In the beginning of the film, it didn't not immediately pull me in. It seemed like the film felt cold despite the fact that this is a Christmas movie. I didn't pay full attention to the characters or the world they were in.
The film's main protagonist, Hannah, meets Santa, although he looks like one of those hired Santa's you see out on the street. Following that day, she wakes up to find that she's living in a completely different house, with kids and a husband that she never had.
This is where the film gets interesting. Normally what you would expect is a hilarious realization that something is not quite right. However that's not how it came across for me. Hannah seemed initially frightened and overwhelmed by the whole experience. Gradually, Hannah becomes accustomed to this life as she plays it out.
You definitely realize the difference where other movies would give you a light, zany, and fun vibe at such a crazy scenario (such as Hallmark's own Just In Time For Christmas released this year), but this film actually makes it scary, which is odd, but refreshing.
Of course, this wouldn't be a Hallmark Christmas movie without the recognition of what's most important about Christmas. The movie transitions into a more positive note as Hannah enjoys her alternate life and lives it as if she's always had it.
The film then does a complete 180 and takes it all away. The magic Christmas feeling and atmosphere disappears and the tension and apprehension sets in, bringing us back to the state before Hannah started living the alternate life. Instead of being frightened because she suddenly had this family and different life, she's frightened because she doesn't have it. In traditional Christmas movie fashion, she gets the opportunity to change her life for the better.
Part of the reason I think this film is so good is that it depicts a woman who is so obsessed with her career that literally it is all she has. The magic about movies is that we can explore the 'what if's'. In the alternate reality, Hannah is surrounded by people who love her. Her life is fulfilling and satisfying. She is happy. In her real world, she has no one but her job. She is alone and later realizes she is miserable. Her job is no comparison to the family that she got a brief glimpse of. I think that it speaks to today's audience quite well. It gives us a glimpse into what people enjoyed in the 1950's, and all that we've lost along the way to our present day.
Kudos to the writers, to Hallmark, the cast, crew and Amanda Tapping for a great job as director (I'm a huge fan of SG!)
और दिखाएं 
