Madeleine Coghlan goes a long way in carrying this wholesome holiday movie as the character Alice Kerwin. She is likable and always positive. She hosts a YouTube cooking show. In an opening humorous sequence, she is teaching her viewers how to make figgy pudding, and she mentions it was in a Charles Dickens novel (A Christmas Carol, 1843). She uses a funny line, “What the Dickens is figgy pudding?” She adds it is also included in the song, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and she says kids years ago always hoped for a dessert after singing.
Alice’s life is more complicated, however, than just hosting a YouTube cooking show. She visits a nursing home to see an elderly woman named Hortense, who was a friend of her deceased mother. When she sees a photo of her mother, she tells the picture she misses her. Alice tucks in Hortense, who is from England, before visiting her father and her uncle. Her dad calls Alice his miracle child because his wife had her when she was older. She calls her uncle her “favorite” uncle and he reminds her she is his only niece. Sadly, Alice soon learns that Hortense has taken a turn for the worse and her body is shutting down.
Through a few various circumstances Alice learns that Hortense once lived in England at Winterland Castle. And it is still there. After Hortense dies, Alice wants to honor her wishes and take her remains to be buried in England at Winterland Castle. She also learns that Hortense was not just a close friend, but her grandmother. Several questions flood her mind when she learns this truth: how come she didn’t know and what brought her grandmother to America? The local patrons of a tavern help raise funds for Alice’s trip. In another comedic scene, Alice, quite the talker, is seen seated between two passengers on a plane, talking non-stop. The only problem is that both passengers have fallen asleep! Alice, close to her father, FaceTimes him when she arrives in England. Little does she know she has several adventures yet ahead.
Alice meets two people who will become influential in her life: Lorenzo (Federico Dordei) and Oliver Colby (Lior Selve). Oliver is the proprietor of the castle and has reserved a section of it for Alice to live in while she is with them. Lorenzo, the caretaker, doesn’t say much and seems to be fascinated by Alice’s non-stop chatter. Oliver shares a history of the castle, stating that it was built in 1924 and began to be run down in the early 60s. Oliver overhears her singing Deck the Halls. He and Alice hit it off and it soon becomes apparent that Oliver likes Alice in a romantic way.
In another funny segment Alice shows her YouTube viewers the castle and its garden, and after a time realizes she hasn’t mentioned food. “I know-ME-forgetting about food!” But she tells the audience she has some “Yule time yums” she knows they will enjoy.
Alice eventually explains to Oliver that she needs his permission to “bury a body” (Hortense) and she gains his permission. She also is drawn to Oliver as the hint of romance between the two becomes more evident. And they learn Hortense’s first dance with a man named James was to Bing Crosby’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas. The film features romance, poetry, Christmas music, and Alice’s philosophy: Fanciful and Fortuitous makes for a good life. And some mysteries are exposed.
The acting is solid, the story a bit mysterious, and it features some light-hearted moments all within the holiday canopy. How will it end? You will have to watch to find out but it is a pleasant way to spend approximately 96 minutes.
Content Analysis: Does not contain an overtly Christian theme but does include Christmas songs focusing on Christ, and the kindness of various characters.
Think About It: Some of the discussion questions that could come from viewing this film could center around honoring parents and grandparents and its importance, as the character of Alice honors her dad, and the memory of her mother and grandmother.
The Dove Take: Here is a movie that is suitable for ages 12+, as it includes romance and some scenes that the very young might find slow moving. But it is a positive movie which shines a light on the importance of family values. “Christmas magic” is mentioned in the movie and this picture features a bit of that.
