A Christmas Reunion (2015 TV Movie) User Reviews (16)

Poor acting

[Jackbv123 · 4/10 · 12 December 2017]

The story was a little different than the usual, but not completely. Estranged high school sweethearts must return to home town for funeral of Amy's aunt who raised her. There is a mini-mystery, but the answer was obvious from the moment it became a mystery. And huge clues quickly confirm the obvious answer. Other than that the story is split between reopening the bakery and reconciling the two sweethearts.

Denise Richards, as Amy, and Patrick Muldoon, as Jack. had no chemistry and I'm not sure why anyone would want to romance either one of them. They spent more time fighting before suddenly changing direction. Supporting actors were anywhere from horrible to fair. The boss, the assistant, and the lawyer were among the horrible.

No chemistry to make up for the cheesy storyline

[scifisam-1 · 4/10 · 15 November 2019]

Denise Richards is the only real reason to watch this. She actually acts. The storyline is totally cheesy and feels like it's from the 80s but, hey, cheese can be fun if the cast is good. Still, some of the supporting cast take the 2d roles they're given (I liked the DJ guy and the best female friend) and do well with the little they're given. Patrick Muldoon as the supposed high school sweetheart of Richards just reads out his lines and looks far too old to have been prom king to her prom queen. Even in their child versions he's several years older than her, presumably to adjust to their adult appearances (the kids are good actors). It's very odd casting. Richards and Muldoon come across as if they actually were a little bit disgusted by having to kiss but got it over with for the sake of the movie.

Christmas Sparkles Without the Sparkle.

[P3n-E-W1s3 · 6/10 · 22 December 2016]

I would only recommend watching this movie if you're a "Love Film" junkie and there isn't anything else on.

I say this, because as a love story, set at Christmastime, there just isn't enough love to go round. Denise Richards and Patrick Muldoon just don't gel on-screen; there is no chemistry between their characters Amy and Jack. This is chiefly due to mediocre acting, week writing, and pretty routine directing.

There is a mystery embedded in the storyline; though, thanks to stereotyping you pretty quickly figure out the twist.

This could've been a much better film had it been treated a bit better.

Zero Chemistry

[poetessnmotion · 2/10 · 4 December 2017]

I was quite disappointed, especially since it followed "A Christmas Kiss" last night. Unlike the undeniable chemistry between those two actors, which could make you melt, Amy and Jack had zero chemistry and their kissing scenes were dreadful. It was as if they couldn't find each other's lips, or maybe disliked each other in real life. As another reviewer advised, I would recommend this movie only if there was nothing else to watch, or you're just a love story addict, even if it's awful.

actors

[Kirpianuscus · 28 December 2019]

It is a film to see just for actors. Not for their performances , not for storytelling, not for Christmas or romance or... . Only as support for remember other roles of Denise Richards,Patrick Muldoon or Catherine Hicks. The story of the aunt, her bakery, innocents in roles of managers and the resurrection of the fire of passion from high school after 20 years are familiar. And, in this case, each of them works real wrong. Or fake. Sure, at the first sigh it is a problem of chemistry missing. In fact, it is only an awful story and the reunion for the title is reduced at the meet of viewer with familiar actors, olders, and nothing else.

Barely half-baked reunion

[TheLittleSongbird · 2/10 · 30 March 2021]

Was not all that excited over the concept for 'A Christmas Reunion', which is not a new one by any stretch of the imagination (it wasn't at the time and it's been done near to death now). Same with the cast, the most familiar name to me is Patrick Muldoon and this did not seem like a role that would suit him. Saw 'A Christmas Reunion' still anyway, as a fan of Christmas and many Christmas films and as someone who found the title quite sweet.

'A Christmas Reunion' is as far from sweet as one can get as a film. It's barely half-baked, or should that be raw, and even a four cheese pizza has less cheese than the amount that fills this film. Have seen worse Christmas films, though it is very close to being down there among the worst, and films in general, but 'A Christmas Reunion' is not good by any stretch of the imagination to me. Not completely irredeemable, but almost everything fails.

The best thing about it is Catherine Hicks, who is quite charming and fun.

Did think too that some of the soundtrack was pleasantly festive.

Unfortunately, everything else fails and badly. Muldoon is practically sleepwalking here and does not look comfortable or like he wanted to be there, he also looks too borderline creepy to pass for a romantic lead. Denise Richards fares a little bit better as she is a little more animated in her line delivery, but she also seemed too lightweight and the charm needed for her role wasn't there. She and Muldoon agreed do not have any chemistry together, it was like they hated each other and whenever they were meant to show any affection it was like lets get this done over with. Jake Busey overacts and is very annoying, the most annoying character in a film where finding any character to like let alone root for was near-impossible, Hicks was the one exception.

