This one is a bit of a three ring circus until the three couples get matched up. The story is based on a house swap between a lady who just lives for Christmas, and a man who has decided to avoid it.The story keeps you going as it switches back and forth and the acting is fine. I never got invested in any of the three romances, but that doesn't mean they didn't do a good job building the relationships. I just didn't find that any of the characters really appealed to me personally. As far as the usual formula, I thought it was funny that a full half way into the movie, Charles and Faith had gone from just irritated to full out belligerent and had yet to start moving together.There was good humor throughout. At one point, the director did a cute thing with a split screen and coffee cups.The story was mostly predictable, but then this is a Hallmark Christmas story. I'm sure that many will find the romances more engaging than I did and as a result completely enjoy the movie.

This was a fun movie with likable characters and a good story. It's hard not to like Faith Ford and the characters of Charles and Faith Kerrigan were so fun together. Ray was a good guy too although he was a bit stoic. This is one I watch several times during the season if I can.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM HONESTIn this film Emily is disappointed her daughter Heather won't make the cross-country trip from Harvard to visit at Christmas. Emily decides to surprise Heather and trades houses with Charles Brewster, a college professor who lives in Boston. Emily is the one who is surprised when she finds out her daughter left for Florida with her boyfriend and has only Charles' brother for company. In this holiday tale about twists of fate, Emily and Charles find love at the most unexpected time and have the best Christmas season ever.This is a very enjoyable film. I love the fact that in reality there wasn't a nasty person in the cast. It was nice to see a "CHRISTMAS THEME" film that wasn't a variation of "A Christmas Carol". The casting for the most part is great and the various story-lines are 60% plausible. I thought it was interesting to have various locations and climates to show how "Christmas" is celebrated in different parts of the country. (More should have been done with that angle) It is nice to see a film where you do like everyone in it and you are rooting for love for everyone. It is nice to see a FAMILY SAFE FILM that isn't a cartoon.

"awful" was exactly the word I had in mind for this movie. I'll add boring and annoying too!.......The two males looked and acted like they would be ideal for an (ahem!) "undesirable" type of movie. ..............The one brother mumbled and looked grubby with that slight beard...and seemed like he was only looking for a place to crash, so he sold his business to latch on to Emily..... Emily's friend chattered relentlessly, which was extra annoying and highlighted her ignorant manners ......None of the players had impact or conveyed sincerity...but then again, neither did their lines or plot ......From beginning to end, it seemed like it was just thrown together haphazardly....... Not what I would expect from Debbie Makecomer.