Christmas With A Kiss
So Big City Social Media Influencer Mona (Mishael Morgan) is out on a date with what I guess is her boyfriend and she's ready to commit to this dude by inviting him to spend Christmas with her, and her family, in her tiny home town. But this cat also has something to say, mainly that being with Mona has made him realize how much he loves his ex-wife. Damn. I mean Mona seems pleasant enough, she's very good looking, has a nice figure, a great job and a killer NYC apartment but clearly there's something else there I'm not seeing because that's harsh. Fortunately Mona's bestie Shay (Samantha Gracie) is there to comfort her in her time of need to let her know that while it is true, she is almost valueless without a man, but that a high quality man is just around the corner! Thanks Shay!
Now it's off to Tiny Town where Mona has to help the family with the annual Sinclair Christmas Festival, and that's when she sees him, Fletcher the Hot Fireman as played by professional Hallmark Male 2nd fiddle Jamie Callica. This brother almost never gets the woman in these movies, and he ain't getting this one either despite the fact he and Mona are old high school sweet hearts, they're both single and a little desperate, and they seem to vibe pretty good with each other.
The problem with this potential coupling is him, and that would Dez as played by professional Hallmarky movie leading man accessory Ronnie Rowe Jr. who almost always gets the girl in these movies. Dez, also a NYC guy, is in town do a story on the glory of small town Christmas, with a focus on the Sinclair festival and let me tell you, Mona and Dez do NOT get along. Mainly because Dez totally disrespected the occupation of Social Media Influencer... like is that even a job? Yes Dez, it is a hard job sir! So said Mona.
There's other things happening like Mona's parents wanting to pass the Sinclair festival down to one of their daughters, with none of the ladies wanting this responsibility, and Mona's sister Erin (JaNae Armogan), and her two boys, being sad because her Naval Officer husband is unable to make it home for the Holidays. Dez understands this dynamic completely because he lived it since it turns out his dad is a mega high ranking Navy Admiral or something. I'm sure this is a plot point that's not going factor into anything later on.
Anyway, Mona and Fletcher are hanging out, doing all kinds of things, and it looks like a true love connection is being made here other than the fact that they had not one, not two but THREE near miss kisses, while Dez, for his part in this, continues to woo the entire family with his kindness and charm, except of course Mona who he continues to piss off.
The problem with Fletcher, other than the fact he doesn't want kids, which Mona desperately wants, and also that he doesn't know what he wants in a woman, is that he's mighty flighty. The mere presence of Dez makes him nervous and causes him to run off a lot. That's not a great look Fletch.
The problem with Dez, now that he and Mona have arguably spent enough time together to kind of fall for each other, I guess, is that his article is actually a hit piece on small town Christmas's being fake, phony and everything wrong with Christmas, with the Sinclair Festival representing all these awful things in a nutshell. What kind of scrooge news outlet, not named the New York Post, greenlights that kind of article at Christmas? Well when Mona finds out about this she is NOT happy, nor should she be. They housed this man, fed this man, treated him like a member of the family and this how he thanks them? F that guy. Plus, Fletcher has finally mustered up the courage to finally ask Mona to the Christmas dance, so double F that guy.
Ah... but the was the old article Dez was going to write. Mona got ahold of the new article Dez actually submitted and it's all about the love of Christmas, the love of family and most importantly the love of a hot chick. I think. I didn't actually get to read the article but I'm pretty sure that was in there. I should also mention that Dez called his mega high ranking Navy Dad and got Erin's husband pulled off his ship or sub and sent home to spend time with his family for the holidays! So much for the security of my country. Thanks Dez. Well that seals it for Mona, she has to run to NYC, where Dez retreated back to after the big deception, and get her man. Made slightly more complicated by Fletcher showing up at her door making a grand gesture and declaring his own love. Oh well. You snoozed brother.
Mona drags Dez back to Tiny Town for the celebration, lets her mother know that she's going to keep the family tradition going by moving back to Tiny Town, which I guess Dez is gonna do too as this was not made clear to me, and the two of them proceed to make out on the dance floor. Because if you kiss at the dance, under the tree on Christmas, you will spend the rest of your life with this person. Whether you want to or not.
'Christmas with a Kiss', from Hallmark Mahogany, because... you know... black folks... is a perfectly acceptable Holiday Christmas movie which plays most of the right notes at just the right times just as we like them to. Sure, rote repetition and predictability is frowned upon in a regular movie, but in our Hallmarky Holiday movies, this is expected and dare we say even required. Mishael Morgan is beautiful and engaging, both of her male accessory pieces are handsome and charming, and we know one day Jamie Callica is going to get the girl in one these, and all of the supporting cast which consisted of Canadians we are very familiar with, because we watch an awful lot these, were excellent is said support.
But how was the Vomit Worthiness? I must say it was above average. Hard working career girl needing a man, Cookie baking, Christmas caroling, present wrapping, a new thing in Christmas Quilting, three near miss kisses, and maybe a fourth as I think Dez also had a near miss. We did have some cute kids in big sisters winy boys, and Mona's parents were bringing the old folks wisdom which is key. A Two living parent homestead means no orphan kids which always sucks for me because you know I love me some orphan kids in my Hallmarky Romantic Holiday movies, but oh well. We didn't have Cocoa drinking but we did have Christmas Sno-Cones, which we will let pass since I'm sure they shot this in mid July and everybody was sweating off some serious pounds, and we also didn't have any Christmas Tree decorating but we did have a firetruck decoration montage with the doomed potential boyfriend which is gonna have to do.
What we were missing was fun in the snow. which is always going to be cost prohibitive in these movies that are shot in August, though one of the final scenes in 'New York City' did have snow flakes falling on Mona's head. I sure hope none of that stuff got into Miss Misheal's mouth because that stuff can't be good for you. We also were lacking Christmas present shopping and just an overall lack of montages. Hey Holiday filmmakers, the montage is your friend. Use them early and often.
Overall though, this one wasn't too bad and kind of vomit worthy to boot.
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