When it comes to finding unique premise Christmas movies, it’s a tough sell. Right now, your better bet of finding them is usually on the Hallmark network and while it can be rare, once in a while you find one. My Christmas Family Tree is a fun addition to the countdown titles, and minus one thing, it’s mostly annoy free.
My Christmas Family Tree (2021) Hallmark TV Film Review
Life is fulfilling for Vanessa Hall (Aimee Teegarden). She’s a busy social worker who truly cares about her clients. Perhaps because in part she was raised by a foster family. With her best friend, the girls send in results to a DNA company where Vanessa learns she has a match to a man who is her biological father – and a man she’s never met. With a little courage she contacts Richard Hendricks (James Tupper).
In a whirlwind of a first meeting, Vanessa finds herself saying yet to an invite to the Hendricks home where Richard lives with his wife, daughters and son, all people Vanessa meets in an unexpected season of hellos and goodbyes.
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Hallmark didn’t wow me this year until I started to watch some of the titles I purposely held back featuring some favorite actors. For the most part, this is one of those films that’s actually way more unique than average. I love the “found family” angle and the messages of the script. There’s so many heartwarming moments and really this is one of those movies I wish there were better descriptors for. Its writer Mark Hefti is a newer to the network writer (he’s penned Beverley Hills Wedding and this year, also A Dickens of a Holiday!), but he’s good. His Christmas stories infuse everything with warmth and the depth of character connection is strong.
I love the cast including fan favorite Andrew Walker and appreciate Aimee Teegarden appearing in more of these. She’s pretty good. Another of the big pros about this one is that the meet cute is ordinary. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the silly or sassy versions of a meeting, but sometimes we relate more to the ordinary – and the conversations surrounding the I-like-her are lovely.
Minus one PC comment that just rubs me the wrong way, if you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll enjoy this one. Some may not like how things shake out (I had one watching it with me who didn’t love the withheld information), but for me, this is one of the better. The story weaves together DNA that feels authentic and that’s always half the battle.
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Content: nothing to note that’s beyond the normal TV-G rating.
Photos: Hallmark Channel / Crown Media Press
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