Mystery on Mistletoe Lane

 Mystery on Mistletoe Lane (2023) - Hallmark

Reviewed by Lisa Sue

So…confession. I watch the Hallmark Mysteries, like ALL the Hallmark Mysteries, not because I have to but because I like to. I’m talking bakers, hair dressers, caterers, matchmakers, and lounge singers who in their spare time assist helpless detectives in solving murders, thefts, and other various crimes. So when there’s a Christmas movie mystery? Sign me up! Sadly, we know what happens when we have expectations. We are let down. And so it was with this movie, as there is a secret to reveal but mystery? That’s a bit of an exaggeration, as no major heist, violent assault, or the like went down. There wasn’t even a detective or police officer around, so how big exactly was this mystery, really? Enough with my whinging, on with the show! Enter Heidi, a recently divorced single mom who just accepted a job as director of The New Hollow Historical Society. She’s nervous about this big change, which means uprooting her kids from their home not to mention I think she’s been out of the work game for a minute. One perk of the job is that she gets to live in this slightly creepy, drafty, but mostly furnished old house. Her first day goal is to kill it at work, and then unpack a house full of boxes to make it cozy for when the kids arrive. The moving van arrives blocking her car in, and in a not really safe or smart move, she gives the movers the key to the house; tells them to put the boxes where they think they belong, and then walks to the Historical Society. Doesn’t one usually stay, to help the movers, at the very least be there to answer their questions and concerns and generally supervise the demanding task of unloading boxes?

Heidi arrives at work, without a care to what’s going on with her stuff in her new home. She’s greeted by Linda, who I surmise is like a secretary/assistant? But really Linda serves to make Christmas coffee, bake cookies, and be a love interest for old dude (more on that later) Then comes in David, who I know from Matchmaker Mysteries and really deserved a better puzzle to solve than what is presented in the movie. Turns out David used to be the former Director of the Historical Society and is so passionate about history he stayed on, as a volunteer. Although as former Director, what David didn’t do apparently was keep an organized archive, to which Heidi’s first order of business is going through some old microfiche; once David got the reader working. Heidi’s big epiphany for the historical society is to look at Christmas past in New Hollow, see how they celebrated in days of yore. She wants to deck the Historical Society halls with all the bells, garland, and tinsel they can get. Turns out David wasn’t big on Christmas decorating either, so they will have to do shopping for the bows, trees, and lights. In the midst of investigating the archives, she gets a call. Those same movers last seen totally alone with her stuff, shockingly had an accident. A trip over some exposed floorboard; which lead the movers to just put the boxes in the front room and then leave as quickly as possible.  And while David didn’t archive nor did he decorate for Christmas, what is in his wheelhouse is home repairs. Which is his paying job, but aside from pro bono work he does from Heidi we don’t see much of this renovation business. So off Heidi goes to check on her home and stuff, with David showing up later to make sure the place is safe for her kids. The offending floorboard was quickly repaired, leaving David time to help Heidi unpack so that by the time her children arrive, viola everything is unpacked. Which is a lot of worked crammed into just a couple of hours, I wish I had had their magic when unpacking or even cleaning. In their spending time together, we learn that really David and Heidi are two sides of the came coin. They both love history, David preferring the history of things like houses and buildings. And Heidi making the connection that what makes things interesting are the people, not the things themselves. Do we detect a match made in heaven people, or what?  

We presume the mover was ok, but what was damaged by the trip and fall was a painting that fell off the wall, leaving a hole. But surprise there is something in the wall- a hand carved reindeer with D3 on it! That combined with a riddle on the back of the painting (some corny mistletoe joke) and the fact the painting looks exactly like one that David remembered from his own childhood and we have the beginnings of a mystery forming people. Coincidentally while unpacking Heidi found a recipe, Clara’s Cranberry Christmas Cookies, which later on will save the day. The kids arrive with their dad, who attempt to give Heidi a break knowing the house still needs wifi and says he’ll take the kids one extra night. This naturally upsets Heidi, who really did work hard all day to make the house homey. What her ungrateful daughter sees is an old house in a strange city, frankly there isn’t much Heidi could have done to win her over.  Luckily Heidi does get some rest that night, I would be way too tired after half that unpacking. The kids arrive back early the next day. Turns out generous dad got an emergency work call, so time to drop the kids back off at mom’s! And Heidi presents her son with the hand carved reindeer, and the kids are slightly intrigued. David calls his dad to ask about the painting, and if their copy was still around. Dad is cagey, which only makes David more interested, and he finds their copy of the painting tucked away in his basement. Turns out his painting has a different corny Christmas joke on the back, what does this mean? Dad gets more evasive when David asks why they never decorated for Christmas as a family, having a Christmas fern instead of a tree. David clearly starting to poke into something that Dad would prefer he drop. Also I should mention that as Director, David didn’t live in the house because Dad told him to stay away from the place, and David whether he asked more questions or not never did get any explanation from dad. The mystery deepens…..

