Hallmark's Signed, Sealed, Delivered For Christmas

Pour the Wine, It's Rom-Com Time kicks off their Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie review series with For Christmas! Join Garry and Amy as they follow the POstables, who are working overtime to reroute Santa’s mail. When a heartfelt letter from a young girl with a critically ill mother arrives, what begins as a simple delivery becomes a profound journey as each POstable confronts their own painful holiday memories. Will this special delivery help the POstables rediscover the true meaning of the season? Tune in now to find out!

Send us an email to pourthewineitsromcomtime@gmail.com! We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/mood-of-summer

Chapters

• 0:08 Welcome to Pour the Wine
• 1:03 Why We're Reviewing Signed, Sealed, Delivered
• 3:10 Cast Background and Character Introductions
• 10:40 Movie Synopsis and Hallmark Trivia
• 17:00 Favorite Scenes and Character Moments
• 30:24 The Powerful Chapel Scene
• 37:32 Oliver and Shane's Emotional Connection
• 42:37 Final Thoughts and Ratings

Transcript

Amy 0:08

Welcome to Pour the Wine. It's rom-com time where we'll sip some wine and review all things. Rom-com on the Homework channel. I'm Amy.

Garry 0:15

And I'm Gary.

Amy 0:16

Do you think it's time to pour the wine?

Garry 0:17

finally, it's a Friday and it's time to pour the wine.

Amy 0:20

It's time it is definitely time to pour the wine.

Garry 0:22

What are?

Amy 0:22

we pouring.

Garry 0:24

We have an El Azteco.

Amy 0:26

El Azteco. We've never tried this one, no, so we decided to try it.

Garry 0:30

Yeah, it's a cap sap from Argentina. Oh, a 2023.

Amy 0:34

Oh, excuse you, vintage, and it's got 93 James suckling points, so we like to buy wines that he has rated because we watched a masterclass.

Garry 0:47

Yes, that he was giving because he's a sommelier.

Amy 0:51

A sommelier. Yeah, that's a tough word to say A sommelier.

Garry 0:55

It's very good, very interesting. Yes, it was, and we learned a lot from it.

Why We're Reviewing Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Amy 0:58

Yeah, I think that's the only masterclass we watched in a year of masterclasses. Anyhoo, we watched in a year of masterclasses.

Garry 1:03

Anywho.

Amy 1:03

Anywho, today we're going to be reviewing Sign Seal Delivered for Christmas that aired on November 23rd 2014.

Garry 1:15

And you can watch it now on Hallmark Plus. Yes, you can, which is where we watched it. Yes, we did so. Let's tell the people why we decided to start reviewing this series. That's probably a good idea.

Amy 1:23

Yeah, I think so, well when we saw that the latest Science Heal Delivered movie was going to be on the Hallmark Channel.

Garry 1:31

To the.

Amy 1:32

Moon and Back. We realized we'd never seen any of them. Not the series, not the movies. So to prepare for that movie, we watched the pilot movie or the first movie. I'm not sure what they consider it and then we watched the pilot movie or the first movie. I'm not sure what they consider it.

Garry 1:46

Right.

Amy 1:46

And then we watched the series. There was no way we'd be able to watch all of the movies All of them. There was just no way, Because there was like what 14?

Garry 1:53

or?

Amy 1:53

whatever. So yeah, so we got that much in before we watched To the Moon and Back Right, and then we liked To the Moon and Back so much we decided that we were going to go back and watch all the movies in chronological order Chronological order.

Amy 2:10

Yeah, and somebody on social media was nice enough to give us a list of every movie in order, and the series and the pilot movie, everything that aired in order, so that we have a list, we have it handy, I don't have to go research it. So thank you very much.

Garry 2:28

Yes, thank you.

Amy 2:28

You know who you are, and we're going to watch it in order.

Garry 2:32

Yes.

Amy 2:32

So there you go. That's why we're watching, that's why we're reviewing I'm sorry, we've already watched Before Christmas. That's why we're reviewing For Christmas.

Garry 2:47

Christmas, this is the first movie that aired after the pilot movie, then the series and now it's for Christmas. Yep, we are going to be adding bonus podcast episodes of each of the SSD movies as we watch them.

Amy 2:54

We sure are.

Garry 2:54

Yeah, I know it's going to be fun. Yeah, so, people out there, be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast platform and on social media so you don't miss one of our bonus episodes.

Cast Background and Character Introductions

Amy 3:07

Correct or any episode. Yeah, but this one especially but this one especially, but the SSD movies especially.

