Maybe it’s the time of year and maybe it’s the fact that I can always wonder about the things I want to accomplish and am not doing those things. Look, I live a great life, I know that. That being said, I believe that a lot of us have parts of us that we feel that we could do more with. That we’re just existing through.
And that’s why we make resolutions.
To challenge us. To make us grow. To give ourselves something to look forward to. Sometimes we need someone to push us forward. We need someone to hold us accountable and make us know that we can do anything that we set our minds to. Life isn’t this thing that you’re meant to exist through, it’s something that you’re supposed to live.
What I partially loved the most about this movie was that we saw this from both sides. We saw that no matter how much money you have, you can be existing through life. Living isn’t about money, it’s about heart.
It’s about perseverance.
It’s about being open to possibilities.
Personally, I love a good enemies to love tale and Sealed With A List was definitely one of those. It’s one that moves slow and one that feels natural. It’s one that you can believe in and that’s not always the case with movies. Sometimes it feels forced.
But here we are with a movie that feels natural.
I think that Hallmark has done the best that they could with strikes and everything else going on this year, when it comes to Countdown to Christmas. That being said though, it wasn’t a really bad season. We had movies that really touched hearts. This being one of them.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: A year ago, Carley Kinkaid (Kate Findlay) told her best friend Jamie (Kelcey Mawema) that another year would not go by without making some life changes and she even created a New Year’s resolution checklist. So, when she’s passed over for a promotion she’s more than qualified for, in favor of her boss’ son Wyatt (Evan Roderick), Carley seizes the opportunity and quits. After revisiting last year’s list, she gives herself 31 days to complete everything on it. Disinterested in anything other than his trust fund, Wyatt proves he’s completely wrong for the position and tries making amends. Realizing his carefree approach to life might be what she needs to get on with hers, Carley makes the surprising decision to enlist his aid. With Wyatt now cut off by daddy till he proves himself, the two strike a deal – she’ll teach him independence, while he’ll help her move out of her responsible comfort zone. As the pair whittles down her list, Carley begins to realize her initial opinion of Wyatt may have been off the mark. With her new-found confidence and his newly formed independence these two complete opposites may strike the perfect balance.
WHAT IT’S GIVING: Growth
STANDOUT PERFORMANCE: Kate Findlay. She was all sorts of fun – but most of al couldn’t stop laughing when her character was laughing. She brought to life Carley with such ease, relatability, and so much heart – that you can’t help but believe that Carley could be anyone that you know.
GRINCH-ISH THOUGHTS: Have you ever been in a position in life where you feel stuck and that there is no way out? Have you ever been in a position where you feel like you can grow – that you deserve to grow – and that’s taken from you? Well, that’s where Carley is when her promotion is taken from her because of nepotism. It’s a lot for her to take.
But she settles into her job and doing as her boss asked – to train the replacement. She also at the same point – makes a deal with her best friend, that she’s going to make changes in her life. So, like a lot of us do, she makes a list of resolutions and finds herself a year later, stuck in the same place and doing the same thing.
Nothing has changed.
So, she decides to take the blame when her boss makes a mistake. This way, she’s doing something to change her life, but it costs her her job. This makes me hard to think that this is in todays economy, because like – no one can afford to give a job up.
It’s Wyatt and Carley’s friendship that makes this movie fun. The chemistry between Roderick and Findlay is undeniable. They are just so captivating. Their friendship is believable. The chemistry between the two is why you can’t stop watching this movie.
It’s their chemistry that makes the trope (enemies to lovers) of this movie work. You believe that these characters are falling for each other. You believe that they are going to push each other to make dreams come true. You believe that you’re watching love unfold.
But you also believe that you’re watching them heal. You can’t help but watch and think how lucky they are that they don’t push each other, but they guide each other. It’s something that is special to watch, because not all onscreen couples have what they have.
Watching Sealed With A List, I was reminded of the complications that life gives us, but also the way that we can move forward and learn. The way that people can influence us and challenge us and make us better people. The way that people can see in us what we don’t want to see in ourselves.
But maybe it’s peoples belief in who we are that motivates us, when we’re lucky enough that they see us for who we are.
Sealed With A List was a surprising delight. It made me – ALMOST – want to celebrate the holidays. I say, almost.
That’s an accomplishment in itself.
CHRISTMAS CHEER: 🎄🎄🎄.5