July 22, 2025 • 32 mins
Have you ever dreamed that your favorite book character would step right off the page and into your life? That's exactly what happens to Mia Parker in Mia's Prince, the second installment in Hallmark's Unwrapping Christmas collection. Grab your favorite festive drink as Garry & Amy unwrap it all in this episode of Pour The Wine, It’s Rom-Com Time. Is it a Christmas classic in the making or one to regift? Tune in now to find out!
Send us an email to pourthewineitsromcomtime@gmail.com! We'd love to hear your thoughts!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Amy (00:08):
Welcome to Pour the Wine.
It's rom-com time where we'llsip some wine and review all
things rom-com on the HallmarkChannel.
I'm Amy.
Garry (00:14):
And I'm Gary.
And you're.
Amy (00:16):
A-pouring, a-pouring.
What are you pouring?
Garry (00:19):
I'm pouring a cab sav.
Amy (00:21):
today it's a cab sav, we're going in for the red.
Garry (00:24):
Yes.
Amy (00:27):
Should we get to it?
Let's get to it all right.
Today we're reviewing thesecond of the unwrapping
christmas movies mia's princethat first aired on hallmark
plus on thursday, november 14th2024 and then again on saturday,
july 12th 2025 on the hallmarkchannel sweet and and it is,
like I said, the second of fouras part of Christmas in July
(00:48):
2025.
Garry (00:49):
Oh Well, we would love it if you would click that follow
button on your favorite podcastplatform so you don't miss an
episode If you listen on Appleor Spotify.
You can also leave us a review,and we hope it's a positive
review.
Amy (01:04):
Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed, fingerscrossed.
Garry (01:06):
Yes, and you can also find us on YouTube and social
media Facebook, instagram, bluesky X and threads all the things
you can also email us at pourthe wine.
Amy (01:18):
It's rom-com time at gmailcom.
Yes, you can send us yourthoughts about how Christmas in
July is going so far.
Garry (01:25):
Yeah, is it hot or is it hot or anything?
Amy (01:31):
Hallmark, if you would like , and we will, maybe we'll read
it on the air.
Garry (01:35):
Yes, yep, our poor snowman, he melted.
Amy (01:38):
Our poor snowman.
Oh no, what snowman.
What are you talking about?
Garry (01:42):
No Christmas in July.
Oh, okay, I get it.
I was like wait a minute.
Amy (01:47):
I know I'm a little tired, but what?
Garry (01:49):
So who's in this one?
Amy (01:52):
All right, so we have the returning four stars that are up
here.
In each one, catherine Davisplays Mia Parker.
Of course, this is her movie,right?
Garry (02:02):
Yes.
Amy (02:03):
Cindy Busby plays Olivia Matheson, natalie Hall plays
Tina Mitchell and AshleyNewbrough plays Lily Morgan.
So so far we've had Tina'sMiracle.
Yes so we're working our waythrough them, huh.
Garry (02:17):
Yes, we are.
Amy (02:17):
All righty.
Also in this one are NathanWitt plays Beau Cavanaugh.
He plays the potentialboyfriend.
Yes For Mia.
In addition to the fourunwrapping Christmas movies,
he's been in a ton of Hallmarkproductions.
He was Spencer in the Wish Swapwhich was part of 2025's Love
you, Mary.
Garry (02:38):
Love.
Amy (02:38):
You, Mary, you keep getting to say that Bromance to the
Rescue in 2022.
That Bromance to the Rescue in2022.
The Nine Kittens of Christmas,A Christmas Treasure Sealed with
a Kiss, Wedding March 6th inSweet Carolina in 2021.
Garry (02:51):
He was busy.
Amy (02:53):
Some of his other work includes Suits LA in 2025.
Five episodes of Charmedbetween 2019 and 2025.
Riverdale he was in an episodein 2019 and A Million.
Little Things, he was in anepisode in 2019.
And A Million Little Things wonepisode in 2018.
What these actors?
Garry (03:10):
are all in these movie shows All over.
Amy (03:12):
Yeah, we have a common theme a lot of times, with the
shows.
Garry (03:14):
That's awesome.
Amy (03:15):
Lynette Ware plays Clara Cavanaugh For homework.
She was in Hearts Around theTable, kiki's Fourth Ingredient
in 2025.
And that also starred Catherine.
Garry (03:24):
Davis davis.
Amy (03:26):
Oh, okay, she was also in two turtle doves in 2019.
She's done several christmasproductions for other companies
right right.
Christmas revisited in 2023.
Santa's got style in 2022 andkatherine davis was in that one
with her as well.
Christmas in Rockwell andChristmas Roads Christmas, or
(03:47):
sorry Christmas Roads Christmas,country Roads Christmas and
that was also in 2022.
Some of her other work includesBrilliant Minds, which was a
brand new series in 2024.
She was in one episode.
She was in the series Hudsonand Rex for five episodes
between 2022 and 2023.
And she was in one episode ofthe Sopranos in 2007.
Garry (04:11):
Now we're talking.
Amy (04:12):
Brian Young plays Arthur Cole.
He is the owner of thebookstore in this.
This is his Hallmark premiere,and some of his other work
includes one episode of MurdochMyster in 2024, an episode of
warehouse 13 in 2012 and anepisode of covert affairs in
2010.
Oh wow, julia, barcelon,barcelino, sorry sorry about
(04:39):
that I should probably take asip of wine.
She plays penelope martin forhallmark.
She was in road trip romance in2022.
Some of her other work includesthe nanny sees all in 2025, the
perfect wedding in 2021 andthree episodes of a series
called bad roommate in 2019.
Nobody likes a bad roommatedarren baker plays the mayor,
(05:01):
mayor bets formark.
He will be in the upcoming Meltmy Heart this Christmas, which
is going to be part of Countdownto Christmas in 2025.
He's in all four UnwrappingChristmas movies.
He was also in EverythingPuppies and Romance with a Twist
in 2024 and Season for Love in2018.
Some of his other work includesEverything's Going to Be Great
(05:24):
in 2025.
That's what we need to say.
Everything's going to be great.
Everything's going to be great.
Three episodes of the TV seriesDoc in 2025.
A series called Painkiller hewas in four episodes of that in
2023.
Ghosts, which we really like,one episode in 2022.
And the movie Spot about thecatholic priest yeah yeah, in
(05:50):
2015.
Okay, tara o'brien plays ashlynparker.
This is her first hallmarkappearance.
She has 10 acting credits andfour of those 10 are shorts.
Prior to she was in Gray Matterin 2018 and two episodes of Bow
Banger in 2013.
Wow, wow.
Garry (06:10):
So is that it for the list?
Amy (06:11):
Wow, that's it for the list .
Garry (06:14):
All right, so is it time to drop the synopsis.
Amy (06:17):
I think we should drop the synopsis.
All right, Romance novelenthusiast Mia meets Bo.
Garry (06:20):
Romance novel enthusiast Mia meets Bo, a philanthropist
who is the spitting image of herfavorite book hero.
As they consider exploring anew romance, Bo's mother has
other ideas.
Amy (06:34):
Dun dun dun.
Now we will probably give awaysome spoilers, so if you haven't
watched it yet and don't wantto hear spoilers, push pause on
our podcast, go watch it andthen come back to our review.
Yes, please do, because wedon't want to give anything away
, but we also want to talk aboutthe entire movie.
That's our shtick.
It's a double-edged sword.
Garry (06:55):
Yes.
Amy (06:56):
All right, so shall we talk about first takes.
Garry (06:58):
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Sorry, I was taking a sip,that's all right.
Amy (07:01):
Sip away, sip, sip, hooray.
So yes, for me For you Allright, go for it, I love me an
opening scene when there's somesnow.
There's a flyover castle Yep.
Garry (07:14):
Oh, how beautiful it was right how beautiful.
And then you have these twocharacters, mia and Bo, who
struggle with saying no orsticking up for themselves.
Right, this is part of thisstory, right?
Mia with her sister, bo withhis mother.
And I kind of like how it seemslike they're playing the
(07:35):
characters that are in the book.
Amy (07:36):
That are there, each Right right, they're like in modern
day.
Garry (07:39):
But yeah, and the one of the and the book is what
Derbyshire?
Amy (07:44):
Christmas in Derbyshire?
