I usually am in the mood to watch super sweet films during the holidays but this movie was quite interesting and held my attention. Characters were interesting. Plot saw the characters move from point A to B. Problem and solution were just enough to make the film stick to a good formula. In the end, you cheer for the characters to successfully save their town while finding their own personal happiness.
It Takes a Christmas Village
2021
Comedy / Romance
It Takes a Christmas Village
2021
Comedy / Romance
Keywords: christmas
Plot summary
Alexandra Foster is the Mayor of Hawkins Bay. In the lead up to Christmas, she knows she has a problem on her hands in the delays in the much needed work done on the bridge leading to downtown, the detour which bypasses downtown and thus is killing the businesses along Main Street during their proverbial bread and butter Christmas season, many of those businesses which may not survive into the new year because of it. She and her assistant Gina come up with the idea to hold a multi-day Christmas market for these merchants, the problem being that the only suitable place to hold the market is the long ago closed Hawkins Mill site, the Fosters and Hawkins families who have been feuding for thirty years when the then Mayor, Alex's father Art Foster, openly criticized the Hawkins family for closing the mill without notice. While most of the Hawkins have since moved away, rumor has it that the only remaining Hawkins in town at the old isolated Hawkins estate is the reclusive Darcy Hawkins, who spent most of his formative years away at boarding school or college. Alex knows she has to push the right buttons to convince Darcy, who she learns lives at the estate with his paternal grandmother, Mary Hawkins, who is more aware of the feud. Alex is eventually able to convince Darcy in finding that right button, which concerns redevelopment of the Hawkins Mill site. While Art and the planning commission of the time previously rejected that redevelopment permit solely in not trusting the Hawkins, Alex believes the redevelopment is exactly what Hawkins Bay needs. In spending time together both in preparation for the market and in issues around the rubber stamp process of the redevelopment, Alex and Darcy seem to start to fall for each other. The problem in a romance developing between Alex and Darcy is if there are others who have longer memories about the mistrust between the two families.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Light hearted and sweet
Nonsense
The story revolved around a nonsensical political situation in a small town. Like so many movies, the universe begins in the opening scene and yet somehow there is disconnected but important backstory. It was as if Mayor Foster just arrived on the scene and had done nothing prior to that moment. Either the construction situation never would have happened or the Mayor should have been immediately removed for incompetence. No construction of the only route into town would be begun without a contract stipulating huge penalties for being late. She had no idea what the status was. Like I said, it's like she just arrived. And later a powerful committee holds an unscheduled meeting without any notification to or input from the mayor. I could have overlooked all this, but much screen time was devoted to these things and really I have to think that this plot thread was intended to be as important or more important than the romance. That would not be the story thread the interests me.
There were several sequences with music and no dialogue as nonspecific activity took place. As a result, the romance, which should have been the focus of the movie, did not get enough screen time. Nevin and Sevier were good together when they had a chance.
Mayor steps up for the town
I love Brooke Nevin as an actress. I thought this was a good, all-around movie. Mayor steps up to help save the town businesses. Of course there's a romance brewing, but it's to be expected. Pretty scenery. Loved the river scenes and the fountain.