Garry 3:13

Yes, so tell us who's in this one. All right here we go, will I take a sip of wine?

Amy 3:18

Oh, take your sip of wine, you're going to need it. Yes, I am. So we always start with the fab four, right, the fab four postables. Yes, eric Mabeus plays Oliver O'Toole. His hallmark work goes back to 2012 with how to Fall in Love. The Signed, sealed, delivered series ran one season during 2013 to 2014. And what's interesting here is that if you look on IMDb at the listing of the episodes, they have a season one episode zero listed simply as signed, sealed, delivered.

Garry 3:49

Right.

Amy 3:50

On the Hallmark Channel website that's listed as SSD movie number one outside of the series. So we've kind of heard Eric say we're still trying to figure out the discrepancy there. Maybe one of the postables online can help us with that for sure, let us know because I've heard eric even say in interviews that he's not sure which um, excuse me, which one is right what? What number they're at?

Amy 4:15

right basically when they go through the movies um, outside of science, he'll delivered for hallmark. He was also in in Haul Out the Holly, lit Up in 2023 and Haul Out the Holly in 2022. And it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in 2019. Of course, we know and love him from Ugly Betty, where he played Daniel Mead, which aired from 2006 to 2010.

Garry 4:42

And man did. I love that show.

Amy 4:44

Such a good show. If you haven't watched it, go watch it.

Garry 4:48

Yeah, you got me hooked on that one. It's so good.

Amy 4:50

They're half an hour episodes. Yes, it's so funny. There's a lot of heart to it.

Garry 4:55

Corkiness.

Amy 4:56

Yes, yes, it's so, so good, and he's really good in it. He was also in seven episodes of Chicago Fire in 2015, and he was in two episodes of Party of Five with Mrs Hallmark herself Lacey, Chabert Lacey. He was in Party of Five in 1999.

Garry 5:15

Oh yeah.

Amy 5:16

Kristen Booth plays Shane McInerney.

Garry 5:20

I have a hard time with her last name. I try.

Amy 5:22

Just call her, shane, I try, I try, just call her Shane I try, I try For Hallmark. She has starred in all of the SSD movies and the series. She was in Mystery Island, Winter Takes All in 2025, the Christmas Charade in 2024, and Shifting Gears in 2024. She has also appeared in other work, like Cross three episodes in 2024. The Boys in 2022. She was in four episode of that man?

Garry 5:50

is that a wild one?

Amy 5:51

yes, it was working moms eight episodes in 2021 to 2022, and she also played ethel kennedy in the kennedys for eight episodes in 2011. And then she was also in the Kennedys after Camelot Four episodes in 2017. That's the one where Katie Holmes played Jackie Kennedy.

Garry 6:11

Katie Holmes.

Amy 6:13

Jan Kay Crystal Lowe plays Rita Hayworth. I almost say Rita Hayworth, it's so easy it wants to roll right off the tongue.

Garry 6:21

For Hallmark.

Amy 6:26

She, too, has been part of the SSD family from the beginning. She's been in a few other movies the wish swap in 2025, which was so cute. She was really good in that. Uh, which was part of hallmark's loveuary this past year, which you like to say. She was in christmas at dollywood in 2019 and flipped that romance in 2019. Okay, she was was in Christmas at Holly Lodge in 2017 and Marry Me at Christmas. Her first acting credit is one episode of Stargate SG-1 in 1997.

Amy 6:54

I love that series and do you know what she is currently in.

Garry 6:58

What.

Amy 6:58

The latest Final Destination movie that just dropped.

Garry 7:01

Get out of here. I think it dropped this weekend. Yeah, I'm not going to see that one. Going to see the theaters?

Amy 7:05

no, we saw several of them, yes and um we enjoyed them. We have some of our kids a few of our kids really like them and they always want to go. We got invited this year and we were just I can't do it, it makes me when we watch the trailer.

Garry 7:21

I'm just, I can't do it. It freaks me out. It freaks me out. The scenes I can't do is when it freaks me out.

Amy 7:24

It freaks me out.

Garry 7:25

The scenes I can't do is when a person walks out on the street, turns around, starts talking and then bam, gets hit by a bus. Yeah, I hate that. Yeah, I hate that scene. The older I get, the less I can take that kind of stuff. Yep, I just can't do it.

Amy 7:40

I'm sure she's great in it. Go see it. People Go see it. I'm sure it's great, but I just can't stomach that.

Garry 7:45

Nope.

Amy 7:46

All right. Jeff Gustafson plays Norman For Hallmark. He's part of the Fab Four that's been in the SSD family from the beginning. Other films to mention are Season's Greetings from Cherry Lane, where he played a postman.

