disappointed

I think you are being too hard on this humble movie. The writing was pretty poor: I particularly disliked how the forced conflict gets resolved almost immediately, but I don't see how that was the actors' fault, (well, Rick Fox was a far better basketball player than actor). Agreed that the two leads were lacking in chemistry, but I thought Michelle T was her typically charismatic self when opposite her character's friends/family/ex and the kids, basically everyone else.

I agree. could not finish it. Very disappointed in Michelle Trachtenburg.

The story-line seemed no more trite than any number of Christmas movies though agree the movie is somewhat disappointing. The heavy ex-bf/jerk especially was annoying. The no comment interracial nature of the romance and how a black boy helped a needy white girl also was a nice touch, but maybe some might see that as part of the heavy-handiness?

This wasn't too bad up until the typical Hallmark moment when there is a misunderstanding between the characters and the heroine just stands there struck dumb without explaining things forcefully at the time and then just goes off in a funk without trying to clear things up. That was so out of character for her, but as I said , it's an annoying Hallmark plot device.