I had really high hopes for this movie because I love Christmas and I love Danica. She was amazing in it but this movie was a mess. I have never seen so many scenes in a movie before...which all managed to accomplish nothing.

I am usually a sucker for flashbacks but I found this movie daunting and boring and I honestly kept pausing to see how much more I had to get through before it was over.

I think having them see each other only one day a year was a really bad call. Like...they seriously didn't speak at ALL throughout the year for those 30 years? Come on...who would put up with that nonsense? And that argument they had over the phone was beautifully acted by both of them but painful to watch because it really made no sense. Even if there was some truth to what he said, that was one of the cruelest exchanges I have ever witnessed in a romantic movie. Needless theatrics and crowbarred drama.

The only scenes I felt had any merit were when EB was describing Great Expectations to Kat and comparing both their lives to it. I thought that was very beautiful and poetic. Though it raised even more confusing questions about her father's past with this woman. So like...was Kat's Mom aware that EB was in love with her husband? And was EB happy when Kat's mother died? Very confusing, weird stuff. I understand and agree with EB that Kat should not waste her life waiting around for Sam...but she then proceeds to waste the next ten years of her life before he proposes.

I also enjoyed the fact that they were happier in the company of children rather than the boring adults and that they enjoyed sitting at the children's table. That is what pulled me in with the title but it really just didn't deliver.

The scene where they shared the coat was very humorous and cute and was one of the only times where I felt any spark between them. It was no fault of the actors, I just personally disliked both of their characters. It also would have been nice if they had explained this "Best Life" game that came up so much throughout the movie.

This is definitely worth a watch if you have some time to kill, but if your free time is precious and scarce, do not waste it on this. It is also not worth buying, try to catch it on Hulu or Netflix.

S0ME SPOILERS:

Hallmark and other networks churn out these cheesy Christmas "Romance" movies every year and many of them have no memorable moments. They seem to be interchangeable from one to another. This one is set apart. I think this movie is much more memorable than any other Christmas movies that have come out in the last decade. There are many memorable scenes. I think the fight scene was well scripted and incredibly well acted- especially considering this is a made for TV film. While I think the flashback sequences could have been done better (some were too lengthy, and others not long enough), the chemistry between the two leads is very strong, and they do a great job with the material given. When you watch the movie you get sucked into the time and place. Mainly the setting is perfect. A Christmas party...

There is a dancing scene in the middle of the movie which is very well choreographed and filmed and very endearing. This movie has a lot of heart and "warmth" without being too sappy . I enjoyed seeing the beautiful Danica McKellar who was perfectly cast as the female lead. Not to mention she was in her late 30s during production, but hardly looks any older than her 20 something co-star. My only gripe about the film is that they could have orchestrated the flashback sequences better. They just go with the age of the characters and the same Christmas Eve party at different intervals, but some lack more story line than others, so it's hard to follow.

If I'm not mistaken, the characters are involved in the same Christmas party every year, and known each other since they were two years old. Making them early 30s towards the end of the film. Would place them being born in the year 1980. The parties begin in the year 1984, when they are both 4 years old. There is a break of 5 years between their falling out and their getting back together- at the same Christmas Eve party. Where eventually, they realize they are made for each other. It's a sweet movie with good strong acting and it's definitely better quality than your average Hallmark fare.

Danica McKellar and Dustin Mulligan star in this Christmas Hallmark TV movie entitled, "Christmas At The Love Table". Lea Thompson, Scott Patterson and Alexandra Paul co-stars. It tells the story of two childhood friends, Kat and Sam, who spend Christmas at Elissa Beth Dixon's home yearly. It chronicles their ups and downs through the years from their childhood until the next two decades. As expected, we get to realize that what that there is more to it than friendship as it was actually love that they have had all through the years.

Too bad that despite have familiar supporting cast members, the story practically focused on Sam and Kat conversations that it could be overbearing to the viewer. Although they did have comic dialogues, I just felt that both dominated the the whole movie. Great thing that both Danica and Dustin have great chemistry. But with a movie having them talking with each other almost all scenes, it would have been too much. As a matter of fact, the Christmas decorations were practically the supporting cast. Nevertheless, fans of the charming Danica,Hallmark movies, and Christmas movies will find joy in it .