Garry 7:58

Yes, he did.

Amy 7:59

Fitting he's typecast, that was in 2024. He was in three wise men and a baby in 2022, the 27 hour day in 2021 and wedding every weekend in 2020. He's also been in under the bridge, which was a mini series. One episode in 2024, the series wilderness three episodes in 2023, once upon a time once upon a time four episodes between 2012 and 2016.

Amy 8:26

And I find a lot of these actors and actresses have been in Once Upon a Time. That's another one Kind of like Grey's Anatomy. Everyone was in Grey's Anatomy and ER back in the day.

Garry 8:36

Wherever that stepping stone is.

Amy 8:38

Jeff was also in Bates Motel. He was in one episode in 2014. Rob Estes plays Jordan.

Garry 8:46

His.

Amy 8:46

Hallmark projects include an episode of Wind Calls the Heart in 2019 and Science Seal Delivered Home Again in 2017. So he comes back in another movie, Ooh that's going to be good. His most recent work includes the Italians in 2025 and Beautiful Wedding in 2024. His most recent work includes the Italians in 2025 and Beautiful Wedding in 2024. He's also been in several series like CSI, cyber and CSI, crime Scene Investigation, 90210, melrose Place, silk Stockings and, of course, he was in Days of Our Lives for 89 episodes from 1986 to 1987.

Amy 9:21

You can really rack up some episodes on soap operas.

Garry 9:23

Yes, you can.

Amy 9:24

Because they're daily. Yep, or they were daily. I don't know how many are still airing Marion Ross plays Marion. Oh, big shock, how do?

Garry 9:37

you sum up her work.

Amy 9:38

I mean, it's Marion freaking Ross. Yeah Right, she has nearly 200 acting credits. Her very first one was in 1953 in the movie forever female. She was in so many series and movies. Her last work was a voice in SpongeBob square pants. She was in five episodes. She voiced in five episodes from 2001 to 2024. That can't be right. Okay, sorry about that. In fact, I found actually several other animated series in which she voiced Sylvester and Tweety in 1997.

Garry 10:11

Sylvester.

Amy 10:12

Wild Thornberries and Superman.

Garry 10:15

Good gracious.

Amy 10:16

She was in one episode of the newest version of the Odd Couple in 2016. She's had lots of guest appearances in an episode Two and a Half Men Major Crimes the Middle Hot in Cleveland. She's had lots of guest appearances in an episode Two and a Half Men Major Crimes the Middle Hot in Cleveland. Grey's Anatomy like I just said, and of course, she's best known as Marion Cunningham in 255 episodes of Happy Days.

Garry 10:38

Happy Days.

Movie Synopsis and Hallmark Trivia

Amy 10:39

From 1974. Happy Wednesday 1984. You want to keep singing that while?

Garry 10:44

you do the rest of you.

Amy 10:45

Give me the background background music yeah sunday, monday happy days ava tilly tellick. Tillick maybe plays hannah. She was a little girl in this movie, yes, but she's almost 20 now. She's been in several homework productions, including gilded newporties, murder at the Breakers in 2024, my Christmas Family Tree in 2021, christmas she Wrote in 2020, and Finding Santa in 2017. Some of her other work includes four episodes of Happy Face in 2024, an episode of Riverdale in 2018,.

Amy 11:23

And an episode of drumroll Once Upon a Time in 2014. Man Kaj Erik Erikson plays Rob Hannah's dad For Hallmark. He was in A Christmas Detour in 2015 and Time After Time in 2011. Some of his other work includes two episodes of Virgin River in 2024, one episode of the Irrational in 2023, and 17 episodes of the 4400 between 2004 and 2007. Marcy T House plays Odette.

Amy 11:58

She has many, many Hallmark productions and some of them are Scouting for Christmas in 2024, christmas in Evergreen Bells Are Ringing Cranberry Christmas two Picture Perfect mystery movies, and those were all in 2020. And she was in five episodes of Chesapeake Shores in 2019.

Garry 12:16

There's another one Chesapeake Shores.

Amy 12:20

She's done a ton of work, of course, outside of homework. She was in Happy Face, another one who was in Happy I know it's like a repeat of some of these. She was in four episodes in 2025. She's in one episode of the new series Tracker.

Garry 12:34

Yes, yes.

Amy 12:36

She was in Fringe in 2011.

Garry 12:40

Sci-fi.

Amy 12:41

Devil in Ohio for five episodes in 2022. And she was in one episode in the final season of Party of Five in 2000.