It is a very poorly written film as well, everything sounds so forced and stilted. Have heard better actually in 80s B-movies. The story is paper thin, lacking in any kind of lustre and completely charmless, not to mention pretty much a series of already rehashed retreads of other Christmas films. 'A Christmas Reunion' looks cheap, shot with a flat look and with low budget and hasty production written all over it. It actually could easily pass for a film from the early 90s.

Concluding, very poor. 2/10.

Boring. The acting is horrible.

[hayesyork · 3/10 · 27 October 2020]

The acting is horrible. There is no chemistry between the lead characters. They try but it doesn't work. Patrick Muldoon can't even remember his lines. It's obvious he says the wrong ones or says them at the wrong time. He over does the emotion at some times and under does it at others. I don't know why they didn't shoot the scenes over. Denise Richards has no energy. She is just there. I think these actors are done. They are too recognizable for one thing and aren't good enough actors to transform into a character. Don't waste your time with this movie.

The Big Christmas Bake-Off

[lavatch · 7/10 · 30 December 2019]

In the small town of Chestnut, there has been the annual tradition of a Christmas cookie contest. The competition was run by the local baker known as Auntie Linda, who had raised the little orphan Amy Stone as if she were her own daughter. Little Jack was a good helper in the kitchen, who bonded with Amy. Then, they separated in early adulthood when Amy went to New York and became a successful ad executive. Now, she fatefully returns to Chestnut after the death of Auntie Linda.

In Linda's last will and testament, she left her bakery to Amy and Jack with the expectation that they would hold the 50th Annual Christmas Cookie Contest. Now, the bakery will be called Cocalata Cakes. One of Linda's specialty treats was the cookie she called "Santa's Sparks." But in addition to the cookie, the sparks begin to fly between Amy and Jack when their romance is rekindled.

A shortcoming of this heartwarming film was the surprising absence of chemistry between Amy and Jack. It was almost as if they were brother and sister, as opposed to lovers. Yikes!!!

The lawyer Dylan Carruthers is the adult version of the little bully that used to disrupt the bake-offs, upending a tray of cookies or pushing little Jack to the ground. Now, behind the scenes, the underhanded attorney is attempting to ruin the plan to revive the bakery. Whereas Auntie Linda insisted on retaining the local feeling of the bakery, Dylan wants to sell it to a chain of coffee franchises. Of course, Amy and Jack will be standing in his unsavory way.

Amy's savvy New York boss, Mr. Dupree, recognizes Amy's strength when he says succinctly that "it's all about passion." It is the passion of remaining true to her Auntie Linda's vision that will guide Amy to the discovery of the good things in life that are often nothing more than simple pleasures, such as the making of the perfect cookie in Frank O'Brien's Unbeatable Meltdown Snowman. But it would have been nice to have as well some literal passion apparent in the key relationship of Amy and Jack.

A cookie cutter movie

[Prismark10 · 3/10 · 8 November 2018]

Denise Richards plays Amy, a New York City advertising executive on the verge of being made a junior partner just before Christmas.

However when her aunt dies, Amy has to return to her hometown and finds out that she has inherited half her bakery along with her ex boyfriend Jack (Patrick Muldoon) who has been in the army.

Both of them have to get on in the short term to manage the bakery and organise the Christmas cookie contest. Jake Busey plays Dylan the devious lawyer who is handling the aunt's estate.

Another cookie cutter made for television festive film. This one has three actors who all appeared in Starship Troopers. Unfortunately Richards and Muldoon seem to be going through the motions for the pay cheque. There seems to be no romance between the characters. Only Busey makes a lasting impression as the lawyer and Parker Stevenson as the advertising agency boss.



A Madison Avenue executive, Amy, discovers an unusual Christmas surprise when she inherits her Aunt's hometown bakery. The real surprise comes when she learns the other half of the bakery was left to her long-ago boyfriend, Jack. Unresolved personal issues resurface between them, as the exes return home to co-manage the store, along with its traditional holiday cookie bake-off.

Cute Christmas rom com if formulaic

[ReliableReview · 7/10 · 11 October 2021]

Reviewers are too harsh. It's a TV movie so it doesn't have a huge budget but it doesn't need a huge budget. Denise is the real reason to see this cute Christmas love story which revolves around two high school sweethearts getting back together in a small town to reopen a Christmas bakery. Okay it doesn't break any new ground and the acting isn't gonna win any Oscars or Emmy but it doesn't need to. It's a simple feel good small town Christmas bakery story that stars Denise and Patrick Muldoon who are pretty good together. I remember them both in Starship Troopers and it's great to see them both back together. I'm rating this higher because it's a small budget TV movie so you can't compare this to big budget Hollywood productions.