The lack of Christmas decorations means a trip to pick out a Christmas tree, which has David asking “How do you know which tree to pick?” Instead of helpful hints like other movies have provided about pulling on the needles to check on the health and strength of the tree, we get a hippy dippy response of the “Tree for you will feel like family” Way to take the family theme to the next level people. I’ll remember that for those dilapidated Charlie Brown Christmas trees being sold at the corner gas station, “look for the tree that feels like family.” Anyways, tree obtained for the Historical Center, of which Heidi plans for people to come in and bring ornaments. Heidi’s big aha history-Christmas moment is to make this a Tribute Tree, people bring in pictures of their departed loved ones and can hang them on the tree, which honestly way to engage the community! After a hansom cab ride, which really doesn’t impact the story but should get the movie some extra bingo card points as well as bring in some Victorian Christmas History Vibes, we’re at the big night of the Tribute Tree, and …..the  crowd is thin. The deputy mayor comes to check out what taxpayer money is funding and is elated that no one is coming to the Historical Society or participating in the Tribute Tree. He goes on a truly grinchy rant, telling Heidi he wants her to come before the council and explain herself and that no more frivolous Christmas parties. I mean seriously, this dude doesn’t get the Christmas movie vibe at all. There is almost always some gala, festival, or party that is literally the lynch pin of these things! And so it is with this movie. While the family is gathered at the Tribute Tree opening, the kids help set up, the daughter starts #tributetree and then time for some confessing. The kids have been secretly on a treasure hunt finding more of those hidden reindeer throughout the old house. I got a little lax people, I think they were on the hunt for 8 reindeer, I think sadly Rudolph was left out? But who can keep up, one reindeer is the same as the other (except for ones with red noses) Each time they find a reindeer, they also find a clue that keeps them rummaging more through the house (apparently no one has Marie Kando-ed this place after years of abandonment)  so off the children find hidden rooms that unlock the history of the house. Which drumroll please….it could come as little surprise that the house was known as Mistletoe Manor!

David has been asking his dad Wallace questions, which eventually prompt the old man to come back to New Hollow in person. Turns out the house isn’t the only history that’s been hidden. The treasure hunt for the Reindeer was meant for Wallace, it was something his dad had done for him. And that folks is the actual mystery revealed by this movie, the sad story of Wallace and his family. Wallace’s sister had died of pneumonia, and that left their dad a shell of the man he was. The joy of decorating the house for Christmas was gone, not only did the house go dark but so did the father. He told his wife to take their son and leave him. The mom remarried and Wallace was raised by his stepdad, even taking his last name. Left to believe that his dad had rejected him. Wallace helping Heidi’s kids complete the treasure hunt made him realize that his dad hadn’t really meant to push him away, he really thought them leaving was for the best. But that he still loved his son, and this elaborate treasure hunt was his way of connecting one last time with his son and showing his love.

Heidi has one last pitch to the commission, bring back Mistletoe Manor on Christmas Eve. She’s willing to open her home (boxes by now long gone) and bring back the joy the community got from this annual tradition. Naturally the grinchy Deputy Mayor rejects this, but the Mayor who’s out with a broken leg (how the injury stops one from being Mayor isn’t explained, it’s not like she’s a QB on IR) supports Heidi and tells Deputy Mayor enough with his power trip, so Mistletoe Manor is coming back! Heidi has learned from the Tribute Tree debacle, and they advertise at the most popular place- the skating rink. Which allows David and Heidi to have a couple’s skate, along with Wallce and Linda. Told you Linda didn’t just make coffee and bake. To further ensure turnout for Mistletoe Manor they whole gang bake and then bribe the town with Clara’s Cranberry Christmas Cookies, which is how the cookies saved the day. There was also some talk of a Candy Cane Streusel, which I dunno about. I have a huge, sweet tooth and am ok with candy canes and love streusel, but combined? Not doing it for me. The town rallies around Heidi and come to paint, hang lights, etc to make this this best Mistletoe Manor yet. Even the Deputy Mayor’s heart grew 3 sizes, and he brought an ornament for Tribute Tree, which while initially slow to catch on is now brining people to the Historical Society thanks to the hashtag. And Wallace got to fulfill his father’s last wish- to read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in full Santa gear as part of the Mistletoe Manor festivities, bringing joy to all the kids and himself. Heidi’s kids found all the reindeer, discovered New Hollow isn’t so bad, and even started making new friends. And of course, Heidi and David now have each other. I mean what Christmas trope wasn’t used in this movie? I think all that was lacking was a Miracle on 34^th Street reference, but Wallace did dress up as Santa and the kids were kinda old and or too busy to be arguing if this was the real Santa. Also no Frosty the Snowman, but the rest? All here, jammed into this movie that has no breaks be it big or small and really isn’t a mystery, but ultimately we know the ending. HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!