What Derbyshire?
Uh, christmas in Derbyshire?
Yeah, it's hard to say.
Garry (07:48):
And I like how the uh, the the first two episodes kind
of play off each other, wherethey begin at the the store yes,
they're wrapping the four girlsand, um, they do their little,
uh, college cheer thing with thebracelet.
Amy (08:07):
Which is their address?
Right?
They say 426,.
Right, yeah, 4262, or somethinglike that.
Garry (08:11):
Oh, oh, I don't know if it's 426 or 462.
Amy (08:14):
426 Walnut Street.
Yes, I thought that was their.
Okay.
Yeah, that's their like.
Garry (08:19):
Yeah, their.
Amy (08:21):
Their cheer, right, yeah, their pep talk to get going for
the day, yep, yep.
So what do you think?
Um, as a second film in thecollection, I I mean it mostly
worked for me.
I thought it was enjoyable andpleasant and you know I love
katherine davis davis I thinkshe's so cute.
(08:41):
She's adorable, I think youknow I also liked Nathan Witt
I'm hoping I'm pronouncing hislast name correctly.
I mean their chemistry was okay, it was decent, but I mean good
overall story and subplots.
Garry (08:58):
Right.
Amy (08:59):
You know, I mean it was a great idea that had potential,
but for me it just didn't quiteget there.
Right there weren't misses, butit was just it was like almost
there, right, almost reallygreat.
I hate it.
I see that, you know, and Ithink, like I said, the
chemistry between the two ofthem was good, but there were
just some parts that I just Ithink fell flat and it didn't
(09:21):
overall, like you know, woo mein, you know right.
So, like you said, I love thebeginning, I loved, I love an
opening like that.
You know, it's like a fairy taleright right that you're kind of
getting into and and it's likethe bones were there.
It's just the structure nevercame together, totally for me
okay I see, so that's you knowit was enjoyable.
(09:42):
I mean it was pleasant.
But as a standout in thecollection I would For number
two I would say well it wasprobably good it was number two.
I'm glad it wasn't number one.
Garry (09:51):
Right.
Amy (09:52):
And I would hate to end on that.
Garry (09:54):
Right.
Amy (09:54):
Because of how I, you know, felt about it.
So I think it was good enoughfor number two.
That's sort of the way I feltabout it.
Garry (10:02):
Yeah, I kind of feel like she needs I don't know if it's
a good leading man or just abetter story.
You know what I mean, becauseshe's a great actress.
Amy (10:12):
Yeah, I think she has such potential, just given the right
vehicle Right and she was goodin Hearts Around the Table
collection.
Garry (10:19):
Yes, she was.
Amy (10:19):
I really enjoyed her in those movies, so we'll see.
So what about the meet cute?
So we have, and I did thinkthis was cute, I did think this
worked right, so she fallsasleep while she's reading yes
um in the store and she's gonethere because her sister has
popped in with a cat and she hasallergies.
(10:40):
Right, she has allergies to acat.
So she goes to the store andshe's reading her Christmas at
Derbyshire book and a guy knockson the door of the store and
he's dressed in a costume justlike her prince.
Right which is kind of funny.
Garry (10:55):
Yeah, because you don't know if she's still in the dream
, or if it's real.
Amy (11:00):
So he asks her to wrap a book.
He's going to a party, acostume party.
Garry (11:04):
Yeah.
Amy (11:05):
And he has to bring the gift right.
Yeah, he's bringing a book as agift to the party and I just I
mean, I thought it was cute.
The only thing I would say is,if the store is closed and him
still knocking and expecting tocome in, like should she really
answer it and let a strange manin the store Right, well, it was
funny, because he's like, willyou let me in?
Garry (11:27):
She goes, promise you won't rob me because the day
that I'm having.
I really don't.
That's true.
Amy (11:34):
She does, yeah, yes, Well, and then he says something like
it's kismet, and I had to lookthat up because I'm like what is
that?
And kismet means destiny orfate.
Garry (11:44):
Oh.
Amy (11:44):
Because he's like yes, it's kismet.
He says it really quick and Ithought that was kind of cute.
Garry (11:48):
I didn't hear that, I didn't catch that.
Amy (11:49):
So, other than the stranger danger part, I thought it
worked Right.
I thought it was cute.
Garry (11:54):
Yeah, it was really cute yeah.
Amy (12:07):
So what favorite scenes?
Um, I just like, how mia alwaysfell asleep on in.
Garry (12:09):
Yes, I have that is right , the way when she's right and
lily is the one that's alwayswaking her up.
Yeah, and it's so funny becauseshe's like mia.
Amy (12:15):
Again, again, yeah, I thought that was really cute.
I had that also and mia, andone of the times when she wakes
up she, she's calling out orthey say you know, like in
college she used to call out toEdward Cullen.
Yes, you know, and he's fromthe lead in the Twilight series,
the lead character.
Garry (12:33):
Right In the.
Amy (12:33):
Twilight series, and I think it was played by Robert
Pattinson.
Garry (12:37):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So I thought that was cute.
Yes, yes, yes.
Amy (12:41):
Yes, so it's a shout out to the vampire in Twilight.
Garry (12:45):
Yeah right.
Amy (12:45):
So anywho, but yeah, I had that also.
What else?
What else do you got?
For scenes that you loved.
Garry (12:51):
I just think that when she is also at the store, when
she's dancing, she's got someheadsets on.
Amy (13:00):
She's got a broom and she's dancing to that Christmas song.
Garry (13:02):
Yes, and then she bends down and she finds the $100 bill
, because Lily didn't believethat somebody had come to the
store the night before andtipped her $100 for wrapping the
gift Right right, she thought,maybe it was in her dreams, but
it had fallen underneath thecounter and she found it and she
gets up and she starts dancingagain.
And then Bo is standing rightbehind her.
Amy (13:25):
Kind of startles her, yeah, startles her, yeah, startles
her Right.
Garry (13:28):
Yeah, I thought that was another fun scene.
What about you?
Amy (13:30):
Yeah, I thought the scene was fun, but I have that a
little later, maybe in my cheerssection.
Garry (13:36):
Oh, cheers, yeah, Not cheers, not cheers, cheers.
Amy (13:40):
Another scene.
We'll get to that.
Another scene for me would havebeen the first bookstore scene.
I thought that was cute.
When she goes there, for on herlunch break she goes to the
bookstore and she talks toarthur and it does kind of
remind me of like um beauty andthe beast bell, where she loves
to go to the bookstore, andthere is a reference to bell at
some point in this.
I think they call her bell um,someone does I I gotta rewatch
(14:02):
again, yeah but she says Ibetter go check on my baby.
And that's when you find out.
She goes and sees this book.
It's the first edition of thebook that she reads every year
for Christmas, christmas inDerbyshire.
Right, right.
So I thought I really likedthat scene.
Yeah, I thought that was cute.
Garry (14:17):
Do you have any more?
I don't.
Amy (14:19):
You don't have any more.
I liked when Bo showed up atthe community center when she
was, when she was working.
She because he wanted to takeher out right again and she's
like, oh, I have plans, I'mgoing to be at the community
center yeah and and he goes andthey're serving food, right,
they're doing like like thedinner and um, or food, and
they're doing their lighting,their tree lighting.
(14:41):
So I thought it was cool thathe went.
They had some nice conversationand you know, you find out
she's been doing that for fiveyears.
She does charity work, you know, and he wants to see her again
and then she's you know, she'sgot stuff going on for the gala
which is a common theme.
Right, so the gala is coming upand she's been ordering things.
They've been coming in wrongand she needs help, but she
(15:03):
won't accept it which is exactlylike her character in Kiki's
Fourth Ingredient.
Yes, it is when she needs help,but she won't accept it.
So she plays the same characterin both of these films.
Garry (15:14):
And basically in that same Hearts.
Amy (15:18):
Around the Table.
Hearts Around the Table.
Garry (15:21):
The place to cook.
The food didn't burn out Rightright so kind of a similar
situation.
Amy (15:28):
And then you know she talks about how she was raised by her
grandmother and you find outhis father died when he was a
teenager.
So I just thought that wholescene really worked.
I always love the cookingscenes in Christmas movies, so
when Bo and Mia are cooking inthe kitchen, yes, the cookies,
yeah.
