Christmas in Maple Valley For some holiday romance, we’ll take you to Montana’s largest maple syrup farm.But we do know that this is a presentation of Hallmark movies and mysteries that will also deliver drama. Christmas in Maple Valley Too sweet for our tastes, or does this family drama have just the right amount of sweetness?
Gist: Peyton List stars as Erica, the latest in a long line of syrup ranchers (which isn’t what they’re called, but absolutely what should they be called). She runs the Holden family ranch with her mother Ina (Francis Flanagan) and her sister Heidi (Ella Cannon), but there are wind-blown changes. Not only is the neighboring ranch offering to sell back the land it bought from Holden decades ago, but Mama Holden is leaving the country to be with her Italian boyfriend (Francisco Trujillo). We are here!
At least Erica can buy back the land and create a whole family ranch for the first time in generations. can What if the real estate developer wasn’t the villain in the Hallmark movies. Investigate. To make matters worse for Erica, her sister Heidi doesn’t want her land back! Erica: You take a break and his name is ‘Andrew’. He’s tough, knows how to ride a horse, and might be willing to cut ties with his father for you.The big question is, will he?
What movie does it remind you of?: You know that ’90s romantic drama that was always set on a ranch, or at least one that featured a horse on the VHS cover? That’s giving me that, but Hallmark.
Notable performance: The entire cast is solid, but I enjoyed Paul Jarrett’s turn as Steve, Aaron’s emotionally unavailable father. increase. Those are the evil twin whiskers!
Memorable dialogue: At the end of one of the ranch’s maple tree tours, Erica gives tourists this advice: The advice is full of puns.
Holiday traditions: Maple Farm hosts an annual tree light-up event, offers photos with Santa Claus, and offers Christmas-themed horseback riding ( fairy reference). We also sell all maple flavors at our annual Maple Christmas Fair. There is also a “Prime Rib Sleigh Dinner” that follows or precedes the Maple Valley Christmas Sleigh. After running through the snow, wouldn’t it be better to have prime rib?
Two Turtle Doves: This is the first of two Hallmark movies starring Andrew Walker this season.next three wise men and baby (November 19), Walker is teaming up with Hallmark’s two other leading men, Tyler Hines and Paul Campbell. again, Sappy Holiday on UPtv (December 17), another film about the family’s maple farm.
Does the title make sense?: That’s right, and I’m tempted to give them extra credit for not “happily” addressing the title of the film.
Our opinion: This may be a sign that I know the Hallmark brand well, but I always enjoy watching Movies & Mysteries holiday movies a little. That’s because Hallmark’s usual holiday movies follow the formula, while M&M’s movies can go to unexpected places (see below). Holly & Ivy When one night in december). And now even Hallmark’s movies are starting to go off the beaten path (three major male movies? three wise men and baby Like?!), movies and mysteries can really pop.
I write all I want to say— Christmas in Maple Valley It’s not as difficult as the M&M movies. It’s not a bargain! I felt the need to explain the difference between Hallmark and Hallmark Xtra.i didn’t say that Christmas in Maple Valley It doesn’t take the Hallmark feeling into new territory. From the complicated family dynamics (the Holden sisters have some issues to work out) to all the conflicting motivations to sell/buy/transfer the property that’s open over there, it absolutely is .
Christmas in Maple Valley However, it offers something new with its cinematography. The film opens in the middle of a forest, with snow-covered trees all with buckets attached. A surprisingly impressive sight and a sign of visualization. The first time Erica met Aaron, he came out of the woods on horseback like a Disney prince. …it feels fancier.
The plot may drag on a bit in the final act, but the performances always hit the mark. What do you expect from Andrew Walker, Hallmark’s most trusted mainstay, and Payton, thanks to Hallmark for adding him to the team. She’s such a natural in the genre and brings such dramatic weight to her role that she hopes she’ll come back around these parts every holiday season.
Our call: to stream. It may not be as emotionally adventurous as the previous films and mystery films, but it’s a very sweet film.
