One of my favorite times on Countdown to Christmas movies is when they have a Hannukkah movie. I do believe that they need more, if we’re being honest. I think that it’s important that we celebrate all that we can. I also think that it’s important that we learn about different religions, their beliefs, and that we learn acceptance.
I know that people may not agree with me on that, but I half expect that from people. It doesn’t change my thoughts.
What is special about movies from Hallmark is that they are working their hardest to embrace all. You don’t see that from every network and it’s hard to watch.
Now, I’ll step off my soap box for a second, but I will tell you again and again that Round and Round is special. It’s a movie that inspires, shows you the joy in finding your way, and that for everything in life there are consequences for choices.
But those consequences aren’t always something bad and that sometimes you may need a little guidance, but you will find your way.
It also about belief in ones self – that you don’t need to settle and you can confront the things that may not be perfect, but you’re trying. Trying, being honest, and celebrating who you are is important.
People tell me that I read too much into these movies sometimes, but I am good with who I am and the joy I find in Hallmark movies.
And I am great with the joy that I find in this one.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: It’s the seventh night of Hanukkah and assistant literary editor Rachel (Michaelis) is headed to her family’s annual party, which celebrates both Hanukkah and the anniversary of her parents’ first meeting. When Rachel’s boyfriend Adam, (David Attar) can’t make the party, her prone-to-meddling Grandma Rosie, (Paula Shaw) introduces her to Zach (Greenberg), a nerdy art instructor, who’s decidedly not her type. But Rachel and Zach have met before – he crashed into her that morning at the train station, spilling the box of her family’s favorite sufganiyot she was taking to the party. Later in the night, a surprisingly competitive game of dreidel triggers a shocking turn of events. The next morning, Rachel wakes up to discover it’s somehow still the day of her parents’ party and that she’s destined to repeat the seventh night of Hanukkah over and over again. Each time Rachel gets on the train to the party, she’s more determined to find answers and break the cycle. And each time, she finds herself crossing paths with Zach who, given his love of all things comic books and sci-fi, is the one person who understands what’s happening. With help from the employees of Zach’s beloved local comic bookstore, Rachel and Zach make an unlikely, mismatched pair of detectives as they solve mysteries nestled throughout the story.
WHAT IT’S GIVING: Groundhog Day
STANDOUT PERFORMANCE: Vic Michaelis. What a great actress she is. Captivating performance.
GRINCH-ISH THOUGHTS: There is so much about this movie that I loved and I am normally not one for time loop movies. After all, being stuck in a time loop is a nightmare. BUT, as I said there was just so much to love about Round and Round.
Rachel (Vic Michaelis) is living her life and is under a lot of pressure (from herself) to have the perfect life. She wants to be in a relationship and bring home her boyfriend, Adam. After all it’s the seventh night of Hanukkah and this is important in her family. In her family, the seventh night is when most become engaged and find their true love.
But Adam cancels on her and then to top it off, the hot crashed into her the morning at the train station, spilling the box of her family’s favorite sufganiyot. Nothing is going her way, but she’s still trying to be strong and persevere, even when her family has a lot to say in a group chat about Adam not showing.
Her Grandma isn’t upset though. She’s trying to set her up with a guy that she thinks is perfect for her. It turns out that it’s the guy that ran into her. Rachel acts like she doesn’t really like him, but I think that she does. I think that she’s just frustrated with everything.
But here’s the thing about this movie, Vic Michaelis, brings Rachel to life with such grace and fierceness that you can’t help but be so invested in Rachel and her finding her way. You’re cheering for her as if she’s your best friend and you want to help her find her way. You’re trying to help her find her way and make sure that she sees what is right in front of her.
And that is Zach – played by Brian Greenberg. Now, yes, I am a diehard One Tree Hill fan, so here we are and I am always going to love my OTH actors. But the thing is the way that Michaelis and Greenberg have on screen chemistry is why I love everything about them.
I love the way that they bring their characters to life. I love the way that over the course of the time loop, they are able to convince me that Zach would believe Rachel. I mean, if someone came to you and said they were in a time loop, would you believe them?
As they try to figure out the time loop and what is happening, they figure out that it had to do with a dreidel that her Grandma gave her. While I would be pissed at my Grandma, she’s not mad, but is going to figure this out.
Now, I thought that I would be okay when the time loop broke, but I wasn’t. Partially because everyone in the family knew about the magical dreidel but Rachel. However, it was hard to see Rachel know that she loved Zach, but he didn’t remember shit.
How miserable I would have been to have fallen in love with someone and they can’t remember me. My heart would break. I don’t think I would be able to handle it. What can I say, I am emotional.
I love, love (though respectfully, I will be denying that for the rest of my life).
We all know that we’re going to get a happy ending. It wasn’t the ending that I thought it would be, but it was perfection.
This movie was just the type of movie that made you laugh, scream, and smirk. I enjoyed every moment. I enjoyed the acting. I enjoyed the script.
And we all know I don’t say that about everything.
HOLIDAY CHEER: 🎄🎄🎄.75
