A Tree Grows in Colorado
Orphan Kids! We got Orphan Kids all over the place in this movie. Our hero Kevin (Mark Taylor) was an orphan, even though he was eventually adopted, which prompted him to adopt the absolutely adorable orphan Claire (Grace Sunar), even though I think the vetting process for an unmarried man adopting an orphan girl would be pretty darned intense, and then Kevin's firehouse threw a party for the children's safe house which had nothing but Orphan Kids! If one of these movies wants a guarantee in winning me over, give me more Orphan Kids. Orphans just make the story all that more special. In my opinion.
Anyway, Erin (Rochelle Aytes) works for the city of Brooklyn Colorado doing something or another, with this something at this particular time being the planning of the town Christmas gala. Her dad, the Mayor (Peter Bryant) is really banking on her making this happen. In fact his plan is for Erin to follow his footsteps and become Mayor of this town, like his dad was Mayor. It would seem the city of Brooklyn Colorado has a monarchy. To finalize these plans Erin needs a tree, and while visiting her bestie she sees the perfect tree across the street, along with the tree's handsome owner and his terribly cute kid who are building the worlds ugliest snowman. Erin introduces herself, fixes that awful snowman and has now integrated herself into the lives of these folks.
Through circumstance the city has become aware of Kevin's tree and they want it in the city square for the celebration. Erin asks very nicely for Kevin's permission to cut down the tree, but he says 'NO!'. Because her dad the Mayor is cutting the fireman budget and Kevin hates it when budgets get cut. Disappointed, Erin walks away but Kevin's bestie Mitch (Matt Hamilton) made mention that Erin was looking pretty good and the single dad might want to investigate that. Kevin said he didn't notice. Kevin would be lying. THAT, sir, would be impossible not to notice.
Regardless, Erin and little Claire have become fast friends, which means Erin and Kevin are kind of becoming friends as well, enjoying the holiday celebrations, making snow angels, going out to eat... you name it, these kids are doing it. But off to the side we do have Neil the Budget Planner (Mitch McKinnon) and he looks like he might be a little sweet on Erin too, and considering I believe she is the only single woman in this town, we understand this. Besides, Kevin is kind of combustible, always taking things the wrong way, jumping to conclusions, and yelling at Erin and stuff... In fact he's in her office yelling at her so tough that it looks like, oh look! The always rare argument kiss! A Grudge Kiss! Much more common in the fifties when Jack Lemon or Kim Novak or somebody is in a newsroom yelling at each and then end up making out briefly, and then spend the rest of movie tip toeing around the fact they made out, until they make out permanently at the end of the movie. It's just like that. I should mention earlier, when Kevin sat Erin in the fire truck seductively showing her how everything works, he stepped up in the fire truck to show her 'one more thing', looking like he was going in for the kill, only to pull the fire horn and blow Erin's ear drums out. Not sure about this dude Erin.
There will be more misunderstandings, an imminent domain claim, frustration, anger, and love between the hot single dad and the smoking single lady that does city hall stuff will be lost. Not because of Neil though. I mean Neil did ask Erin to dinner, and Neil looked like to me he was on the move, but apparently me and Erin read that wrong. Or Neil needs to communicate better. Neil even did one of those walkaway head to toe glances, but I guess he was just checking out her shoes and her hair. Neil isn't interested anyway, and I don't want to spoil the reason for you but One Million Mom's will NOT be happy about this.
Fortunately everything will work out, a very large, very old tree that was sitting in a yard not bothering anybody will be mercilessly murdered and placed in the center of town and covered in baubles to be ogled, and when the lights go on, Kevin and Erin will not hate kiss, but kiss with love... At Christmas.
There are a lot of things not to hate about this one my friends, with Miss Rochelle Aytes being at the top of this list. Ms. Aytes is a beautiful and talented actress with unlimited range who brightens up every scene she's graces with her presence in this movie. And of course those in the know do know she'll have Trick 'r Treat cred for eternity. So what are you looking for in your Hallmarky romance movie, other than general competence, which this one has? Cookie baking, snowman making, snow angel creating, tree shopping, tree decorating, caroling, tree lighting, Christmas music in the background, gingerbread house building, three-legged snow racing, wise old people, orphan kids and a couple of rescue orphans? Yes, yes and more yes's. Sure, we didn't get a near miss, but I submit a kiss fakeout and then a grudge kiss are even better! Then we got bonus stuff! We got a Happy Hanukkah, a seed was planted for some gay love at Christmas and both of the main characters mom's were STILL ALIVE!!! I believe that's an actual first in one of these movies. We also got senseless tree murder, but whaddayagonnado?
Like I said, not a lot to hate here combined with Maximum Hallmarkiness. Even though finding a viable tree in Colorado seems like it would be mighty easy to me.
Loved this story line, and all the actors Great Job!!
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