Garry 12:49

Wow, party of Five.

Amy 12:51

Party of Five. There's another one right.

Garry 12:54

Yeah, ooh, is that it?

Amy 12:56

Ooh, yeah, that's it. For now, well, there were other actors and actresses and we're not trying to leave anybody out. No, we are not. Those are the main.

Garry 13:03

No, right, right and we're not trying to leave anybody out but you know, no, we are not. Those are the main no, no, it's all good, mm-hmm. So is it time to drop the synopsis, you tell me.

Amy 13:13

You ready for me to drop the synopsis? All right, before I get into the synopsis, I have something to say, say it.

Garry 13:22

I found out something that's very cool.

Amy 13:23

What's that? And you and I haven't talked about this and I didn't know this. The post office has a program called USPS Operation Santa.

Garry 13:31

Oh, want to know what that is. Ask me what that is. What is that?

Amy 13:36

The program works like this. You know, they get thousands and thousands of letters of people who write letters to Santa. The post office redacts all the personal information, of course, and you can adopt a letter. Wow, and then find the right gift to fulfill a holiday wish.

Garry 13:52

That is so cool.

Amy 13:52

How cool is that I had no idea.

Garry 13:55

Man.

Amy 13:57

We have to do that this year.

Garry 13:58

We will, we have to look into it, we have to do that.

Amy 14:00

So you can shop and ship through something called Santa's Gift Shop and I. So you can shop and ship through something called Santa's Gift Shop, and I don't know if that will be a link on the USPS website, or you can shop on their own website. Go to USPSOperationSantacom for more details, isn't that cool?

Garry 14:18

That is. I thought that was really cool, awesome and we're going to be doing that this year.

Amy 14:21

I thought that was so, so cool that is cool, so that's in the same vein as this movie. It's kind of cool. All these years I've never heard of it Me either, and my mother worked for the post office.

Garry 14:31

I had no idea. I'm surprised your mom didn't talk about it, because she was always about Christmas?

Amy 14:38

is Christmas served around, which is probably why I am Anywho all right back to the synopsis Now. This is from the Hallmark website. Okay so it's a little more detailed than what IMDB gives which I liked With a duty to deliver every last letter before Christmas. The beloved quartet of post office detectives Oliver, shane, rita and Norman are working around the clock to redirect Santa's mail. Just as Oliver runs into his former Sunday school teacher, played by Marian.

Amy 15:09

Ross when they receive an emotional last minute plea, not meant for St Nick, but instead written to God. They must delay their own travel plans to make sure one little girl doesn't lose her Christmas joy, something Oliver and Shane are also struggling to find, as they each face painful holiday memories. With a little guidance from a mysterious post office volunteer, jordan, the postables are more surprised than anyone to discover they've been part of more than one miracle on this Christmas Eve.

Garry 15:38

Yes, that's a good synopsis. That's a very good. Usually, imdb is so short. I thought that was a really good.

Amy 15:46

So thank you, hallmark, for at least having a good description.

Garry 15:49

Yes, thank you. Well, before we get into it, Okay, one more thing you want some Hallmark trivia.

Amy 15:55

Sure. Hit me with some Hallmark trivia that I'm not going to know you might know this one in what year did hallmark channel debut? Countdown to christmas oh gosh, I I literally um 2000 you're close 2009 2000. So I'm like nine years that's not close it is close.

Garry 16:19

You're not close.

Amy 16:20

You're in the same decade you're in the same decade within 10.

Garry 16:24

You know give or take 10 years I would have said something totally different, so I would have been I'm gonna start doing that with my 1980. I'm gonna give or take 20 30 pounds.

Amy 16:33

It's fine.

Garry 16:34

Yeah, we're in the ballpark goodness gracious that was good, that was so do you want to go first on? What do you think? Or do you want to go first, do you? What do you think?

Amy 16:41

Or do you want me to go first? You go first, you tell me Okay.

Garry 16:44

I don't even know where to begin. All I know is I thought this movie was very, very powerful with its messaging.

Amy 16:52

I agree.

Favorite Scenes and Character Moments

Garry 16:53

I mean, I loved everything about the characters, their growth throughout the movie. Yes, how fun it was. Yes, how fun it was. Yes, how romantic it was.

Amy 17:05

Yes. How like sad it was.

Garry 17:09

And how family vibish, if that's a word.

Amy 17:13

Family, what Vibish, vibish. Okay, I'm sorry.

Garry 17:16

I made up a word. I'm sorry.

Amy 17:17

You said vibish, I thought you said libish. I was like what Okay, libish, okay, yes yes. I agree. I agree with all of that I know.

