Yes folks another Hallmark plot to save something, in the past they've saved a wine business, a farm, a restaurant, a micro brewery, and even Christmas! This time the story involves SAVING AN ICE PALACE, (which is actually a skating rink and center of the small town festivities, "palace" makes it sound more important) Journalist, Lori, played by Celeste Desjardins faces her fears regarding a skating incident that happened from her past, and returns to her hometown to do a story. She meets the ice rink owner, Mark, played by Marcus Rosner, who is attempting to save the rink from greedy developers. All the while this is going on, there's a subplot where Lori also helps Mark's young daughter,Zoe, to try to realize her skating dreams, as Lori reflects on her own life. The movie is very predictable but the chemistry between Mark and Lori captures your attention. And Marc Rosner is one of my favorite actors and he's hot, hot, hot! It's just another pleasant "guilty pleasure" movie from Hallmark.

There is nothing wrong with the concept of this movie. On paper, it should be a pretty good tv Christmas movie. But then things went wrong...

First, I'll start with the obvious, too obvious, actually. I hate to be the one that critises a movie based on the makeup of the leading lady but it's quite the eyesore. Why must you give her duckface lips? WHY? What's wrong with her normal lipline? Also, do we really have to make her eyes look extra droopy with the weird eyeshadow contouring thing? The makeup people made the leading lady, whose face is constantly close to the camera, look like a droopy duckface. Maybe it's not such an eyesore when you're watching at a distance but with computer streaming and high quality screens and cameras, it's really just unacceptable.

Secondly, where is the romance? If you told me this was about two friends instead of a couple, I might've reconsidered my rating. There was just no chemistry at all and the only bit of romance we got was a very awkward little peck on the lips. Just because a movie is family friendly, doesn't mean there can't be any romance. There are a few little attempts at compliments from the leading man which were mildly convincing, but this appears to be because he's a far more natural actor.

Thirdly, Celeste Desjardins performance is lacking in quality. She's not super bad but she's too uptight in this movie. It doesn't come across as a character being "themselves" but rather as an actress that put on the character's costume and is playing until someone yells "cut". While this is of course how acting works, the viewer is not supposed feel that. Her performance is just not credible enough for a leading role. I was waiting for her to drop the fake smile and the "Lori" act and for someone to yell "cut".

On the plus side, the story is good, there was no fake snow that was painfully, obviously fake, I love the ice skating theme, and Marcus Rosner kind of saved this movie acting wise.

Not a complete waste of time but with a little more effort and attention to detail, it could've been far more enjoyable to sit through.