Long Lost Christmas

This is another story about searching for lost family. Hayley's mom was separated from her brother by the child welfare system when he aged out. The story includes a potential budding romance with a business partner of the possible family member. It seems like the two threads are about equal.

Most of the story wanders from one holiday activity to another while Hayley tries to stay close to her target, at least through half the movie. Hayley is pushy prying into the life of her possible Uncle Gordon. He is coy about his past which prolongs the search.

While Hayley searches, her mom deals with bittersweet memories while trying to get back out into the world after the recent loss of her husband.

Benjamin Ayres and Taylor Cole have quiet chemistry. The acting is good. Dialogue is decent but not sparkling. There isn't a lot of comedy with this movie focusing more on sentimental drama which is the norm on the HMM Miracles of Christmas.

There is a twist leading into the conflict, but it is one that I pretty much expected despite a red herring along the way. I was taken aback by Hayley's reaction. But that does not take away from a nice ending

Kudos to writers who actually know something about Astronomy acknowledging that shooting star watching is best leading up to 5 AM and on a moonless night. That doesn't stop the director from ruining it all with hundreds of Christmas lights which would wash out the darkness in the same scene.

The cast in this movie is extra special. And the storyline is exceptionally good. That said, the character Hayley is a bit over the top with her emotions. I'm used to the heroines working through their problems to a satisfying conclusion. The character Haley seems to emotionally break down at the beginning of the movie and isn't a strong woman as I've come to expect from Hallmark. It's a great movie and takes place in the Winter in a beautiful part of the country and well worth watching - I was just disappointed in the Haley character's portrayal as weak and unable to meet challenges with strength.

Taylor Cole has never been a huge favorite with me but in the past year or two, she has really grown on me. She is very beautiful but does best playing more down-to-earth family-oriented characters. In some roles, her beauty is a almost little off-putting. And she finally settled on a hairstyle that works. This quiet well-paced story really worked for me.

Haley finds out that her mother, who was adopted, had a brother from whom she was separated as a child. Her mother, beautifully played by Jacqueline Ann Steuart, has been sad and reclusive since the death of her husband. As the perfect Christmas gift for her mom, she decides to see if she can find this mysterious brother. With the help of a friend, she narrows the possibilities down to a builder of mountain cabins in Colorado. She goes to visit and meet him to see if he could possibly be her long-lost uncle. Is he or isn't he? Of course we know he is, because otherwise why are we there for an hour and a half? But why is he being so secretive and denying his past?

Benjamin Ayers, who plays a protégé of the possible uncle, and Taylor made a good couple. She needs a strong-looking male lead, and Benjamin fits the bill. The romance seemed right and definitely added to the story. The actor who played her uncle had a strong impact as well. He had a lot of charisma. The other aspects that really added to the story were Haley's friendship with the uncle's daughter, her mother's personal journey back home, and Taylor's career-defining interior design project and its setbacks and successes.

Finally, I do want to give Hallmark props for doing away with the bottomless suitcase. Taylor plans only an overnight trip to Colorado and packed accordingly. In the past, regardless of only bringing minimal luggage for a trip, the leading lady pulls out outfit after outfit with different bulky and matching coats out of the magical suitcase. In this one, Taylor actually wears the same sweater two days in a row and makes a point of having to go shopping for more clothes when her trip is extended. Proof positive that Hallmark reads their reviews, as this phenomenon has been a favorite topic with Hallmark commenters for quite some time. The more I think about it, such an issue is made of her not having enough clothes that I think Hallmark is indulging in a little self-deprecating inside humor. Well Played.

Compared to all movies: 6.8 Compared to Hallmark: 8.5

The title is a good indicator for what this is about: the desire to reunite with long lost family. It took no effort to watch, had zero boring moments, and I was entertained.

The story is great, the acting is really great, the romance was actually quite alluring and spontaneous. I was drawn in by the chemistry of Taylor Cole and Benjamin Ayres immediately. One of the additional bonuses was their chemistry improves as time goes on, and so they totally light up the Christmas scene with their attraction. There was even some clever romance humor inserted - quite refreshing.

The rest of the story fits well with the plot, all of the characters are well developed, and the acting is above average for Hallmark Christmas films. The pacing and flow are above average, and the cinematography is decent as usual for Hallmark. The music was appropriate for a light-hearted, warm, and romantic atmosphere.

Why only the 6.8 rating? It's generic and made for TV Hallmark. It has to be really good to be above a 7 in this genre, so this is actually a favorable score. Only my very favorite Christmas movies are 8 or more stars, and those aren't usually Hallmark. For example: The Holiday with Cameron Diaz - one of my favorite of all time. That is what we are comparing with in the genre, so this is not a bad rating. The acting was so good I had to give Long Lost Christmas it an little boost up to from my initial 6.5 gut reaction.

I usually enjoy Taylor Cole movies. She is absolutely beautiful and very charismatic. But not all of her Hallmark Christmas movies have been top tier movies. I liked Unlocking Christmas but I didn't really like Making Spirits Bright. But she's always worth watching.

Long Lost Christmas is one of her best Hallmark movies. And it's directed by Michael Robison who also directed two recent Hallmark movies that I really enjoyed (Autumn in the City and Unexpected Christmas).

She plays Haley, a loving daughter determined to try and help her mother reconnect with her mother's long lost brother. Haley didn't even know she had an uncle and is understandably more than a little curious. Jacqueline Ann Stewart plays Haley's mother Patricia. One can only imagine how traumatizing it must be to grow up as an orphan and then lose touch with one's only sibling. I thought both actresses were very effective in conveying the powerful and conflicting emotions that they felt. Haley wants to know more but she also wants to shield her mother from further pain. It was an interesting and often emotional journey and although I didn't think the "reasons" given at the end were justified, I like stories that reconnect people torn apart by forces beyond their control. And we all know well meaning people who've made bad decisions. Heck, we've all made bad decisions.

Gordon was something of a cipher, but he seemed like a good father and I liked the relationship between Haley and his daughter Brianna, who designed and made wood furniture. The big design showcase opportunity subplot felt a bit off though. It was a last minute opportunity, with a short amount of prep time, during the holidays, and Haley decides that's a good time for a road trip? I also wasn't clear on how Brianna's furniture played such a big role in the showcase. But those are minor issues. The gist of the movie was the heart wrenching story of orphaned siblings who lost each other when they were young and how they find each other again later in life, through the love and dedication of a devoted daughter.

Haley's love interest, Blake, was played by Ben Ayres, who starred in Falling For Vermont, one of my all time favorite Hallmark amnesia movies. He was pleasant and obviously infatuated with Haley (like any heterosexual man with a pulse). They had a nice growing chemistry and seemed like a good match, to at least date.

This is top tier Hallmark. I cried several times. It made me want to hug my sister.