And he puts in too much vanillaright, so I thought that was
cute.
Garry (15:52):
You can see when Ashley comes in.
She's kind of upset because shedidn't get the job or a second
interview.
She tastes the cookie dough.
And just the look on her face.
Her sister, mia's sister, right, right, right, ashlyn, yeah,
yeah, it was so funny.
Yeah, I thought that was cute.
Amy (16:02):
She's like, hmm, this is not good.
And then the horse sanctuarywhen she's going to meet him at
the horse sanctuary, I thinkthat's on his property.
Garry (16:13):
I don't really know, somewhere at the stable.
Amy (16:15):
And then he kind of literally it's like her knight
rides up on the horse and she'slike you've got to be kidding me
I thought that that was reallycute and kind of quirky and fun
Prince in shining armor.
Yeah, yeah, I thought thatworked.
Garry (16:27):
Yeah, I like that scene too yeah.
So no more scenes for you, nonot favorite scenes, but can we
talk about the gift wrapping?
Yes, go ahead when he invitedher to his mom's book club party
to teach them how to do.
I think it's pronounced uhfuroshiki yeah, I think that's
(16:51):
how you pronounce which is ajapanese wrapping style, which
is um a method of wrapping itemsusing a square piece of cloth,
and I thought that was so cool,but man, how it was almost like
his mom.
Claire was very condescending.
Amy (17:07):
She was very condescending to her.
She was she's like yeah, thatwas a very cute little rapper,
or something she says yeah sheis condescending to her in that
scene, but it's cool.
The rapping style is cool.
I kind of like that.
Garry (17:21):
She did the wine bottle.
I have no skill to do that, butI thought it was yes.
Like to do that, but I thoughtit was yes.
Like how's she gonna do thewine bottle?
Amy (17:26):
but that was pretty cool well, and then when they, when
she puts the like the, the hollyberry right like the sprig in
there of of the things it looksso cool.
It reminds me of, like oldengland or something like so I
wonder if they did that.
So yeah, instead of paper ortape, they just she doesn't use
any tape she just wraps it witha cloth, yeah, yeah.
(17:47):
And the other ladies are like,oh, that's so beautiful and his
mom's just sitting there like sodid you have any chairs?
I had a few.
You mentioned one of them theopening scene yes where it's
like a snow-covered castle inthe woods and you, you know it's
a fairy tale, I mean rightyou're certain that it's not
really the start of it, right?
(18:08):
So, and she's what?
Running through the woods andthen there's a prince it almost
looks like little red robin hoodyeah, yeah, it does, it's just,
it's just kind of cool and shegets to use her natural english
accent in that scene which ispretty cool, that's, that's
right, because I think she'sfrom england.
Garry (18:24):
I think I think we found that out before.
Amy (18:26):
Yeah, that she's from England, so I thought that was
kind of cool.
She didn't have to do anAmerican accent in that part
where it really worked.
Garry (18:34):
Right, and it was funny because as he grabs her and
pulls her clothes and he startsto whisper something, it's
Lily's voice that comes through.
Amy (18:43):
Oh, yes, it wakes her up.
Yes.
So that's like the first timethat you know she does that.
So do you have any other cheers?
I?
I have a few more you.
The other one you meant youjust mentioned was the japanese
style wrapping I just thoughtthat was really cool.
I won't go into that again, butwhat about you?
I have a few more, but do youwant to go with one or two?
Garry (19:02):
um, I don't know, I like it.
Um, well, I don't know if Ishould say it because we haven't
gotten to near the end of themovie.
Ok, but I did like how likeLily Tina.
(19:25):
I think it was.
Yes, I'm sorry, ashlyn, cometogether to help Mia decorate
the house.
Amy (19:33):
Yeah, that was a good yeah.
Garry (19:35):
The house, and it's because she doesn't like to ask
for help.
Right and then I loved how theybrought some of the characters
from the first movie, likeMichael and his daughter.
Amy (19:47):
Hayley, isn't it?
Garry (19:48):
yes, she had her polar world camera and she was taking
pictures again and he was, hewas doing like wood he was
putting something togetherbecause we know he likes to
woodcraft and stuff.
Amy (19:57):
So yeah, it was pretty cool to see them so that was one of
my yes, cheers, I agree.
Garry (20:03):
And another one was when Mia gives Ashlyn her book money.
I thought it was very, very,very generous of her to do that
and it's because the caterer hadcanceled on her.
Amy (20:19):
Right, the last minute, right yeah.
Garry (20:24):
And she needed the money because her sister needed a job.
And she cooks, she caters, soshe gave her the money.
Because her sister needed a joband she cooks, she caters, so
she gave her the money to buythe food and the supplies and
the supplies and the cooking,whatever they needed.
Good on her man.
Amy (20:36):
Yeah, yeah, it was pretty cool and there's another reason,
but we want to hold on to that?
Garry (20:39):
Yes, we'll hold on to that For a little bit later.
Amy (20:41):
Right, I really for another cheer.
I really liked, how claire'scharacter came around you
mentioned it earlier like she'skind of mean at first, she's
kind of ascending she's rude.
She calls her the very skilledlittle rapper.
And then, right before that,when they're in the book club,
when her, when claire has herfriends over for the book club
(21:02):
and they're talking about annakarenina, which is a russian,
you know novel by tolstoy um,and she basically says uh,
sometimes love is not worth thedestruction of the public image.
And I was like oh, okay okay,well, you do you though I know
let love go, just so you canlook good.
You know and I so you kind of,you kind of get glim glimpses
(21:24):
that she wants things to be acertain way.
And you know she's demanding,demanding of Beau and of his
upcoming marriage, and she'sinsisting that they set up, you
know, a date.
And you know he's hesitant todo it because of course he
doesn't really love the personhe's engaged to.
And she doesn't love him.
You know, you find all that out, but the mom, but Claire,
(21:44):
doesn't know it yet, so she'strying to kind of force them
into this marriage, to set thedate, to go ahead and pull the
trigger, not knowing that hereally doesn't love her, because
she thinks he loves her.
And then I like how they, whenthey turn it around, when she
learns the truth yes that beaureally doesn't love penelope.
They're more like best friendsand penelope feels the same way.
(22:04):
He's not dumping her, they justthey're stuck in this to try to
please their parents, and youcan kind of see a light bulb
moment go off with her rightlike she's been forcing them too
much.
And then you know, towards theend then she says to me I have
been horrid to you and we don'thave that kind of turn of a
character quite so quickly notquickly, but I mean I guess it's
(22:24):
throughout the movie.
But I just liked that journeyof her particular character in
the film, so I that's a cheerfor me.
I thought that that was reallywell and it wasn't drawn out and
she didn't try, like stupid,silly little things, to sabotage
me.
Garry (22:39):
You know, it was just like Although she did do one
thing.
Amy (22:42):
She did one big thing, but it wasn't like little corny
things.
That happened throughout themovie.
Garry (22:48):
So I thought that worked really well, and the reason
being was she thought thatPenelope and Bo were in love
with each other, right and herecomes Mia, that's right.
Getting in between them.
Amy (22:57):
And she kind of sees her son looking at her a certain way
.
Garry (23:00):
So that's why she was being mean and trying to push
her away, right, but that'sstill no excuse to be mean to
somebody right, condescendingand make her feel less than yes,
but then she turns it aroundand she apologizes I liked the
arc of that character the fullcircle for that character did
you have any other cheer?
Amy (23:17):
do you have any other cheers?
No, I do not um, I thought thesister storyline worked well.
There were some parts thatmaybe didn't, but I just just.
You know the sister coming in,she's freshly divorced.
And then you know she's tryingto find a job and she's kind of
disrupting Mia's life, and thenthey have a conversation where
they're kind of what were theyrealize they not jealous of each
(23:41):
other?
Garry (23:41):
Right.
But they, they looked at eachother as their like hero.
Right Like Ashlyn looked up toMia because how successful she
was, and Mia looked up to hersister.
Amy (23:55):
That's right.
Garry (23:56):
Yes, because of how you know how successful she is?
Yeah.
What are we always saying?
Communication, right, it'salways communication.
Yeah, and you?
Amy (24:02):
know.
