns out that was the start and the storyline took a nice turn. Roles are well written and well played. The storyline has NO cookie baking, Christmas tree shopping, snowball fights. This is fresh for a Christmas rom com. In fact with the realistic romantic scene it is fresh among all rom coms this year and in all past years. Wake up Hallmark; grow up.

I absolutely ADORE Jana Kramer and try to catch everything she is in. I will say, even if I didn't know who she was..this would STILL be a new favorite Christmas movie. The storyline of the film was a good story. It also wasn't cheesy like most Hallmark/Lifetime movies. It made the characters actually seem like real people!! Thank goodness we finally got kissing scenes besides one peck at the end. Their chemistry was great, you could tell they actually tired to make the characters have a relationship & not just acting. An all around wonderful movie! I hope they come up with a sequel some how!!