Journey Back to Christmas (2016) Reviews

• Way Above The Average Hallmark Movie

  Christmas-Reviewer2016-11-30

  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 HONEST I disagree with Candace Cameron-Bure on politics I can push that aside to watch her films on the Hallmark Channel. Most of them are great and she has such a pleasantness that make her films worth watching. "Journey Back to Christmas" is one of those films that might not of worked if it was cast with someone else. Candace proves her star power here. SHe carries the film on her shoulders and she makes it look easy. In this film she plays A WWII era nurse is transported in time to 2016 and meets a man who helps her discover the bonds of family and that the true meaning of Christmas. Oliver Hudson co-stars. In between the lines the film shows (without preaching) that we all have to have faith in others. If we don't have faith then we have "Nothing". I will watch this again. Candace "Congratulations". This is your best Hallmark movie. Looking forward to more.

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• Beautiful love story

  djkash2016-12-15

  I really love this movie. I love most Hallmark Christmas movies and the plots are very simple-- couple falls in love, couple has misunderstanding during the last half hour which threatens to break them up, but then in the last 5 minutes the misunderstanding is resolved and everyone lives happily ever after. This has a complexity and a very realistic time travel element that is beautifully done and not completely unbelievable. The costumes are wonderful and the plot is meaningful and believable. The nostalgia makes me realize how much simplicity adds to Christmas and how small actions make a huge difference. Amazing story. Hope they bring this one back every year for a long long time

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• Standard Fare

  sdquinn2-12016-11-27

  Tonight I was reading a book while my wife watched this movie on Hallmark. I finally put down the book and finished watching this movie. This movie is pretty standard fare for a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. Here is the plot. Candace Bure plays a nurse in a small town in 1945. One snowy night she gets her car stuck in the snow and takes shelter in a nearby shed. Then, somehow, during the night she is transported to the year 2016. The first thing they do, after she is discovered, is to take her for medical help. Here is where the movie makes the first big mistake. She is examined by an African American doctor. Back in 1945, Caucasian women were not examined by African Americans. Ms. Bure just sat there like this was a normal everyday activity. In reality, she would have said something right off. The scenes back in 1945 were pretty unrealistic as well. She was shown driving all over town, when there was gas rationing and people only got 4 gallons for a full week. Plus, the automobile she was driving did not have either an A or a B sticker on the windshield. You would have to have been alive during World War II to understand what those stickers were. Aside from several large mistakes like the above, this movie was pretty good for what it was aiming for. I would recommend you give it a viewing.

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• Strong ending redeems a lackluster tale.

  rebekahrox2016-12-04

  ***Huge spoilers****Unlike many, I am not a huge Candace Cameron Bure fan. I find her competent. The first ¾ of this movie left me rather cold, despite the wonder and mystery provided by the great concept of a miraculous Christmas comet. The main character, Hanna, was just a too sweet cardboard cutout. However, the time travel gimmick usually delivers stories that keep me engaged, or at least semi-engaged, and this one was no exception. I did roll my eyes at the irrational behavior and attitudes of some of the townspeople and the police. Why all the hate and suspicion of nefarious motives on the part of the police chief, Her primary supporter, Jake's, partner, and the town busybody? The conflict was too manufactured and not rational. When Hanna, fresh from segregated 1945, is examined by the black doctor, and interrogated by the black chief of police, why no surprise or incredulity? They missed a great opportunity to add a little depth to the story there, and it would have taken all of 20 seconds. Her one champion, Jake, a policeman, was nicely played by Oliver Hudson. Sarah, Jake's partner, was foreshadowed to be the love interest, but for most of the movie, her cynicism and unfounded suspicions made her very unlikable. The last ¼ of the show is more than redeemed by the appearance of the Tom Skerrit character. Now an aged and respected figure whose life was changed by Hanna by her kindness to him when he was a little boy, he validates her story. He leads the way to finding a solution to her predicament of which life to lead. Previously unknown ties between Hanna of 1945 and Hanna of 2016 are uncovered. The doubters are proved wrong and they are even a bit redeemed in the process. Both Hanna and the understanding cop,the two leads, find their happy endings, though hers was cheesy to the max. Oh well. Sometimes cheese is the way to go. Everything was tied together beautifully. The last quarter of the film had me in tears. It was that good. I don't think I have ever seen a Hallmark movie that went from "blah" to stellar with such whiplash speed!

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• Can't go wrong with Candace and Christmas

  utgard142017-06-04

  Another delightful Candace Cameron Bure Hallmark Christmas movie. This one is about a nurse from the 1940s who finds herself magically transported in time to 2016. She helps people, they help her...lots of smiles all around because this is Hallmark and I wouldn't have it any other way. A pleasant, charming little movie with one of the best performances Candace has given yet. It doesn't hurt that the impossible to dislike Brooke Nevin is also here in a supporting role. And hey, there's Tom Skerritt! I have some minor quibbles, mostly about how they gloss over the "woman out of time" aspects. She just seems to take 70 years of cultural and technological changes in stride. But that wasn't the story they wanted to tell and I think I can understand why. Also, this isn't going to be a romcom for Candace and Oliver Hudson, in case you were going into it assuming that. It's not a romcom at all, for one thing, it's a light drama. For another, despite being the female and male lead they are involved with other people. That may be a Hallmark first. Anyway, it's a very enjoyable movie that tells a simple heartwarming story. Also, I appreciate Hallmark attempting to recapture the '40s aesthetics. Were they totally successful? No but they filmed this with a small budget. I've seen many major theatrical releases that did worse.

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