She thinks Mia has everything,like you said, the business, the
friends you know, and Mia tellsAshlyn that she was always
jealous of her because she wasoutgoing and Mia's not outgoing.
She's afraid to say what shethinks and feels.
So I like the storyline there.
I did like the messaging.
You know, like, take risksRight, use your voice, but we'll
(24:26):
get into the jeer of that also,okay.
So I have a jeer.
So any more cheers for you?
Garry (24:30):
no, I do not okay, are you done with yours?
Yes, okay, so let's go tocheers.
Amy (24:35):
Let's go to jeers.
You go first.
You got how many?
Do you have a few?
I?
Have, let's see a handful one,and it has to do with claire and
something oh, wow, okay, um,one year would be at the
beginning when mia hears theloud scuffle in her house and
she's like hello, who's there?
Garry (24:53):
you know, and I just thought, okay, it just was.
Amy (24:56):
I don't know.
I just it was a little toocheesy for me, right?
And then her sister, ashlyn,comes through the door and I'm
like, isn't she in the house?
Like why is the door close tothe living room?
I was confused by that yeahthat's not the front door.
Yeah, right, so that was alittle like baffling to me, yes
yeah, and then I have as another, jeer sweeping with the
(25:18):
headphones on that scene wascute, but then I was like why
would she do that if the storewas closed?
what what no, she would.
She would sweep if the storewas closed.
But why would she do that ifthe store was closed?
What no, she would sweep if thestore was closed.
But why would she do that ifthe store was open?
Because he walked in.
Garry (25:31):
Well, maybe she keeps the door unlocked and she was just
cleaning it up.
Amy (25:33):
Well, with your headphones on so you can't hear if somebody
comes in.
Garry (25:36):
Well, that's true.
Amy (25:37):
That's more of what I'm talking about.
Like the store was still open.
Garry (25:41):
Right.
Amy (25:41):
And she's acting like it's closed, but it's not.
Now.
I get sweeping early before theactual closing of the store.
Garry (25:48):
Right.
Amy (25:48):
But to have the headphones on and not be aware of what's
going on.
I mean, that's some unsafestuff, right?
Garry (25:53):
Right.
Amy (25:55):
It is.
And then, like I mentionedearlier about the messaging I
appreciated the messaging and itis true, but it was very
literal, like show us withouttelling us.
Garry (26:09):
Right.
Amy (26:09):
Right, because there's the you know, the Mia delivery of.
We all have a voice and it'sour own responsibility to use it
.
And I just felt, I mean sheacted much better than I did
right there, right, right, youknow, even if it means
disappointing others, and that'strue, but I just felt like it
was too forced, right, themessaging in the film it was too
.
I mean, they like spoon fed itto you and you don't really need
(26:32):
to do that.
Right, anyway, that was just mywhat about?
Okay, so what about your gear?
Garry (26:39):
you said oh, my gear is more of a character act in a
certain way, where, um so miagoes back to the bookstore and
finds out that the book was soldand arthur wasn't there.
He wasn't able to stop the sale.
So mia is like devastated andthen she finds out it was beau's
(27:03):
mom, claire, who had purchasedit, and prior to that Mia had
told Bo, in the presence of hismom, that she loved that first
edition, and it was at thebookstore.
Amy (27:16):
His mom overheard that and she had been saving for a long
time.
She was saving all her tips,right, yeah?
Garry (27:21):
Yeah, she was saving all her tips and I think she was
like $400 or $500 away.
She was close From having the$6,000 that the book cost and I
just didn't like the way she wascondescending because she was
calling her Maya instead of Miaand I don't know if that was on
purpose.
But you know, come on now.
Amy (27:41):
Well, and then Mia even corrects her.
You're an educated person, it'sMia.
Garry (27:44):
You know she's so shyly, but again, she didn't want her
to interfere with what shethought was a, you know, a
wedding coming up between Bo andPenelope.
Amy (27:54):
Right, but that was my jeer .
It was a dirty move, it was abad move, but it added to the
storyline.
Yeah, it did I mean that wasn'ttoo bad, but yeah.
Garry (28:02):
Yeah, no, I get it, but yeah yeah.
Amy (28:03):
No, I get it, I get it.
Garry (28:06):
That was your cheer.
Amy (28:07):
No, no, I didn't have any other cheers.
Garry (28:09):
Yeah, but then at the end at the gala, of course, they
have the gift wrapping contestand Mia wins the wrapping
contest the fastest wrapping.
Amy (28:20):
Best free wrap.
That's hers Best free wrap, yep.
Garry (28:23):
And prior to the contest, they're drawing names for
prizes and, lo and behold, Miawins a gift and it's the book
right.
Amy (28:34):
Right.
Garry (28:35):
And she's like wait a minute, I didn't put my name in
for it.
And she says let me see the jar.
Amy (28:40):
And how funny Her name is on every piece of paper, every
piece of paper, and then themayor's, like you know she's the
one he says somebody must havewanted you to have to have this.
Garry (28:51):
So she turns around and it's claire and right claire had
given her.
That was a good, that was agood scene, that was a good
turnaround, that's when clairesays I was horrid to you.
Amy (29:01):
You deserve so much more than that book.
Garry (29:03):
I was absolutely, you know like atrocious to you and
yeah, so and then, and then beaucomes in and they have their
little kiss they have a littlekissy kiss so what was it?
Did you have a tinsel topmoment?
Amy (29:19):
you go, did you have one?
Garry (29:21):
um, I just I.
I guess it would be when Clairecame around and gave her the
book.
Yeah, especially after the factthat because she thought the
book was gone forever, she gaveup her money, you know, to help
out her sister.
Amy (29:39):
I think I would agree with that, that and the coming
together of the sisters wherethey kind of had their
communication finally, yes.
I thought those two would be,you know, mean those are
probably equal to me.
Like, like you said, clairegiving well, donating the book
and then making sure me it wasthe winner yes in the raffle,
and then the two sisters finallyyou know, together, together
(30:03):
yeah, because their chemistrywasn't great.
At the beginning I didn't thinkit was a little awkward, but by
the end I felt like they wereable to bring it together, yes,
so yeah, those would be mytinsel topped moments.
Garry (30:15):
So, out of five ornaments , how many would you?
Amy (30:18):
hang.
I would probably hang three.
Okay, what about you?
Garry (30:25):
I had a 3.5.
You had a 3.5.
Amy (30:27):
You had a 3.5.
Yes, I almost said that like doI give a 3.5, but I mean a
solid three, that's not terribleit's not, it was enjoyable.
I don't regret watching it.
It goes with the story, youknow.
So, um, there were just somethings that were misses for me
and, like I said, I I lovekatherine davis and and I really
liked the actor who played Bo.
Garry (30:50):
Oh yeah, Nathan Witt.
Amy (30:52):
Oh, look at you, yes.
Garry (30:54):
Yeah so.
Amy (30:55):
I really liked him.
I just something was off inthis movie about it.
And you know, get them in theright vehicles and they're going
to shine.
Garry (31:05):
Yes.
Amy (31:05):
Right, even together.
I I mean I think they couldhave better chemistry, maybe
with a different script orsomething.
Or, like I said, the story wasI enjoyed the story, I enjoyed
the play on the prince and heactually shows up and go into a
costume.
I mean it was they had suchgood, like I said, you know,
good structure, good bones.
It just didn't quite cometogether the way I had hoped it
(31:27):
would.
Right, because I really do likeher.
Garry (31:29):
I think she's cute.
Amy (31:31):
And now we have.
So, as far as the prizes, wehave Best Rap, which is Tina in
the first movie and now we haveMia Best Free Rap so we have two
more to go Best in Bow andFastest Rap Ooh.
So we're going to see those inthe upcoming two movies.
Garry (31:48):
Alright, well, is that a?
Amy (31:49):
wrap.
Speaking of wrap, that's a wrap.
I see what you did there, yousee what I did there.
Garry (31:56):
Well, thanks for tuning in.
Be sure to follow the podcastwherever you listen so you don't
miss one.
Also, follow us on social mediaIf you really really like the
show.
We would really, reallyappreciate your positive review
on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyLike, really.
Amy (32:08):
Like really really, really, really really.
Garry (32:10):
And if you didn't really really like the show, we'd still
appreciate a positive review.
