“Why Does It Always Have to Be Cookies?”
When I started paying attention to Christmas movies to potentially watch in 2024, I looked for premises that intrigued me or stars I recognized (or both). Since I was already a fan of the two leads, I recorded Following Yonder Star to watch. I’m glad I did because I enjoyed it.
Abby (Brooke D’Orsay) has spent years starring as a perfect wife and mother in a popular TV show. Now that the show is over, she is trying to find what is next in her life. Unfortunately, she gets a shock right before Christmas when she discovers that her ex-husband (and her former on-screen husband) is getting remarried. The news causes her to have a meltdown, and she decides she needs an escape.
That takes her across the country to Vermont. Through a mix-up, she finds herself taking the last room at a small inn in a town overwhelmed with people looking for a convergence of planets that will create a super star on Christmas Eve.
The owner of this inn is Nick (John Brotherton), a widower who is just trying to keep it all together. The two begin to bond and open up to each other. Where will it lead?
The first thing I appreciated about the movie is that it did a great job of balancing Abby’s meltdown. It sets it up so we can empathize with her, but it is quickly apparent that this isn’t her typical behavior. She even admits it wasn’t her at her best, but having a human moment. (And, honestly, her frustration with the clerk was completely understandable even if her behavior was wrong.) Then, of course, we got to see how this was spun in public opinion. It was probably my biggest worry going into the film, but the movie does it perfectly.
On the whole, the movie is sweet. It deals with some heavy subjects, but it never gets too maudlin or sad. I also appreciated how they brought in others who weren’t caught up in the romance at first to give some perspective. And the characters were realistic about what the future would hold.
And it isn’t all sadness. Nick is supposed to be directing the local kids’ Christmas production, and that provides some comic relief. There are also some romantic moments and beautiful Christmas decorations.
John Brotherton made some acting choices near the beginning that were a bit questionable. I’m sure they were supposed to show how nervous his character was since he recognized Abby right away, but they just seemed odd. Frankly, the meet cute of their relationship went on a little longer than I needed period. But that’s a minor issue. Once we got past that, the acting was okay, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between the leads.
Yes, the get the predictable third act complications, but they were handled fairly well, and I loved the climax.
One thing that I really appreciated was that faith, specifically Christianity, was a large part of the conversation, and not just in the Christmas pageant. I didn’t expect this, and it was a refreshing touch to find characters talking about their struggles with that, especially given what life had sent them.
Following Yonder Star is a charming Hallmark Christmas movie. If that’s what you are looking for, you’ll enjoy this one.
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