Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Yes, the titles are a twist, but adds to the intrigue! I love both of these Hallmark movies. I missed seeing "Finding Father Christmas", last season, as my dau and grand-dau were visiting from Rio. But WHAT A DOUBLE TREAT this season!! I loved both! And especially Niall Matter as Ian! Yes the story is a bit bizarre, but the acting was superb for me! I liked the array of a strong cast. I hope to see them again next season, having seen them each twice already this year! All Hallmark movies are predictable, but this had a few curves to navigate. They just gave me so much enjoyment and lifted me into the holiday season. Going to get to baking today!! Hope the authors, Gunn & Golden are busy writing next years part 3!

Christmas movies pretty much don't get better than this. Krakow is nailing down this genre with a sledgehammer. She got a sweet face, good body and flawless acting skills. This does not adhere to most of the standard plots. It is part of an actual Christmas Movie trilogy which by all rights means it really has nothing to do with Christmas other than a setting. But, who cares, it works.

The usual cast of characters, eh?: Hallmark Heroine™ (HH): Miranda, played by Hallmark regular Erin Krakow. More (or less) on her later.Hallmark Good Boyfriend (HGBF): Ian, who is also the Guy Perpetually in Need of a Shave (GPNS). Hallmark Bad Boyfriend (HBBF): Josh, Miranda's ex.Erin Krakow is well cast, she's an attractive woman that regular Hallmark viewers see in her series When Calls the Heart. For some reason, for this installment she has cut off most of her hair and what remains is straight and flat. I may need a new character acronym for when this happens- Hallmark Bad Hair Heroine (HBHH)? Maybe 4H: Hallmark Heinous Hair Heroine (HHHH).This is a predictable sequel to last year's Finding Father Christmas. A plot gap here is why would they wait for a whole year?The HH runs into the HBBF at the airport and feels compelled to tell him she's the daughter of a famous actor. Why? You haven't seen him in like 2 years. No surprise, he turns up in the small Vermont town where she is visiting the HGBF. A misunderstanding ensues when the HGBF/GPNS sees her hug the HBBF. This misunderstanding is resolved early on.As the title would imply, much of the sub-plot involves her father the famous actor. A reporter is in town doing a story aboot her dad and the 30th anniversary of a theater.A couple of funny scenes involved the HGBF/GPNS trying to propose/proposing to the HH. His dad asked the question I'm sure many viewers were wondering- What took you so long? Another funny thing at the engagement announcement was everyone else in winter clothing and the HH wearing a summer dress.The HH is getting mystery texts aboot her father. She laments to the HGBF/GPNS aboot telling the HBBF aboot her dad. She's then grilled aboot her dad's family by the reporter.A Mystery Dude (MD) turns up and feels compelled to stop his car and look at the sign for the town in Vermont. He must be a slow reader since most people can read it while driving by. He of course turns up at the local inn. It turns out he is a writer doing a story on the dad and had overheard her spill to the HBBF at the airport. The HH has a heart to heart with MD to talk him out of doing the story but doesn't change his mind.The HH then decides to bail and the HGBF/GPNS can't convince her to stay. She has a pep talk with her dad's widow and things are set straight. MD is sent packing. A Hallmark Happy Ending is had when the HH and HGBF/GPNS end up together (again) and will stay in town in the house the HGBF/GPNS had been repairing, but they decide to wait another year to get married?

What a great story. Great cast. Great casting. Great acting. I'm usually disappointed with sequels. This was as good as the original. Great writing. Watch both together to see how well the first movie blends into the last movie. Thank you Penny for getting this started. You will ALWAYS enjoy a Perry/Lind casted movie. The director hit all the mushy parts perfect and how Erin managed to get the veins in her head to pop out with such emotion is a sign of a great actress.I certainly DO NOT work in production and have never been on a movie set- although my son is an actor. I stay out of his business AND he has never worked for Hallmark. Wish he would. I simply enjoy it when Penny Perry casts ANY movie. I am never disappointed with the results. My God look at her success! Ya want a review - here it is. You want a synopsis - try elsewhere. I know how hard it is to write and develop depth in characters. Here the writers did just that and Perry/Lind matched the actors to characters. Is that so hard to comprehend? They SHOULD be praised.