Amy (32:16):
We'll be dropping new podcast reviews of holidays and
the new to Hallmark Channelholiday movies every week in
July 2025.
So be sure to follow uswherever you get your podcasts
and on social media so you don'tmiss a thing.
Until then, fill up yourglasses and push play.
Thanks for listening.
Garry (32:34):
Cheers.
Welcome to Pour the Wine.
It's rom-com time where we'llsip some wine and review all
things rom-com on the HallmarkChannel.
I'm Amy.
Garry (00:14):
And I'm Gary.
And you're.
Amy (00:16):
A-pouring, a-pouring.
What are you pouring?
Garry (00:19):
I'm pouring a cab sav.
Amy (00:21):
today it's a cab sav, we're going in for the red.
Garry (00:24):
Yes.
Amy (00:27):
Should we get to it?
Let's get to it all right.
Today we're reviewing thesecond of the unwrapping
christmas movies mia's princethat first aired on hallmark
plus on thursday, november 14th2024 and then again on saturday,
july 12th 2025 on the hallmarkchannel sweet and and it is,
like I said, the second of fouras part of Christmas in July
(00:48):
2025.
Garry (00:49):
Oh Well, we would love it if you would click that follow
button on your favorite podcastplatform so you don't miss an
episode If you listen on Appleor Spotify.
You can also leave us a review,and we hope it's a positive
review.
Amy (01:04):
Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed, fingerscrossed.
Garry (01:06):
Yes, and you can also find us on YouTube and social
media Facebook, instagram, bluesky X and threads all the things
you can also email us at pourthe wine.
Amy (01:18):
It's rom-com time at gmailcom.
Yes, you can send us yourthoughts about how Christmas in
July is going so far.
Garry (01:25):
Yeah, is it hot or is it hot or anything?
Amy (01:31):
Hallmark, if you would like , and we will, maybe we'll read
it on the air.
Garry (01:35):
Yes, yep, our poor snowman, he melted.
Amy (01:38):
Our poor snowman.
Oh no, what snowman.
What are you talking about?
Garry (01:42):
No Christmas in July.
Oh, okay, I get it.
I was like wait a minute.
Amy (01:47):
I know I'm a little tired, but what?
Garry (01:49):
So who's in this one?
Amy (01:52):
All right, so we have the returning four stars that are up
here.
In each one, catherine Davisplays Mia Parker.
Of course, this is her movie,right?
Garry (02:02):
Yes.
Amy (02:03):
Cindy Busby plays Olivia Matheson, natalie Hall plays
Tina Mitchell and AshleyNewbrough plays Lily Morgan.
So so far we've had Tina'sMiracle.
Yes so we're working our waythrough them, huh.
Garry (02:17):
Yes, we are.
Amy (02:17):
All righty.
Also in this one are NathanWitt plays Beau Cavanaugh.
He plays the potentialboyfriend.
Yes For Mia.
In addition to the fourunwrapping Christmas movies,
he's been in a ton of Hallmarkproductions.
He was Spencer in the Wish Swapwhich was part of 2025's Love
you, Mary.
Garry (02:38):
Love.
Amy (02:38):
You, Mary, you keep getting to say that Bromance to the
Rescue in 2022.
That Bromance to the Rescue in2022.
The Nine Kittens of Christmas,A Christmas Treasure Sealed with
a Kiss, Wedding March 6th inSweet Carolina in 2021.
Garry (02:51):
He was busy.
Amy (02:53):
Some of his other work includes Suits LA in 2025.
Five episodes of Charmedbetween 2019 and 2025.
Riverdale he was in an episodein 2019 and A Million.
Little Things, he was in anepisode in 2019.
And A Million Little Things wonepisode in 2018.
What these actors?
Garry (03:10):
are all in these movie shows All over.
Amy (03:12):
Yeah, we have a common theme a lot of times, with the
shows.
Garry (03:14):
That's awesome.
Amy (03:15):
Lynette Ware plays Clara Cavanaugh For homework.
She was in Hearts Around theTable, kiki's Fourth Ingredient
in 2025.
And that also starred Catherine.
Garry (03:24):
Davis davis.
Amy (03:26):
Oh, okay, she was also in two turtle doves in 2019.
She's done several christmasproductions for other companies
right right.
Christmas revisited in 2023.
Santa's got style in 2022 andkatherine davis was in that one
with her as well.
Christmas in Rockwell andChristmas Roads Christmas, or
(03:47):
sorry Christmas Roads Christmas,country Roads Christmas and
that was also in 2022.
Some of her other work includesBrilliant Minds, which was a
brand new series in 2024.
She was in one episode.
She was in the series Hudsonand Rex for five episodes
between 2022 and 2023.
And she was in one episode ofthe Sopranos in 2007.
Garry (04:11):
Now we're talking.
Amy (04:12):
Brian Young plays Arthur Cole.
He is the owner of thebookstore in this.
This is his Hallmark premiere,and some of his other work
includes one episode of MurdochMyster in 2024, an episode of
warehouse 13 in 2012 and anepisode of covert affairs in
2010.
Oh wow, julia, barcelon,barcelino, sorry sorry about
(04:39):
that I should probably take asip of wine.
She plays penelope martin forhallmark.
She was in road trip romance in2022.
Some of her other work includesthe nanny sees all in 2025, the
perfect wedding in 2021 andthree episodes of a series
called bad roommate in 2019.
Nobody likes a bad roommatedarren baker plays the mayor,
(05:01):
mayor bets formark.
He will be in the upcoming Meltmy Heart this Christmas, which
is going to be part of Countdownto Christmas in 2025.
He's in all four UnwrappingChristmas movies.
He was also in EverythingPuppies and Romance with a Twist
in 2024 and Season for Love in2018.
Some of his other work includesEverything's Going to Be Great
(05:24):
in 2025.
That's what we need to say.
Everything's going to be great.
Everything's going to be great.
Three episodes of the TV seriesDoc in 2025.
A series called Painkiller hewas in four episodes of that in
2023.
Ghosts, which we really like,one episode in 2022.
And the movie Spot about thecatholic priest yeah yeah, in
(05:50):
2015.
Okay, tara o'brien plays ashlynparker.
This is her first hallmarkappearance.
She has 10 acting credits andfour of those 10 are shorts.
Prior to she was in Gray Matterin 2018 and two episodes of Bow
Banger in 2013.
Wow, wow.
Garry (06:10):
So is that it for the list?
Amy (06:11):
Wow, that's it for the list .
Garry (06:14):
All right, so is it time to drop the synopsis.
Amy (06:17):
I think we should drop the synopsis.
All right, Romance novelenthusiast Mia meets Bo.
Garry (06:20):
Romance novel enthusiast Mia meets Bo, a philanthropist
who is the spitting image of herfavorite book hero.
As they consider exploring anew romance, Bo's mother has
other ideas.
Amy (06:34):
Dun dun dun.
Now we will probably give awaysome spoilers, so if you haven't
watched it yet and don't wantto hear spoilers, push pause on
our podcast, go watch it andthen come back to our review.
Yes, please do, because wedon't want to give anything away
, but we also want to talk aboutthe entire movie.
That's our shtick.
It's a double-edged sword.
Garry (06:55):
Yes.
Amy (06:56):
All right, so shall we talk about first takes.
Garry (06:58):
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Sorry, I was taking a sip,that's all right.
Amy (07:01):
Sip away, sip, sip, hooray.
So yes, for me For you Allright, go for it, I love me an
opening scene when there's somesnow.
There's a flyover castle Yep.
Garry (07:14):
Oh, how beautiful it was right how beautiful.
And then you have these twocharacters, mia and Bo, who
struggle with saying no orsticking up for themselves.
Right, this is part of thisstory, right?
Mia with her sister, bo withhis mother.
And I kind of like how it seemslike they're playing the
(07:35):
characters that are in the book.
Amy (07:36):
That are there, each Right right, they're like in modern
day.
Garry (07:39):
But yeah, and the one of the and the book is what
Derbyshire?
Amy (07:44):
Christmas in Derbyshire?
What Derbyshire?
Uh, christmas in Derbyshire?
Yeah, it's hard to say.
Garry (07:48):
And I like how the uh, the the first two episodes kind
of play off each other, wherethey begin at the the store yes,
they're wrapping the four girlsand, um, they do their little,
uh, college cheer thing with thebracelet.