Garry 17:26

And what's funny is, for some reason I'm drawn to these types of characters. I don't know why. Yeah, but I just love it when there's like four or five of them.

Amy 17:35

Like working together, working together and you got the brainiac, you got the quirkiness.

Garry 17:40

You have the one that has a photographic memory.

Amy 17:43

The techie one. The techie one yeah.

Garry 17:52

And you know it reminds me of two shows back in 2000s, and that was Warehouse 13.

Amy 17:55

Yes, that was such a good show and the Librarian yes.

Garry 17:58

And I know they were sci-fi, but the characters were kind of the same. You know, you had people that worked for the CIA, you had the computer whiz, you had a history buff and they just worked together.

Amy 18:13

Yeah.

Garry 18:14

And these characters, the postables they gel.

Amy 18:18

They do.

Garry 18:20

They really, really do. I mean right out the gate, they just gel, they do, and that's what I. They really really do. I mean right out the gate, they just gel.

Amy 18:24

I almost think I know that we have the background now with the series and To the Moon and Back, so we kind of fast forwarded 10 years or whatever. But I feel like you really could watch this movie and really get a good sense of who they all are. You learn their personalities. I felt that way with To the Moon and Back also, so you know, if you've never seen any of them, you could watch this and find out each of their individual, the four postables, each of their individual personalities, how they work together, what they try to do. I mean, this one's a little bit different because it's Christmas, right, but it's still the same concept.

Garry 19:07

Yes, it is.

Amy 19:09

And we should say before we go any further, we have to say one thing, Spoiler alert. Spoiler alert Now in our defense. It has been out for 11 years.

Garry 19:19

Yes, so we've been trying to debate.

Amy 19:24

We don't talk about our reviews with one another, but we've been debating about how much to say because it is so powerful. There are some moments that we may not want to give away, but we might, accidentally while we're talking. So if you haven't watched it, oh, I'm giving them away. Press pause.

Garry 19:40

Press pause, go watch it and then come back. Press pause, press pause, go watch it and then come back. And then come back to the podcast. Press play, yeah.

Amy 19:46

Do it right now, because we're going to get into it, because I just can't myself. But yeah, like you were saying, Warehouse 13 and the librarians you know Warehouse 13 was the artifacts that they would find it's so cool, so go check out those.

Garry 20:03

I really enjoyed, enjoyed those and I'm not a big sci-fi person and I love those. So yeah, I agree, I agree.

Amy 20:06

So what did you? What did I think? Yes, I think I spoiled it by telling you um well, you know, we've watched, we watched it a couple times, right, and some scenes I watched several times just because I really like that I know they were so powerful. Um, so we've watched it a few times and you know, I really, really liked it the first time. We watched it the second viewing, I absolutely loved it, because knowing how it ends makes rewatching it even better.

Garry 20:32

You start noticing all these little details Right right.

Amy 20:35

And I'm like how did I miss that? It's right there. Of course you know, you don't know what. You don't know until you know. But we've watched it, we'll probably watch it again, just because I'm picking up, like, every time I watch it again, I pick up something else, or I see something else or I notice something, and it's just so cool. So, even though it's still early in the franchise I know it was 11 years ago, but this was the first movie after the series and everything the core four characters really really shine here.

Garry 21:05

Yes, they do, and it really.

Amy 21:06

I thought the movie struck a perfect balance of funny moments, heartfelt moments and dramatic moments, all set against the Christmas backdrop.

Garry 21:15

Yes.

Amy 21:16

So it's kind of what you said. So I thought it had it all. So there you go. That's my first take. Whew all. So there you go. That's my. That's my first take, okay yeah, that's pretty good.

Garry 21:26

So did you have some favorite scenes?

Amy 21:29

I did, I had several, there's some I could. We could probably talk about this for two hours I know I had so many, so many things I want, but I had to trim it down, so I'll be I good. Okay, be good, all right. So one of them, of course, the postal ball.

Garry 21:43

Yes.

Amy 21:44

At the beginning.

Garry 21:45

That was cool.

Amy 21:45

Or towards the beginning. So much happens there, like the look on Oliver and Norman's face when Shane and Rita walk in.

Garry 21:53

Yep.

Amy 21:54

Oliver's jealousy, you know, kind of rears up a little bit. When Oliver and Jordan go back and forth about the origin of the word turf, oh yeah. And then the other postables realize that he sort of met his match you know in someone.

Garry 22:07

Yeah, he sure did, so I just, I loved that.

