The Skating Continues

This premiered in December 2023 on Hallmark’s Streaming Channel. Last night was its network premiere. I didn’t hold that against it because this month’s Rescuing Christmas which had the same kind of roll out was one of last year’s best Christmas movies in my opinion.

I am not going to summarize the plot of this one except to say City Girl, Small Town, Single Father, Old building Saved. The rest of the movie only piles on the tired cliches and tent pole scenes one right after another as the 80 odd minutes tick by. Some of this is to be expected and actually OK for those to who only look at Hallmarks to provide comfort, reliability, and escape from reality. I’m not one of those and there is too much else wrong with this one. Here’s 5 things.

Lori, the city girl, was an Olympic hopeful ice-skater who fell during the trials and “never skated again”. So. No dedication, no courage, no commitment. No nothing. Including sympathy from me.  Not the stuff that Olympic champions are made of and it was probably for the best for all concerned. So the lead girl did not make a good first impression and did nothing to endear her to me later.

The actress was stiff and awkward in this role. Though young and pretty, her makeup was slathered on, even in a scene where she was awakened in bed by a morning phone call. I really thought we were starting to get past that. Plus, in the context of the phone call the makeup situation actually undermined the script. I won’t go into it. But, my God, the lip liner.

Her obligatory  work colleague and confidante embodied every stereotype of the flamboyant gay male possible. He was exhausting.

The lead guy, Mark, who actually is likably played by reliable Hallmark workhorse, Marcus Rosner, is trying to save his skating rink from an evil (and he actually is) corporate developer. He keeps nattering on about how it is the “heart and soul” of the community, how it is all “for the children”, and trying to fundraise to make the improvements necessary to keep his lease. This is not a charity or publicly funded community (one of his favorite words) project. This is his for-profit business and he lives in a huge expensive house.  So-o-o-o-o-o. What is wrong with this picture? A little self-serving maybe?

Lori goes through the whole movie falling for Mark, supporting Marc’s efforts with his rink, accepting gifts from him, and listening sympathetically. She is noticeably disgusted by the the evil developer who is also trying to date her. She befriends Mark’s daughter and coaches her for the skating tournament. After she conquered her little skating aversion, she skates at the Ice Palace incessantly. But when her article comes out, it was not favorable to Mark’s cause! And it’s not because her intimidating female boss edited it behind her back either. It is totally what she wrote. And she doesn’t even warn Mark or have any kind of conversation with him that her article will not be backing him 100%. He is blindsided and humiliated by the smarmy developer who can’t resist taunting him. It is a total stab in the back. The fact that her article is right is beside the point. It was a shocker, but in a WTF way, not in a good way.

I could go on and on (trust me) but I’ll stop there because I don’t want to be tedious about it. I will just assure you that the bad guy is defeated, the ice rink is saved, the development the town needs for rejuvenation happens, and Lori abandons her city career for small town life, ice-skating, love, and motherhood. Didn’t want you to worry. There were some bright spots. Shannon McDonough as Jen, Lori’s local camera operator was good and her little romance with a nerdy architect could have used a lot more attention. And I am always glad to see Mary Long who played the Mayor. And her necklace in one scene was quite eye catching. But I guess that’s a Canadian thing and it’s not really a necklace per se.

Every so often, Hallmark will throw one of these lazy efforts up on the screen.