From an overdone storyline and weak character development to the less than stellar production value, 'Nantucket Noel' is somewhat of a disappointment, I'm afraid. That said, the movie did keep me moderately engaged throughout with some solid performances by the cast, which is a plus. The story centers on Christina (played by Sarah Power), a Nantucket native who recently inherited her mother's toy shop on the wharf after her passing, and Andy (played by Trevor Donovan), a confident and driven real estate developer who is spending Christmas with his father (played by Bruce Dawson) and daughter Wink (played by Payton Lepinski) in Nantucket. What is supposed to be a father-daughter Christmas begins to turn into a working holiday for Andy, as he is tasked with helping his father redevelop the wharf. This puts him in direct contact (or conflict) with Christina, who intends to save the Nantucket Warf, especially her mother's shop. As others have pointed out, the plot is well-trodden territory for Hallmark. Indeed, the writer even hints at this in the story. This alone is not a problem for me. Let's be clear, one of the reasons why Hallmark movies are so popular is because of their highly formulaic and predictable plots, which people seem to enjoy and take comfort in. However, the writing in this one had other flaws. There are issues around character development regarding, for example, Wink and her relationship with her father and Oscar (aka the father/grandfather). The dialogue too, at times, felt generic. That said, the ending was at least more realistic and the underlining message here was a noble one. What kept this movie afloat was the acting. Power and Donovan both had strong performances, I thought. Power, in particular, had some lovely scenes with Wink (Lepinski). Unlike other reviewers, I thought the chemistry was good. Though it took some time to develop on screen, the last 20 minutes were great, starting from the very convincing kissing scene. I also enjoyed the kooky and corky performances by Fiona Vroom (playing Harriet) and Daniel Bacon (playing Jacob). They were fun. Finally, I was very disappointed with the production value in this one, as Hallmark usually does an excellent job. For example, the shop looked like a shed that did not seem to have any consumers or sell very many toys. Indeed, the absence of people in the town, in general, felt a bit strange. I did like the lighthouse tree topper though. Very nice. All in all, 'Nantucket Noel' is a pretty ordinary Christmas movie, entertaining enough in the moment but easily forgotten once it ends.
35 Reviews
OK but slightly disappointing given the leads
Jackbv12320 November 2021
I agree with most of what was said by reviewer gfrasmd. Unoriginal premise, no magic, no thrills.
I have become a Trevor Donovan fan even though he isn't always spot on. In this movie, I think his character was caught between the two powerhouse characters of his dad and Christina. Throw in the strong influence of Wink, the daughter, and I think the character of Andy wasn't given a chance to shine.
I agree Christina was a little overreactive. Then suddenly, she wasn't. Either Power didn't show enough of Christina's softness early in the movie, or my years of seeing her as Abigail on Good Witch prevented me from seeing it. Based on her friends praises, it was clear that Christina had a history of being a giver.
Given the lack of screen time alone together, Andy's being overshadowed by the stronger characters, and Christina's overreactions, I give their chemistry a C-.
Oscar's character also did a personality change that was a bit too sudden.
I have become a Trevor Donovan fan even though he isn't always spot on. In this movie, I think his character was caught between the two powerhouse characters of his dad and Christina. Throw in the strong influence of Wink, the daughter, and I think the character of Andy wasn't given a chance to shine.
I agree Christina was a little overreactive. Then suddenly, she wasn't. Either Power didn't show enough of Christina's softness early in the movie, or my years of seeing her as Abigail on Good Witch prevented me from seeing it. Based on her friends praises, it was clear that Christina had a history of being a giver.
Given the lack of screen time alone together, Andy's being overshadowed by the stronger characters, and Christina's overreactions, I give their chemistry a C-.
Oscar's character also did a personality change that was a bit too sudden.
No Mountain View's on Nantucket
mal-gregoire-769-70495420 November 2021
Unoriginal, though well crafted.
gfrasmd20 November 2021
One more take on the " a mean developer wants to tear down my store" plot. This time, the victim is a little over-reactive and the developer not so mean, after all. In the end, predictably, everybody is nice, as Christmas time should dictate. No real thrills and no real magic. On the good side, the narrative flows well, the actors are good and the final product is clean and uplifting. So, not a memorable entry, yet a reasonable choice for spending an evening in this Christmas season.
Generic story but it worked.
Saving2128 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
There wasn't a big surprise in this movie, you knew the story and how it will end in the first half hour of the movie. But it worked. The actors were great and had great chemistry and that made it work and be enjoyable.
Not sure this movie will be remembered But to sit relax and enjoy Christmas movie, this movie fits .
Not sure this movie will be remembered But to sit relax and enjoy Christmas movie, this movie fits .