Amy (08:07):
Which is their address?
Right?
They say 426,.
Right, yeah, 4262, or somethinglike that.
Garry (08:11):
Oh, oh, I don't know if it's 426 or 462.
Amy (08:14):
426 Walnut Street.
Yes, I thought that was their.
Okay.
Yeah, that's their like.
Garry (08:19):
Yeah, their.
Amy (08:21):
Their cheer, right, yeah, their pep talk to get going for
the day, yep, yep.
So what do you think?
Um, as a second film in thecollection, I I mean it mostly
worked for me.
I thought it was enjoyable andpleasant and you know I love
katherine davis davis I thinkshe's so cute.
(08:41):
She's adorable, I think youknow I also liked Nathan Witt
I'm hoping I'm pronouncing hislast name correctly.
I mean their chemistry was okay, it was decent, but I mean good
overall story and subplots.
Garry (08:58):
Right.
Amy (08:59):
You know, I mean it was a great idea that had potential,
but for me it just didn't quiteget there.
Right there weren't misses, butit was just it was like almost
there, right, almost reallygreat.
I hate it.
I see that, you know, and Ithink, like I said, the
chemistry between the two ofthem was good, but there were
just some parts that I just Ithink fell flat and it didn't
(09:21):
overall, like you know, woo mein, you know right.
So, like you said, I love thebeginning, I loved, I love an
opening like that.
You know, it's like a fairy taleright right that you're kind of
getting into and and it's likethe bones were there.
It's just the structure nevercame together, totally for me
okay I see, so that's you knowit was enjoyable.
(09:42):
I mean it was pleasant.
But as a standout in thecollection I would For number
two I would say well it wasprobably good it was number two.
I'm glad it wasn't number one.
Garry (09:51):
Right.
Amy (09:52):
And I would hate to end on that.
Garry (09:54):
Right.
Amy (09:54):
Because of how I, you know, felt about it.
So I think it was good enoughfor number two.
That's sort of the way I feltabout it.
Garry (10:02):
Yeah, I kind of feel like she needs I don't know if it's
a good leading man or just abetter story.
You know what I mean, becauseshe's a great actress.
Amy (10:12):
Yeah, I think she has such potential, just given the right
vehicle Right and she was goodin Hearts Around the Table
collection.
Garry (10:19):
Yes, she was.
Amy (10:19):
I really enjoyed her in those movies, so we'll see.
So what about the meet cute?
So we have, and I did thinkthis was cute, I did think this
worked right, so she fallsasleep while she's reading yes
um in the store and she's gonethere because her sister has
popped in with a cat and she hasallergies.
(10:40):
Right, she has allergies to acat.
So she goes to the store andshe's reading her Christmas at
Derbyshire book and a guy knockson the door of the store and
he's dressed in a costume justlike her prince.
Right which is kind of funny.
Garry (10:55):
Yeah, because you don't know if she's still in the dream
, or if it's real.
Amy (11:00):
So he asks her to wrap a book.
He's going to a party, acostume party.
Garry (11:04):
Yeah.
Amy (11:05):
And he has to bring the gift right.
Yeah, he's bringing a book as agift to the party and I just I
mean, I thought it was cute.
The only thing I would say is,if the store is closed and him
still knocking and expecting tocome in, like should she really
answer it and let a strange manin the store Right, well, it was
funny, because he's like, willyou let me in?
Garry (11:27):
She goes, promise you won't rob me because the day
that I'm having.
I really don't.
That's true.
Amy (11:34):
She does, yeah, yes, Well, and then he says something like
it's kismet, and I had to lookthat up because I'm like what is
that?
And kismet means destiny orfate.
Garry (11:44):
Oh.
Amy (11:44):
Because he's like yes, it's kismet.
He says it really quick and Ithought that was kind of cute.
Garry (11:48):
I didn't hear that, I didn't catch that.
Amy (11:49):
So, other than the stranger danger part, I thought it
worked Right.
I thought it was cute.
Garry (11:54):
Yeah, it was really cute yeah.
Amy (12:07):
So what favorite scenes?
Um, I just like, how mia alwaysfell asleep on in.
Garry (12:09):
Yes, I have that is right , the way when she's right and
lily is the one that's alwayswaking her up.
Yeah, and it's so funny becauseshe's like mia.
Amy (12:15):
Again, again, yeah, I thought that was really cute.
I had that also and mia, andone of the times when she wakes
up she, she's calling out orthey say you know, like in
college she used to call out toEdward Cullen.
Yes, you know, and he's fromthe lead in the Twilight series,
the lead character.
Garry (12:33):
Right In the.
Amy (12:33):
Twilight series, and I think it was played by Robert
Pattinson.
Garry (12:37):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So I thought that was cute.
Yes, yes, yes.
Amy (12:41):
Yes, so it's a shout out to the vampire in Twilight.
Garry (12:45):
Yeah right.
Amy (12:45):
So anywho, but yeah, I had that also.
What else?
What else do you got?
For scenes that you loved.
Garry (12:51):
I just think that when she is also at the store, when
she's dancing, she's got someheadsets on.
Amy (13:00):
She's got a broom and she's dancing to that Christmas song.
Garry (13:02):
Yes, and then she bends down and she finds the $100 bill
, because Lily didn't believethat somebody had come to the
store the night before andtipped her $100 for wrapping the
gift Right right, she thought,maybe it was in her dreams, but
it had fallen underneath thecounter and she found it and she
gets up and she starts dancingagain.
And then Bo is standing rightbehind her.
Amy (13:25):
Kind of startles her, yeah, startles her, yeah, startles
her Right.
Garry (13:28):
Yeah, I thought that was another fun scene.
What about you?
Amy (13:30):
Yeah, I thought the scene was fun, but I have that a
little later, maybe in my cheerssection.
Garry (13:36):
Oh, cheers, yeah, Not cheers, not cheers, cheers.
Amy (13:40):
Another scene.
We'll get to that.
Another scene for me would havebeen the first bookstore scene.
I thought that was cute.
When she goes there, for on herlunch break she goes to the
bookstore and she talks toarthur and it does kind of
remind me of like um beauty andthe beast bell, where she loves
to go to the bookstore, andthere is a reference to bell at
some point in this.
I think they call her bell um,someone does I I gotta rewatch
(14:02):
again, yeah but she says Ibetter go check on my baby.
And that's when you find out.
She goes and sees this book.
It's the first edition of thebook that she reads every year
for Christmas, christmas inDerbyshire.
Right, right.
So I thought I really likedthat scene.
Yeah, I thought that was cute.
Garry (14:17):
Do you have any more?
I don't.
Amy (14:19):
You don't have any more.
I liked when Bo showed up atthe community center when she
was, when she was working.
She because he wanted to takeher out right again and she's
like, oh, I have plans, I'mgoing to be at the community
center yeah and and he goes andthey're serving food, right,
they're doing like like thedinner and um, or food, and
they're doing their lighting,their tree lighting.
(14:41):
So I thought it was cool thathe went.
They had some nice conversationand you know, you find out
she's been doing that for fiveyears.
She does charity work, you know, and he wants to see her again
and then she's you know, she'sgot stuff going on for the gala
which is a common theme.
Right, so the gala is coming upand she's been ordering things.
They've been coming in wrongand she needs help, but she
(15:03):
won't accept it which is exactlylike her character in Kiki's
Fourth Ingredient.
Yes, it is when she needs help,but she won't accept it.
So she plays the same characterin both of these films.
Garry (15:14):
And basically in that same Hearts.
Amy (15:18):
Around the Table.
Hearts Around the Table.
Garry (15:21):
The place to cook.
The food didn't burn out Rightright so kind of a similar
situation.
Amy (15:28):
And then you know she talks about how she was raised by her
grandmother and you find outhis father died when he was a
teenager.
So I just thought that wholescene really worked.
I always love the cookingscenes in Christmas movies, so
when Bo and Mia are cooking inthe kitchen, yes, the cookies,
yeah.
And he puts in too much vanillaright, so I thought that was
cute.
Garry (15:52):
You can see when Ashley comes in.
She's kind of upset because shedidn't get the job or a second
interview.
She tastes the cookie dough.
And just the look on her face.
