‘CHRISTMAS AT CASTLE HART’: A LITTLE WHITE LIE INSPIRES NEW OPPURTUNITY
Christmas movies are aplenty. Among them, somewhere the royal romance trope will pop up. This particular one, Christmas at Castle Hart, isn’t the carbon copy same, but it works off the same idea.
Christmas at Castle Hart (2021) Hallmark Film Review
Professionally and personally, Brooke Bennett (Lacey Chabert) has something of a mess on her hands. Professionally she is fired (again!) from the job she works with one of the most sought after event planners. Personally, she’s still trying to start over after a divorce. While her sister, Margot (Ali Hardiman) cheers her on, she encourages Brooke that the two of them should finally start their own business. However, first she thinks they should head to Ireland where their father’s family is from.
This sends them to Castle Hart. Now a hotel, its titled owner Aiden Hart (Stuart Townsend) is back after years of travelling, working as an architect. The hotel is preparing to host an annual and formal event, trouble is, their event planner just quit. When Margot’s tiny omission leads the Hart family to believe Brooke is someone she’s not, things get more than a little complicated.
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This film, co-written by Paul Campbell, who you may also know as leading man in some Hallmark films, sparkles sometimes and other times it fades. Why I don’t know. I think the beginning is really good at setting things up and thanks to Ali’s Margot, even some laughs. But as the film “settles in,” there’s a kind of missing quality that tends to miss what it means to do. Of course, everything is still all kinds of heartwarming and (more than one) almost kisses, but that’s where the romance really ends. christmas at castle hart
I cannot say I don’t not like Townsend and Chabert together, but they’re also just… average. There’s no one “special” scene between them or nothing that makes me really cheer them on. There’s plenty of fun side characters and some good natured teasing among them. Plus, the film has a focus on sisters and the idea of finding family.
Those who love Lacey’s movies (of which I know there are many) will delight in this one. In fact, thus far, if memory serves me, this one earned the highest viewer totals. So that’s quite the indicator of interest. (This above other popular Hallmark stars, too.) Anyone loving movies with castles or just sweet Hallmark films will enjoy this Irish romance.
Photos: Hallmark Channel/ Media Press
Content: nothing other than the “normal” TV-G Hallmark rating.
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