Watched based on Sarah power being lead!
txharrington3 December 2021
I watched this based on Sarah power being one of the leads. I love her in Good Witch. I liked how it dealt with a few real world issues and families of divorce. And I loved Molly. She is so sweet and liked her acting! I'm going to see if she's in anything else! And bring me more Sarah! Love her!!
FILM LOCATION WAS NOTHING LIKE NANTUCKET!
joe-892984 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Hallmark, when the very title of your movie is the location name, at least shoot on location. First off, Nantucket in December has no flowering bushes or green deciduous trees and blowing some white foam on them is a joke. Next, had anyone been to Nantucket Island? There are no mountains or mountain views from the beach. With that said, the storyline was weak and other than it was set in December, it really wasn't a Christmas movie. The actors are experienced and it should have been a better movie because of this. We watched it to the end and thought it was just "okay". We gave it a 6 because it had a happy ending.
Nantucket? Ha!
film_grrrl21 November 2021
Repetitive theme
MickyG3335 November 2023
6.6 stars.
Saw this last year, thought I had rated and reviewed it, evidently one of two things happened: I forgot to rate/review, or IMDB didn't accept it. This happens on occasion, maybe I wrote something not so PC, maybe there are some trigger words or some other oddities. I'm guessing I never did a review, because there would have been at least a star rating, but nothing...who cares and sorry for the major detour from my actual review.
And so this is a very cookie cutter film and very forgettable, because I have to fast forward through it just to familiarize myself once again. The only thing I sort of remember is there is a developer who wants to buy or renovate a commercial building on the whorf but is getting push back from the townsfolk...So I decided to get into it again and as I re-watch I'm noting a few things: I like all the actors very much, and I really enjoy the exciting interactions between the people of the town. They are so chummy and schemy...
The developers - father and son (lead male) are nice guys and the lead male is a good dad to his daughter and all that jazz. His daughter is very endearing and also the other secondaries are developed somewhat, and there is that usual friction between the son (lead male) and his father which caused the son to leave in the first place (I think that was how it went). This theme has been beat to death. Now, come to think of it, I swear I submitted a review of this film...where did it go? If I had to describe this film in one sentence I'd say: this is a Christmas advertisement that shows us a bunch of generic people celebrating a generic Christmas in Nantucket (obviously not filmed in Nantucket).
The montage with music at the end and the last 5 minutes was really amazing. I'll add three tenths of a star for it. 6.3 goes up to 6.6, rounded up to 7. Unfortunately it's not enough to watch it again. Goodbye Nantucket.
Saw this last year, thought I had rated and reviewed it, evidently one of two things happened: I forgot to rate/review, or IMDB didn't accept it. This happens on occasion, maybe I wrote something not so PC, maybe there are some trigger words or some other oddities. I'm guessing I never did a review, because there would have been at least a star rating, but nothing...who cares and sorry for the major detour from my actual review.
And so this is a very cookie cutter film and very forgettable, because I have to fast forward through it just to familiarize myself once again. The only thing I sort of remember is there is a developer who wants to buy or renovate a commercial building on the whorf but is getting push back from the townsfolk...So I decided to get into it again and as I re-watch I'm noting a few things: I like all the actors very much, and I really enjoy the exciting interactions between the people of the town. They are so chummy and schemy...
The developers - father and son (lead male) are nice guys and the lead male is a good dad to his daughter and all that jazz. His daughter is very endearing and also the other secondaries are developed somewhat, and there is that usual friction between the son (lead male) and his father which caused the son to leave in the first place (I think that was how it went). This theme has been beat to death. Now, come to think of it, I swear I submitted a review of this film...where did it go? If I had to describe this film in one sentence I'd say: this is a Christmas advertisement that shows us a bunch of generic people celebrating a generic Christmas in Nantucket (obviously not filmed in Nantucket).
The montage with music at the end and the last 5 minutes was really amazing. I'll add three tenths of a star for it. 6.3 goes up to 6.6, rounded up to 7. Unfortunately it's not enough to watch it again. Goodbye Nantucket.
Hallmark Needs Better Source Material
kschles-6790525 December 2021
I've liked Trevor Donovan in a number of Hallmark movies, but this movie was boring and terribly derivative. How many Hallmark movies have a cold hearted developer show up to destroy a charming local site? Whether it's an Inn, a store, a park, a tree, or whatever. It's well into the double digits. This was just bad.
Christmas magic
splashpont20 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Kudos to the screenplay writer who put the words "magic" and "the grey lady" on the lips of the main character played by Ms. Power, a co-star of the recently cancelled, though successful "Good Witch" series on the same network.
WINK
gudgeonville23 November 2021
Do not play a typical Hallmark drinking game with this one if you're going to drink every time you hear the little girls name. It WINK and it's said so many times it has totally distracted us from the actual movie, which is typical.