Her sister, mia's sister, right, right, right, ashlyn, yeah,
yeah, it was so funny.
Yeah, I thought that was cute.
Amy (16:02):
She's like, hmm, this is not good.
And then the horse sanctuarywhen she's going to meet him at
the horse sanctuary, I thinkthat's on his property.
Garry (16:13):
I don't really know, somewhere at the stable.
Amy (16:15):
And then he kind of literally it's like her knight
rides up on the horse and she'slike you've got to be kidding me
I thought that that was reallycute and kind of quirky and fun
Prince in shining armor.
Yeah, yeah, I thought thatworked.
Garry (16:27):
Yeah, I like that scene too yeah.
So no more scenes for you, nonot favorite scenes, but can we
talk about the gift wrapping?
Yes, go ahead when he invitedher to his mom's book club party
to teach them how to do.
I think it's pronounced uhfuroshiki yeah, I think that's
(16:51):
how you pronounce which is ajapanese wrapping style, which
is um a method of wrapping itemsusing a square piece of cloth,
and I thought that was so cool,but man, how it was almost like
his mom.
Claire was very condescending.
Amy (17:07):
She was very condescending to her.
She was she's like yeah, thatwas a very cute little rapper,
or something she says yeah sheis condescending to her in that
scene, but it's cool.
The rapping style is cool.
I kind of like that.
Garry (17:21):
She did the wine bottle.
I have no skill to do that, butI thought it was yes.
Like to do that, but I thoughtit was yes.
Like how's she gonna do thewine bottle?
Amy (17:26):
but that was pretty cool well, and then when they, when
she puts the like the, the hollyberry right like the sprig in
there of of the things it looksso cool.
It reminds me of, like oldengland or something like so I
wonder if they did that.
So yeah, instead of paper ortape, they just she doesn't use
any tape she just wraps it witha cloth, yeah, yeah.
(17:47):
And the other ladies are like,oh, that's so beautiful and his
mom's just sitting there like sodid you have any chairs?
I had a few.
You mentioned one of them theopening scene yes where it's
like a snow-covered castle inthe woods and you, you know it's
a fairy tale, I mean rightyou're certain that it's not
really the start of it, right?
(18:08):
So, and she's what?
Running through the woods andthen there's a prince it almost
looks like little red robin hoodyeah, yeah, it does, it's just,
it's just kind of cool and shegets to use her natural english
accent in that scene which ispretty cool, that's, that's
right, because I think she'sfrom england.
Garry (18:24):
I think I think we found that out before.
Amy (18:26):
Yeah, that she's from England, so I thought that was
kind of cool.
She didn't have to do anAmerican accent in that part
where it really worked.
Garry (18:34):
Right, and it was funny because as he grabs her and
pulls her clothes and he startsto whisper something, it's
Lily's voice that comes through.
Amy (18:43):
Oh, yes, it wakes her up.
Yes.
So that's like the first timethat you know she does that.
So do you have any other cheers?
I?
I have a few more you.
The other one you meant youjust mentioned was the japanese
style wrapping I just thoughtthat was really cool.
I won't go into that again, butwhat about you?
I have a few more, but do youwant to go with one or two?
Garry (19:02):
um, I don't know, I like it.
Um, well, I don't know if Ishould say it because we haven't
gotten to near the end of themovie.
Ok, but I did like how likeLily Tina.
(19:25):
I think it was.
Yes, I'm sorry, ashlyn, cometogether to help Mia decorate
the house.
Amy (19:33):
Yeah, that was a good yeah.
Garry (19:35):
The house, and it's because she doesn't like to ask
for help.
Right and then I loved how theybrought some of the characters
from the first movie, likeMichael and his daughter.
Amy (19:47):
Hayley, isn't it?
Garry (19:48):
yes, she had her polar world camera and she was taking
pictures again and he was, hewas doing like wood he was
putting something togetherbecause we know he likes to
woodcraft and stuff.
Amy (19:57):
So yeah, it was pretty cool to see them so that was one of
my yes, cheers, I agree.
Garry (20:03):
And another one was when Mia gives Ashlyn her book money.
I thought it was very, very,very generous of her to do that
and it's because the caterer hadcanceled on her.
Amy (20:19):
Right, the last minute, right yeah.
Garry (20:24):
And she needed the money because her sister needed a job.
And she cooks, she caters, soshe gave her the money.
Because her sister needed a joband she cooks, she caters, so
she gave her the money to buythe food and the supplies and
the supplies and the cooking,whatever they needed.
Good on her man.
Amy (20:36):
Yeah, yeah, it was pretty cool and there's another reason,
but we want to hold on to that?
Garry (20:39):
Yes, we'll hold on to that For a little bit later.
Amy (20:41):
Right, I really for another cheer.
I really liked, how claire'scharacter came around you
mentioned it earlier like she'skind of mean at first, she's
kind of ascending she's rude.
She calls her the very skilledlittle rapper.
And then, right before that,when they're in the book club,
when her, when claire has herfriends over for the book club
(21:02):
and they're talking about annakarenina, which is a russian,
you know novel by tolstoy um,and she basically says uh,
sometimes love is not worth thedestruction of the public image.
And I was like oh, okay okay,well, you do you though I know
let love go, just so you canlook good.
You know and I so you kind of,you kind of get glim glimpses
(21:24):
that she wants things to be acertain way.
And you know she's demanding,demanding of Beau and of his
upcoming marriage, and she'sinsisting that they set up, you
know, a date.
And you know he's hesitant todo it because of course he
doesn't really love the personhe's engaged to.
And she doesn't love him.
You know, you find all that out, but the mom, but Claire,
(21:44):
doesn't know it yet, so she'strying to kind of force them
into this marriage, to set thedate, to go ahead and pull the
trigger, not knowing that hereally doesn't love her, because
she thinks he loves her.
And then I like how they, whenthey turn it around, when she
learns the truth yes that beaureally doesn't love penelope.
They're more like best friendsand penelope feels the same way.
(22:04):
He's not dumping her, they justthey're stuck in this to try to
please their parents, and youcan kind of see a light bulb
moment go off with her rightlike she's been forcing them too
much.
And then you know, towards theend then she says to me I have
been horrid to you and we don'thave that kind of turn of a
character quite so quickly notquickly, but I mean I guess it's
(22:24):
throughout the movie.
But I just liked that journeyof her particular character in
the film, so I that's a cheerfor me.
I thought that that was reallywell and it wasn't drawn out and
she didn't try, like stupid,silly little things, to sabotage
me.
Garry (22:39):
You know, it was just like Although she did do one
thing.
Amy (22:42):
She did one big thing, but it wasn't like little corny
things.
That happened throughout themovie.
Garry (22:48):
So I thought that worked really well, and the reason
being was she thought thatPenelope and Bo were in love
with each other, right and herecomes Mia, that's right.
Getting in between them.
Amy (22:57):
And she kind of sees her son looking at her a certain way
.
Garry (23:00):
So that's why she was being mean and trying to push
her away, right, but that'sstill no excuse to be mean to
somebody right, condescendingand make her feel less than yes,
but then she turns it aroundand she apologizes I liked the
arc of that character the fullcircle for that character did
you have any other cheer?
Amy (23:17):
do you have any other cheers?
No, I do not um, I thought thesister storyline worked well.
There were some parts thatmaybe didn't, but I just just.
You know the sister coming in,she's freshly divorced.
And then you know she's tryingto find a job and she's kind of
disrupting Mia's life, and thenthey have a conversation where
they're kind of what were theyrealize they not jealous of each
(23:41):
other?
Garry (23:41):
Right.
But they, they looked at eachother as their like hero.
Right Like Ashlyn looked up toMia because how successful she
was, and Mia looked up to hersister.
Amy (23:55):
That's right.
Garry (23:56):
Yes, because of how you know how successful she is?
Yeah.
What are we always saying?
Communication, right, it'salways communication.
Yeah, and you?
Amy (24:02):
know.
She thinks Mia has everything,like you said, the business, the
friends you know, and Mia tellsAshlyn that she was always
jealous of her because she wasoutgoing and Mia's not outgoing.
She's afraid to say what shethinks and feels.
So I like the storyline there.
I did like the messaging.
You know, like, take risksRight, use your voice, but we'll
(24:26):
get into the jeer of that also,okay.