This is an easy watch where you don't have to think too hard and you know the ending before it's even begun and something you can turn on and fall asleep to. Just a nice relaxing watch with the ever gorgeous Denise Richards.

Worse romantic movie ever

[sherrywestberg · 1/10 · 16 December 2018]

Zero chemistry. Romantic ties hard to believe. I found this movie boring. So boring that I changed channels well before the end. Main characters were too old to be romantic leads. Seems lately all the Christmas romance movies are using the same formula and come up wanting.

A fun movie.

[wkozak221 · 9/10 · 24 October 2020]

I like this movie. It has a lot going for it. The story and cast are good. It works on a lot of levels. Patrick is funny as usual. Denise is pretty funny. They work well to-gether. Jake is pretty funny. He can do comedy. I hope Hybrid does another Christmas movie.

Cheap and empty of charm or structure

[iranu-74195 · 1/10 · 22 November 2019]

Christmas romance pivoted on the back of a "chritmas cookie competition" instigated from a cookie shop. I would estimate the production budget for this film is somewhere between $600-$800, Unfortunatley it looks like $400 was spent on it. This is cheapness, on such a cynical level .. that it might actually qualify as surealism or deep comedic experimental art. Even the lighting was cheap.. Devoid of charm, irony, schmaltz or structure.

Sometimes all we need is second chance.

[leshashk · 5/10 · 31 January 2022]

I need to say that I love to see considerably big names participating in small budget movies, whether it's direct to DVD release or made for TV. Back in the day, some actors were great and promising. A bright future was ahead. In other words, they had time to fix things. So if they broke up, there would still be hope that one day... Yeah, they reunite.

But there is such issue as real life. And time doesn't know mercy too. Remember these two in Starship Troopers? How young they both were at the time. Watching that feature film I did not realize they were a couple or would never think about them as such. And only recently I've read some rumors about their probable reunion.

And suddenly it occurred to me that it's possible, and how Patrick looks at her. You know Denise does still have that doll (Barbie) face with some signs of aging. But I can see that it can be more challenging for her to start relations now than back in her middle 90s timeline. While she is an attractive woman and so on, for her, the time to be young is over, no matter how harsh it may sound. On the other hand, Patrick is not getting any younger too. It was such a perfect match. Together they can shine much brighter. Once I noticed that I wanted to see something with them together. And there it was - "A Christmas reunion"...

Ok, obviously it's not the best movie I've ever seen. But it's them that made it better. Without those two I doubt I would have even bothered to watch it. Story-wise nothing is really to see here. Still, it's a Christmas movie, one of these with a happy ending. No real conflict etc. Another nostalgic reason that makes this one better than it could have been - Catherine Hicks. I happened to enjoy her performance in Child's play the day before. So for me, she went from a young beautiful woman to an old sweet aunt that passes away to get this Christmas reunion story going, in one day. Wow, it was sad. I've checked her filmography on IMDB and... it's just sad.

Would I recommend "A Christmas reunion" to someone who doesn't know anything about Denise or Patrick behind the scene relations, or doesn't recognize Catherine Hicks? Probably not. But if you happen to like one of the mentioned ingredients for a good nostalgic evening or reflect on life and time you may find this movie quite enjoyable.

Too much Botox

[anamariamicheli · 1/10 · 26 November 2023]

It's painful to watch! The lead actress and her girl friend (and some others in the cast) have so much Botox that their faces are completely expressionless, making their lines senseless. But the acting is awful even from the opening scene and the cooking contest prices. Bad, bad, bad.

No wonder most of the reviews speak about lack of chemistry. How can you see chemistry when they are mummies parroting lines?

Not much sense in reviewing the plot. Does anyone expect any creativity in these Christmas movies?

I cannot help wondering if the cast gets paid or if they pay to be in the movie. Skip.!

Christmas Reunion is a winner loved it

[cwm-01299 · 10/10 · 7 June 2017]

Big fan of Patrick Muldoon watched Holiday Road Trip and Christmas Reunion love both of them wish they were for sale on DVD. Bought his other movie A Boyfriend For Christmas, Patrick and Denise acted in the 1997 movie Starship Troopers. What is interesting is that I think Denise and Patrick dated years ago! Christmas Reunion is a winner loved it. 10/10 Rating!