A Nantucket No
librau220 November 2021
Not a Christmas movie
dankolbet20 November 2021
There's one way to judge if a movie is a Christmas movie - the substitution test. If you could put any holiday in the place of Christmas and the movie still works, it's not a Christmas movie. This was a story that could have taken place anytime of year. Just because they pick out a tree (get to know you) or decorate gingerbread houses (the stuffed shirt has a heart) doesn't mean I get the Christmas feels. :(
An Enjoyable Movie
greta_meehan21 November 2021
This movie will be watched again and again in my household; I found it to be really uplifting as well as visually beautiful.
The story may be a little familiar (the developer taking over friendly mom and pop stores) but it's approached in a somewhat different manner and well written.
As to the actors, I found the whole cast to be exceptionally well chosen. Sarah Power and Trevor Donovan made excellent leads, and the young girl (Payton Lepinski) was perfect.
Overall, this movie was lovely, comforting and everything we enjoy in a Hallmark production.
The story may be a little familiar (the developer taking over friendly mom and pop stores) but it's approached in a somewhat different manner and well written.
As to the actors, I found the whole cast to be exceptionally well chosen. Sarah Power and Trevor Donovan made excellent leads, and the young girl (Payton Lepinski) was perfect.
Overall, this movie was lovely, comforting and everything we enjoy in a Hallmark production.
Christmas in Nantucket
TheLittleSongbird18 December 2021
Will agree with those that say that 'A Nantucket Noel' doesn't feel like a Christmas film, with the Christmas setting being underused. It did feel more like a late Fall Harvest film if anything. It was not as if expectations were low. Have liked Sarah Power and Trevor Donovan in other things, though Donovan is very inconsistent in his work with Hallmark. Nantucket is wonderful, haven't been there but have seen photos and was wowed. And while familiar, the story had potential to be heart-warming.
'A Nantucket Noel' underwhelmed me though, though more in a mixed feelings sort of way rather than outright hating it. It is not one of the very worst 2021 Hallmark Christmas films, despite being one of the few in the block to not feel like it was set at Christmas, though it is in the lesser half of the block. 'A Nantucket Noel' however was one of those films that this reviewer wanted to like a lot more. Not awful, but there is nothing special here.
To me, the acting was above average despite the flawed character writing. Power and Donovan give it everything they've got and make real efforts to make their characters interesting and engaging. Payton Lepinski is the standout of the rest, very cute and heartfelt while not being sickly sweet.
Despite the lack of authenticity in the setting, the scenery is still lovely and the photographers were clearly in love with it without being too much so. The music is pleasant and at least fits. There are some sweet and charming moments and while the romance is not developed enough Power and Donovan do have some nice low key spark.
However, a lot of things could have been done better. The story has its moments, but does nothing new with very familiar ground (everything here has been done before and better and that shows in the tired execution of most of it), so it was excessively predictable. It also felt too thin, with too little content to sustain the length and some of it was stretched out to compensate, and needed a tighter pace. While the acting is acceptable, the characters are typical Hallmark cliches with development that is never skin deep and not particularly likeable due to their flaws being exaggerated. Especially the father. The most likeable character is Lepinski's.
Furthermore, there are changes of heart that are too suddenly introduced out of nowhere and rushed, also not ringing true in the slightest when you take into account how they behaved throughout the rest of the film. The script can be too corny and could have done with a lighter edge, a bit too over-serious.
Concluding, not that bad but could have been a good deal better. 5/10.
'A Nantucket Noel' underwhelmed me though, though more in a mixed feelings sort of way rather than outright hating it. It is not one of the very worst 2021 Hallmark Christmas films, despite being one of the few in the block to not feel like it was set at Christmas, though it is in the lesser half of the block. 'A Nantucket Noel' however was one of those films that this reviewer wanted to like a lot more. Not awful, but there is nothing special here.
To me, the acting was above average despite the flawed character writing. Power and Donovan give it everything they've got and make real efforts to make their characters interesting and engaging. Payton Lepinski is the standout of the rest, very cute and heartfelt while not being sickly sweet.
Despite the lack of authenticity in the setting, the scenery is still lovely and the photographers were clearly in love with it without being too much so. The music is pleasant and at least fits. There are some sweet and charming moments and while the romance is not developed enough Power and Donovan do have some nice low key spark.
However, a lot of things could have been done better. The story has its moments, but does nothing new with very familiar ground (everything here has been done before and better and that shows in the tired execution of most of it), so it was excessively predictable. It also felt too thin, with too little content to sustain the length and some of it was stretched out to compensate, and needed a tighter pace. While the acting is acceptable, the characters are typical Hallmark cliches with development that is never skin deep and not particularly likeable due to their flaws being exaggerated. Especially the father. The most likeable character is Lepinski's.