Amy 22:10

I loved the ball.

Garry 22:11

Yeah, it was pretty good. What about you? Do you have several too? We go back and forth. You can just say the whole movie. I know.

Amy 22:18

That was my favorite part. The whole movie was my favorite part. I know there's so many things I wanted to pick out.

Garry 22:22

Oh yeah.

Amy 22:23

I have a few here, okay, so you.

Garry 22:26

One of the ones that I liked was when the Postables, when they were looking for the little girl who wrote the letter to God and they inherited it down to the one hospital. So in order to locate the little child, they decided to go undercover as careless. Oh, yes, yes, that's so it was yes, and that was so funny because Norman and his little briefcase of goodies, the bow ties and the earrings.

Amy 22:53

He had lights in there.

Garry 22:55

And it was just so fun. I bet you they had fun with that.

Amy 22:58

I bet you they did yes.

Garry 23:00

But they were walking through the halls in the hospital when they come across one of the volunteers with the dog and they're singing their Christmas songs. They're singing the Christmas carol and the dog which, by the way, do you know what the name of the dog is? I?

Amy 23:15

have no idea.

Garry 23:16

Christmas Really. Yes, I looked it up. You did, I looked it up. I wanted to know the name of the dog.

Amy 23:23

I had no idea they represented how fitting is that.

Garry 23:26

Christmas.

Amy 23:27

The name of the dog is Christmas, okay.

Garry 23:31

But anyways, they're singing a Christmas song and the dog rolls over on his back and is just enjoying it.

Amy 23:36

And they're all looking down at the dog. That's us at Christmas, by the way. We just love it so much. Just take it all in right. But they think the dog is like they don't. The dog doesn't like their voices Dying because they're singing so bad, yeah, but Devontaire says no, that's what he does when he likes music, he just loves it.

Garry 23:52

So that was one of my favorite scenes.

Amy 23:53

I'm so glad you brought that up, because that was so cute. We could literally go through the whole. You know what I mean. There's something in every scene, that's so good what was another one of your favorites.

Garry 24:11

I loved all of the Rita Norman scenes. You really see them making that connection finally with Norman.

Amy 24:14

I agree 100%. Every time they ended up under a mistletoe. I loved when Rita was talking to Hannah, the little girl, and she's making her feel comfortable about wearing glasses. And then Rita talks about the owl story and Norman is sitting there and he's just watching her and you can just feel the adoration oozing out of him, because of the way he's looking at Rita. When Rita says she'll bake some more cookies and Norman doesn't want to hurt her feelings, he goes, oh yay.

Garry 24:40

I know Every one of those scenes was just priceless.

Amy 24:46

Then when he shoves cookies in his mouth.

Garry 24:48

Yes.

Amy 24:48

When they're under the mistletoe again. I think that was so. He wouldn't because he wanted to kiss her, but he wouldn't. Is that why?

Garry 24:53

that that's what I assume. He was willing to eat one of them nasty cookies before kissing her. He didn't just eat one.

Amy 24:59

He shoves a lot in there. So I just, you know, Rita just has this giddy, positive, childlike excitement. That's just so adorable and refreshing. Yes, it is. And she, you know, and that's to Crystal Lowe's credit is that she plays it so well. She does it's like an innocent, slightly naive but not has the photographic memory she's. It's just, it's such a great character. I mean they're all great, but yeah, so, um, you know, and then norman is like this, odd but quirky and lovable man, you know.

Amy 25:35

And so they're like the perfect match. They're perfectly suited for one another yeah so I just any scene. I just thought the development of their relationship was so good throughout the whole movie.

Garry 25:45

Yeah, so that was. That was one of my favorites too. So it was just one scene but a lot, and I liked when she when he had shoved all the cookies in his mouth and she finally confronted him and she goes. Can you tell me the truth?

Amy 25:58

Did you like my cookies and?

Garry 25:59

he's, what did he say?

Amy 26:01

He said I don't like the eating part or something like that. Yeah, he said, I like them, except the eating part or something like that yeah.

Garry 26:09

They're great, and she kind of was like, oh okay, well, thank you for being truthful, yeah.

Amy 26:15

She's like thank you for finally being honest with her. You know, yeah, yeah, so that was awesome that was one of my favorites? What else for you?

Garry 26:22

I love the two scenes with Oliver and Jordan when they were talking with each other. Their first one being at the DLO when they were playing chess and the yoo-hoos Give me.

Amy 26:34

That was funny. I just love that. Yeah, I forgot about them playing chess.

Garry 26:37

Yes, and the way he holds the bottle. It's like he's drinking a beer or something.

