Friday, December 1, 2017

25 Days of Hallmark Movies: Day 1: "A Very Merry Toy Store" Starring Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez


I'm guessing that all Hallmark Christmas movies are forced to serve up two stories: the romance thing and the saving the Christmas thing. "A Very Merry Toy Store" seems to tick both boxes without telling either story really well. But what better way to marry the two concepts than with the following premise:

"Two rival toy shop owners reluctantly join forces when an unscrupulous toy magnate opens a box store in their town."

This pretty ad hoc scenario lets us "enjoy" the initial rivalry between our two very surprisingly unlikeable toy store owners. We learn in time that she's a widow and he is divorced, but they find love after banding together to fight the evil corporate toy store owner who's moved into town.





Moment of Christmas Cheer 1: when Melissa Joan Hart takes pity on a poor girl and gives her a drone she had been eyeing.


Moment of Christmas Cheer 2: when Mario Lopez gives up his dream of buying his old house by paying for Melissa Joan Hart's failing shop. Which really doesn't show an entrepreneur's respect for free market forces.


There's also a series of unimportant subplots: some kids doing some inane downhill toboggan race, an old man taking piano lessons from an old lady just to ultimately bone her, a dumb guy not realizing the girl stalking him is into him.


Romance Factor: 5 out of 10
Christmas Cheer: 7 out of 10
Overall Rating: 6 out of 10
Time Until First Kiss: 1:03:11


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