Furthermore, there are changes of heart that are too suddenly introduced out of nowhere and rushed, also not ringing true in the slightest when you take into account how they behaved throughout the rest of the film. The script can be too corny and could have done with a lighter edge, a bit too over-serious.
Concluding, not that bad but could have been a good deal better. 5/10.
Definitely not Nantucket
joylaufle26 November 2021
We live and work in Nantucket every summer. I actually give walking tours of the downtown, so we know the island very well. The location in this movie is NOT Nantucket. After looking it up on IMDB, this movie was filmed in British Columbia and neither the town nor the surroundings looks anything like Nantucket. Since the setting was the whole reason we watched the movie, we ended up turning it off after about 20 minutes.
Nantucket is so picturesque, unique, and interesting - it's a shame they didn't choose to film the movie there. Hallmark, please don't set movies in one place and film them in another. It's very disappointing.
Nantucket is so picturesque, unique, and interesting - it's a shame they didn't choose to film the movie there. Hallmark, please don't set movies in one place and film them in another. It's very disappointing.
Nantucket Noel
JoBloTheMovieCritic27 November 2021
Another Hallmark winner
weymouthjack20 November 2021
Another feel good movie from Hallmark. Good story, great acting, and solid cast. Nice to escape the ills of the world and see it as it should be!
Nantucket is a great venue to showcase even if it wasn't shot on location.
Nantucket is a great venue to showcase even if it wasn't shot on location.
Yikes, skip this one
samhamilton-5642127 November 2021
I never have high expectations for Hallmark movies, and even I can't recommend spending your time watching this one. One, Nantucket is a truly unique and special place, and while I knew the movie would look nothing like it, it felt like they barely tried to make it charming and festive. The super imposed graphic of the lighthouse at the very end was also cringe-worthy. I know they reuse all the same filming locations in Vancouver, but since they specifically chose to base this movie in Nantucket, maybe they could have tried to make the scenery look even remotely close? The rock and tree stump lined shores (used for Chesapeake Shores) was pretty much the furthest thing from anything on the Eastern seaboard. It would have been better to not have made it based in Nantucket, and just called it "Seaside Noel," since absolutely nothing about this movie felt like an East coast seaside town. Lastly, the acting and writing was just horrible. Another reviewer said it felt like robots wrote this movie with "conversation formulas," and that's so accurate. The movie had no heart, no Hallmark Christmas magic, no feeling and barely any story. The side characters were completely forgettable, and the main actors were a total let down. They had zero chemistry. And while often, the leads in Hallmark movies have no chemistry, at least you have the scenery and Hallmark Christmas magic to fall back on (which is why most of us watch these movies, anyway). And I honestly couldn't get over the fact that the little girl was named Wink. WINK. How has no one commented on this, yet. The whole thing was just a disaster from start to finish. Which is too bad because Nantucket at Christmas is actually one of the most amazing places to see - so much potential to recreate a New England Christmas (the coziest of them all!) and instead we got this garbage.
Pass on this one
LtlHippo24 November 2021
I really wanted to like this since I grew to love the lead on The Good Witch. No chemistry in this movie, Trevor is a bad actor. The scenery was awful, did not look like Nantucket in the winter time. Give Sarah another chance in another movie.
Just ok
gailahearn22 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
All right movie to pass some time. The problem is that the main characters have absolutely no chemistry together. I was hoping the character Andy what finally meet his true love. But no, just continued on and on till it ended.
Another one I almost skipped because of the bad reviews. Glad I gave it a chance!!
smithduke20 February 2022
I've been hard on Trevor Donovan lately because some of his characters have been unrealistic and flighty. However, this was an enjoyable movie, and the character he played had heart. Yes, it's a typical Hallmark storyline that Hallmark seems to be stuck on. The plot is a developer wants to tear down the existing charming buildings for a more modern complex. The two warring parties start falling in love. I felt this movie was done well, and I didn't find it boring as some other reviewers thought it was. As for this being set in Nantucket, it's laughable, and it's obvious it was filmed in BC. Nonetheless, the scenery was beautiful!!! This is certainly worthy of watching over again!
Another blah movie
drbreakwell21 November 2021
Why does Hallmark always add "snow" onto green leaves in these movies? The story line is weak. Yet, the star is we'll known from "Good Witch," the character isn't the one for her. It's predictable. So boring I almost fell asleep.
Not one of their better ones
timmymcd-4325220 November 2021
While the acting was fine (at least by the two leads) The fact that not a single person in the movie had anything close to a Massachusetts / Nantucket accent is rather frustrating. Also, where were all the cranberries and scrod?
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