Amy 26:40

He Huejos de Pato.

Garry 26:40

It's like he's drinking a beer or something he's just like. This is my drink, y'all Yep and I like, and you don't know this the first time you watch it. You don't know this. But Jordan is getting Oliver to speak about his marriage, and why? You know? Because Oliver's always putting someone else first, right, Right. He's always helping other people is always putting someone else first, right? He's always helping other people and in that scene, jordan gets him to you know, why did you think your marriage failed, you know?

Garry 27:09

why do you think you're not worthy of self-love or whatever?

Amy 27:17

And then the scene in the chapel, the hospital. We're going to talk about that more later. Yeah, just Right, I'm not going to say it, we'll talk about that.

Garry 27:22

But those two scenes For sure Were brilliant.

Amy 27:26

For sure.

Garry 27:26

Whoever wrote this? Kudos to you.

Amy 27:29

It's really really good. Well, martha.

Garry 27:31

Williamson, I think Right, right, right I believe she. So what about you?

Amy 27:34

You got another one, if I'm wrong, about creative mind. I believe she wrote it so well. It was delicious. I you know it's not the premise of the movie, but I love the tradition of them choosing a letter and then the way they open it. Now, in this case, they were given the letter right from jordan too yep, right from jordan. Um, and I just I like how they, you know, analyze the outside of the envelope first. I know.

Amy 28:01

It's so cool, they look it all over and they try to take in every detail of the envelope before they even open it up and then they open it up and I just love that process, yep, and I just enjoy that and I like that in every. I'm sure I'm going to love that in every movie.

Garry 28:17

I know, Because Norm is like, it's a little girl, probably between the ages of blah blah blah. I know.

Amy 28:22

Look at the crayon, the color. Yeah, it's so good. It's so good, yes. And then, like you, I just have the chapel scene, which I know we're going to get to, and then the Oliver Shane scene in the hospital. Yes, downstairs and up. Yes, you know when they were downstairs first and then they go upstairs. Yes, so those and I know we'll get into a little more detail a little bit later. But yeah, do you have anything else?

Garry 28:47

Oh yeah.

Amy 28:48

Oh, okay, for favorite scenes.

Garry 28:49

Excuse my language. Oh boy, how badass is Oliver when the scene where he's walking trying to deliver the letter that Jordan gave him, and he's walking behind the old lady that a man is stealing her wallet out of yes, so he follows this guy to the alley and then all of a sudden he's taking his jacket off.

Amy 29:11

He's taking his jacket off. He's walking up to him. He's like it's going to go one of two ways, brother.

Garry 29:16

And then the next scene is Oliver putting the wallet back in, only to find out it's. Marion who was his wallet back in, only to find out it's Marion who was his teacher back in the year.

Amy 29:22

His Sunday school right, yeah, when he was younger, I think it was Sunday school, yeah, when he was younger, small world right. So that was one of my favorite scenes too. Yeah, got any more. Nope, that was well. I mean, like you said, the whole movie we could go over, but yeah, I have one more. Okay, one more.

Garry 29:39

And that's Norman doing his shepherd poses in the mail bar for the pageant.

Amy 29:45

Oh, yes, yes, it's so good that so reminded me of Ben Stiller Zooland. Oh, zooland Doing his blue steel. Yeah, when he does his blue steel look, oh my goodness, I laughed. I laughed, that was so fun. Or when, like Oliver, that was really funny.

Garry 30:01

Oliver, when he is ringing the bell when he takes the place of the Salvation Army.

Amy 30:07

That was funny too, all right. Yeah, all right so what about your biggest cheer? We could do this all day long.

The Powerful Chapel Scene

Amy 30:17

I know, I know. So for me it's the general messaging. Yes, we see it throughout the entire movie, everything from answered prayers, even if you don't notice it or see it right away to being kind to yourself Yep, letting yourself off the hook, yep. To what Christmas is all about, to feeling like part of a family, to recognizing and appreciating. You know, know what's in front of you, and sometimes I like that they brought up. You know, sometimes not getting an answer is an answer right like when they talked about his wife.

Garry 30:52

Not right sending a letter back like that's your answer you know, here's your sign kind of thing we all want to keep, so I just in general.

Amy 31:01

Um thought the messaging was was so, so good throughout the, the, the whole, the whole movie. And then, um, yeah, I have notes about the chapel scene and the oliver stuff. So what about you? What's your biggest cheer? I?

Garry 31:16

I loved it when Norman and Rita finally dance.

Amy 31:20

Yes, oh, yeah, I mean, that was so fun.

