source: An Unexpected Christmas

Liked the interaction between Bethany Joy Lentz (Emily) and Tyler Hynes (Jaime). Alison Wandzura plays Jamie's sister Becca and there is good banter between the two siblings. The story has been done before. Emily and Jamie, a previously broken up couple (unbeknownst to the family) find themselves pretending to be together for Jamie's family during a Christmas visit. Becca is also involved with a children's Christmas play. One reviewer wondered about the unicorn in the play, but that ties in with the hanging rainbow and that Becca is lesbian. Hallmark is including more LGBTQ characters in their movies, another being When a Bell Rings. In the future, I'll probably just bypass the new movies and stick with the older ones.

Relatable movie, not necessary yout typical sugercoated hallmark film and that's what's cool about it. This one had real people with real problems and fears. Tyler and Joy's charachters are relateble and credit goes to good acting. Tyler is wondergul in general and this role is a little different and intresting. Grandma scene with Jamie was very touching bartender parts were funny Love this one!

...this was a cut above the usual. First of all Tyler Hynes had great comedic timing, I don't think I've seen him in this kind of role and he was a natural. The loss of the beard and the new haircut helped to erase all previous characters for me. He had some great lines. Bethany Joy was so much better than some of her other roles as well with good comedic timing as well. Did the parents drive me nuts? Absolutely. Talk about chewing the scenary! And the idiotic play at the end made no sense at all. But I did love the brother/sister scenes, they seemed totally natural. I even enjoyed the silly restaurant gig. Of course you know what the end was likely to be and there were some incongruities as well - I mean who drops everything they are doing on Christmas Day to watch the governor speak? But I don't think I have ever rewatched any Hallmark movie before (not since the old Hallmark Hall of Fame gems) and I will definitely save this one when I need a little Christmas.

The main characters/actors are great, the plot is cliche and silly but admittedly cute. The family though...yikes. So, so cringeworthy. Overacting, terrible writing, unlikable, overbearing - really made watching the movie difficult.

The whole cast is the best selection ever made! Tyler and Beth are sublime! They need to do another movie together. However, Tyler and Beth work great with anyone! The family casted, outstanding. I love Lynda Boyd and Paul McGillion. I do agree with another reviewer, the politics in the story line didn't work. I understand the story needed a slight-serious twist, but there's many serious topics to discuss that blend with the plot of the movie. All in all, love them! They need to work together again, all of them.

Giving my favorite actors a 5 is not something I would usually do, but there are reasons why. Paul Campbell should stick to acting, not writing, if this is the kind of script we can look forward to. The first part of the movie was funny; the actors are good together. But the male lead, as with another premiere shown the day before, is extremely weak and wishy-washy. Very unappealing. And she falls in love again with this insecure dude who is intimidated by the strong but very kind woman who has a good career. And you know where it goes from there. That and the recurring and unnecessary wokeness in almost every new movie is the reason this rates a 5.

Funny, sweet, relatable, so very romantic & awesome cast @tyler_hynes @JoyLenz they were so funny & naturally believable in such a smart & superbly written script. Tyler rocked Jamie's insecure character like no one else could 👏 #sparklepony.

I want to watch it again! It was a lovely Christmas movie, the connection between the two principals actors is amazing. The storyline was not too cheesy.

I really wanted to like this movie and kept on watching only for Bethany Joy, but not only was it boring but the whole idea of a woman choosing a loser over everything shel built because he made her feel guilty and then "saving her" from an isolated even where she had no control does not make him either a Prince Charming nor a catch or even redeems him from been a low life. When you love someone you are proud of their achievements and don't break up over jealousy. And when that happens, only a bimbo will go back to him a leave behind the career she built. That is no love story and much less a Christmas movie. As another person said in one review here: this should be a horror movie.