So I have a jeer.
So any more cheers for you?
Garry (24:30):
no, I do not okay, are you done with yours?
Yes, okay, so let's go tocheers.
Amy (24:35):
Let's go to jeers.
You go first.
You got how many?
Do you have a few?
I?
Have, let's see a handful one,and it has to do with claire and
something oh, wow, okay, um,one year would be at the
beginning when mia hears theloud scuffle in her house and
she's like hello, who's there?
Garry (24:53):
you know, and I just thought, okay, it just was.
Amy (24:56):
I don't know.
I just it was a little toocheesy for me, right?
And then her sister, ashlyn,comes through the door and I'm
like, isn't she in the house?
Like why is the door close tothe living room?
I was confused by that yeahthat's not the front door.
Yeah, right, so that was alittle like baffling to me, yes
yeah, and then I have as another, jeer sweeping with the
(25:18):
headphones on that scene wascute, but then I was like why
would she do that if the storewas closed?
what what no, she would.
She would sweep if the storewas closed.
But why would she do that ifthe store was closed?
What no, she would sweep if thestore was closed.
But why would she do that ifthe store was open?
Because he walked in.
Garry (25:31):
Well, maybe she keeps the door unlocked and she was just
cleaning it up.
Amy (25:33):
Well, with your headphones on so you can't hear if somebody
comes in.
Garry (25:36):
Well, that's true.
Amy (25:37):
That's more of what I'm talking about.
Like the store was still open.
Garry (25:41):
Right.
Amy (25:41):
And she's acting like it's closed, but it's not.
Now.
I get sweeping early before theactual closing of the store.
Garry (25:48):
Right.
Amy (25:48):
But to have the headphones on and not be aware of what's
going on.
I mean, that's some unsafestuff, right?
Garry (25:53):
Right.
Amy (25:55):
It is.
And then, like I mentionedearlier about the messaging I
appreciated the messaging and itis true, but it was very
literal, like show us withouttelling us.
Garry (26:09):
Right.
Amy (26:09):
Right, because there's the you know, the Mia delivery of.
We all have a voice and it'sour own responsibility to use it
.
And I just felt, I mean sheacted much better than I did
right there, right, right, youknow, even if it means
disappointing others, and that'strue, but I just felt like it
was too forced, right, themessaging in the film it was too
.
I mean, they like spoon fed itto you and you don't really need
(26:32):
to do that.
Right, anyway, that was just mywhat about?
Okay, so what about your gear?
Garry (26:39):
you said oh, my gear is more of a character act in a
certain way, where, um so miagoes back to the bookstore and
finds out that the book was soldand arthur wasn't there.
He wasn't able to stop the sale.
So mia is like devastated andthen she finds out it was beau's
(27:03):
mom, claire, who had purchasedit, and prior to that Mia had
told Bo, in the presence of hismom, that she loved that first
edition, and it was at thebookstore.
Amy (27:16):
His mom overheard that and she had been saving for a long
time.
She was saving all her tips,right, yeah?
Garry (27:21):
Yeah, she was saving all her tips and I think she was
like $400 or $500 away.
She was close From having the$6,000 that the book cost and I
just didn't like the way she wascondescending because she was
calling her Maya instead of Miaand I don't know if that was on
purpose.
But you know, come on now.
Amy (27:41):
Well, and then Mia even corrects her.
You're an educated person, it'sMia.
Garry (27:44):
You know she's so shyly, but again, she didn't want her
to interfere with what shethought was a, you know, a
wedding coming up between Bo andPenelope.
Amy (27:54):
Right, but that was my jeer .
It was a dirty move, it was abad move, but it added to the
storyline.
Yeah, it did I mean that wasn'ttoo bad, but yeah.
Garry (28:02):
Yeah, no, I get it, but yeah yeah.
Amy (28:03):
No, I get it, I get it.
Garry (28:06):
That was your cheer.
Amy (28:07):
No, no, I didn't have any other cheers.
Garry (28:09):
Yeah, but then at the end at the gala, of course, they
have the gift wrapping contestand Mia wins the wrapping
contest the fastest wrapping.
Amy (28:20):
Best free wrap.
That's hers Best free wrap, yep.
Garry (28:23):
And prior to the contest, they're drawing names for
prizes and, lo and behold, Miawins a gift and it's the book
right.
Amy (28:34):
Right.
Garry (28:35):
And she's like wait a minute, I didn't put my name in
for it.
And she says let me see the jar.
Amy (28:40):
And how funny Her name is on every piece of paper, every
piece of paper, and then themayor's, like you know she's the
one he says somebody must havewanted you to have to have this.
Garry (28:51):
So she turns around and it's claire and right claire had
given her.
That was a good, that was agood scene, that was a good
turnaround, that's when clairesays I was horrid to you.
Amy (29:01):
You deserve so much more than that book.
Garry (29:03):
I was absolutely, you know like atrocious to you and
yeah, so and then, and then beaucomes in and they have their
little kiss they have a littlekissy kiss so what was it?
Did you have a tinsel topmoment?
Amy (29:19):
you go, did you have one?
Garry (29:21):
um, I just I.
I guess it would be when Clairecame around and gave her the
book.
Yeah, especially after the factthat because she thought the
book was gone forever, she gaveup her money, you know, to help
out her sister.
Amy (29:39):
I think I would agree with that, that and the coming
together of the sisters wherethey kind of had their
communication finally, yes.
I thought those two would be,you know, mean those are
probably equal to me.
Like, like you said, clairegiving well, donating the book
and then making sure me it wasthe winner yes in the raffle,
and then the two sisters finallyyou know, together, together
(30:03):
yeah, because their chemistrywasn't great.
At the beginning I didn't thinkit was a little awkward, but by
the end I felt like they wereable to bring it together, yes,
so yeah, those would be mytinsel topped moments.
Garry (30:15):
So, out of five ornaments , how many would you?
Amy (30:18):
hang.
I would probably hang three.
Okay, what about you?
Garry (30:25):
I had a 3.5.
You had a 3.5.
Amy (30:27):
You had a 3.5.
Yes, I almost said that like doI give a 3.5, but I mean a
solid three, that's not terribleit's not, it was enjoyable.
I don't regret watching it.
It goes with the story, youknow.
So, um, there were just somethings that were misses for me
and, like I said, I I lovekatherine davis and and I really
liked the actor who played Bo.
Garry (30:50):
Oh yeah, Nathan Witt.
Amy (30:52):
Oh, look at you, yes.
Garry (30:54):
Yeah so.
Amy (30:55):
I really liked him.
I just something was off inthis movie about it.
And you know, get them in theright vehicles and they're going
to shine.
Garry (31:05):
Yes.
Amy (31:05):
Right, even together.
I I mean I think they couldhave better chemistry, maybe
with a different script orsomething.
Or, like I said, the story wasI enjoyed the story, I enjoyed
the play on the prince and heactually shows up and go into a
costume.
I mean it was they had suchgood, like I said, you know,
good structure, good bones.
It just didn't quite cometogether the way I had hoped it
(31:27):
would.
Right, because I really do likeher.
Garry (31:29):
I think she's cute.
Amy (31:31):
And now we have.
So, as far as the prizes, wehave Best Rap, which is Tina in
the first movie and now we haveMia Best Free Rap so we have two
more to go Best in Bow andFastest Rap Ooh.
So we're going to see those inthe upcoming two movies.
Garry (31:48):
Alright, well, is that a?
Amy (31:49):
wrap.
Speaking of wrap, that's a wrap.
I see what you did there, yousee what I did there.
Garry (31:56):
Well, thanks for tuning in.
Be sure to follow the podcastwherever you listen so you don't
miss one.
Also, follow us on social mediaIf you really really like the
show.
We would really, reallyappreciate your positive review
on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyLike, really.
Amy (32:08):
Like really really, really, really really.
Garry (32:10):
And if you didn't really really like the show, we'd still
appreciate a positive review.
Amy (32:16):
We'll be dropping new podcast reviews of holidays and
the new to Hallmark Channelholiday movies every week in
July 2025.
So be sure to follow uswherever you get your podcasts
and on social media so you don'tmiss a thing.
Until then, fill up yourglasses and push play.
Thanks for listening.
Garry (32:34):
Cheers.
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