Wonderful character development!

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

There are many heartwarming moments in this nice romantic film. But I thought that many of the plot lines were forced. For one thing, it made no sense to me that Cody didn't reveal the card to Faith at one moment early in the film where it seemed to be the obvious thing to do.Alice Evans, as Faith, had way to many scenes where she showed little emotion. John Newton, as Cody, was hardly any better in the emotion department, but at least for him, this made sense in his character and the situation. I wouldn't be jumping for joy if I were in love with another man's serious girlfriend. The path to love for these two was underplayed too much in the movie. We got far more evidence of it from the people around them than we did the couple themselves.And where did Paul even come from? How did they meet? How did she fall in love? At least one thing made sense. As Faith's dad realized, she would be far more content with the man who worked extra hard with his hands and was totally comfortable in the outdoors. Traveling the world would have little if no appeal to Faith, especially if it meant leaving her family.Edward Asner was excellent and so was Peter Jason who is probably responsible for most of the life and humor in the movie.

Most people with family connections to the military may find "A Christmas Card" especially enjoyable. I'm a veteran and come from a family of several vets. Others may like it too. It is a nice Christmas romance connected to modern times of military service. I especially enjoy the scenery of the towns and parts of country chosen for this and other Christmas holiday films. But, some aspects of this film have me, and perhaps other viewers who aren't otherwise love-struck, downgrading it overall. A couple of other reviewers noted this as well and have good analyses of the plot and performances.This TV movie for the Hallmark channel has a wonderful story idea. The acting jobs by Ed Asner (Luke), Alice Evans (Faith), Lois Nettleton (Rosie) and Peter Jason (Richard) are excellent. But, the performances of the two young male leads, John Newton (Sgt. Cody Cullen) and Ben Weber (Paul) were stiff and tepid. Both actors seemed wooden in their performances. Paul even acted hesitantly at times – in a way that makes one think the actor forgot his lines. I will grant that Cody was a quiet person, not someone who would be very outgoing. But, given the exuberance of the entire Spelman clan (Luke, Faith, Rosie and Richard), Cody seemed very wooden and out of place. Both of the young male actors seemed devoid of even the basic energy that all people have most of the time, regardless of their ilk. They seemed lifeless. This viewer thought that the other characters – especially Luke and Richard, overly prompted Luke to get a little life into him, as though they were coaching him to put a little more energy into his life (and role). Seldom do I linger this long on one or two character performances. But here they were so much in contrast that it was a real detraction from the story. The director had to share some of that responsibility, by not getting those two actors to put more into their roles. And the script and direction account for the choppiness at times, and weak connections in some scenes. As I said, this movie had so much going for it in the idea, the setting and some very good performances. These other shortcomings rob it of at least a couple of stars in my book. And, that means it isn't a film I will keep in my library for viewing at future Christmases and holiday periods.

All in all just a bad movie, with bad acting and a plot so see-through it hurts. The only thing that got me through it was the lovely Edward Asner. But if all the holiday programing allows you to see is this, then it can work if you are in need of a boring romance with an army dude and a girl who loves God, and the small town, and an "evil" boyfriend who is a walking cliché of bad examples. One of the many questions that came to me when watching this movie was how the hell this small town girl, who just loves the simple life, ever came across such a snob of a wine salesman! And how this ignorant guy ever thought he could get her to leave. And also The whole Afghanistan incident with the soldier dying that is just bad! Having had close family serving there it hurts me how bad that scene is acted!

Although a bit flimsy, the plot is not to bad. A Christmas card from an unknown woman as the trigger for the lead character to find love, well I haven't seen that before.Throughout the movie the story offers enough emotional moments and where Asner and Nettleton are rather convincing, Newton and Evans seem to just have had a Botox treatment. Almost the whole time without any emotions except for the final seconds at the Vietnam memorial. That looked genuine. Probably because their faces weren't visible.Still, I think the movie is worth your time. I enjoyed it, despite the poor acting.