Garry 31:26

But what was interesting is, as they're dancing, norman stops because he notices there's a stocking on the fireplace with his name on it.

Amy 31:36

So sweet yeah.

Garry 31:39

And earlier he had said yeah, oh, do you have that later too?

Amy 31:43

oh, okay, I won't talk about it then, sorry alright well, that was it, and then go into the detail. I really um, yeah, I mean I had some other cheers, like when Oliver decorates the tree in the. Dlo at the end. He just looks genuinely happy and he's excited. He's by himself and he's just decorating the tree. We have to give a shout out to Marion Ross. I mean so great. I think she's in her 90s now.

Garry 32:10

Yeah, she's still acting. Good for her.

Amy 32:13

Yeah, I just so.

Garry 32:14

Yeah, I love that scene too, because when before the scene where he's decorating everything.

Amy 32:21

Right? Well, we're going to go back and Right.

Garry 32:29

But there was one more cheer I had, and that's with each of the postables. They each had this story that they told somebody or that they experienced when they were younger, and then throughout the movie, it came full circle for each one of their stories. That's exactly right. The glasses with Rita and the owl Norman with the stocking without his name. Finally, gets his name Shane, family dad.

Amy 32:52

Letter Letter.

Garry 32:53

And then Oliver, you know, finding his the tree.

Amy 32:56

The tree Right.

Garry 32:56

Right Right Letter. And then, oliver, you know, finding his the tree, the tree Right Right Right. And so you want to talk about the chapel scene.

Amy 33:04

Well, I don't even know where to start with that, because it's so moving and powerful.

Garry 33:11

And.

Amy 33:11

I know we both teared up and I got literal goosebumps, you know, especially the first time we watched it. I teared up the second time, I watched it and I watched it a third time and still tear up because, it's, it's just so good. And you know, oliver earlier tells the story about the tree.

Garry 33:28

Yes About how he he left. They were on vacation. He left the cabin, came across this tree that was growing out of a rock.

Amy 33:38

Right.

Garry 33:38

And there was this man there sitting there decorating it and he asked if he could help him. That was earlier on in the movie Right, and then in the chapel you find out what.

Amy 33:49

Well, in the chapel. So Oliver goes to the chapel because we didn't really talk about what, the why they're at the hospital. A woman is pregnant and she's, you know, her health is deteriorating but she's pregnant and she's not conscious and everything, and so the letter that they originally got was from the woman's daughter right the woman's daughter had written it to god right right and um.

Amy 34:14

so the woman goes into surgery. So he gets, he gets the call that she's in surgery. She might not make it, the baby might not make it, blah, blah, blah. So he comes back to the hospital and he goes to the chapel.

Garry 34:25

Yes.

Amy 34:25

Right. So that's where he goes, and you find out he does that. He did that in To the Moon and Back too. I wonder if that's like a thing.

Garry 34:31

Might be, we'll find out.

Amy 34:32

So, um, but so. So he goes to the chapel and he's in there, and Jared walks in and Oliver's already there, and then Jared uh, start. You know what Jared's last name is, by the way, in this.

Garry 34:44

No.

Amy 34:44

Marley.

Garry 34:46

Oh, really, you know what I thought of A.

Amy 34:47

Christmas Carol Bob Marley.

Garry 34:50

Okay, isn't it Marley? Isn't it yes, okay, anyway any who.

Amy 34:54

So Jared walks in and Jared sits down. He tells a story about the fourth wise man. Did you know that there was a fourth wise man? He was late getting to Bethlehem, so he missed Mary and Joseph and the newborn baby and the. Messiah and everything, and he keeps missing them. But then he realizes, and while he's trying to catch up with them, he stops and helps all these people along the way.

Amy 35:20

And then he realizes what does he say? Something like that the Messiah was actually in all the faces that he helped along the way Right. Which I thought was really good.

Garry 35:29

Yeah.

Amy 35:30

And then Oliver says something like if you have done it for the least of these, you have done it for me.

Garry 35:35

Right. And I thought oh my God, if you have done it for the least of these you have done it for me, Right?

Amy 35:38

And I thought, oh my God, I know Like that's so powerful, especially now. Yes it is, you know, it's just ooh. So then that's when and we've talked about this a little bit earlier Jordan tells Oliver he's been kind to everyone else but himself, you know, and Christmas is an opportunity to remember that love came down to find you right where you're at not you don't have to be perfect, you don't, you know?

Garry 36:01

and this is all about yeah, you don't have to deliver every letter right, it just it was so, so moving.

Amy 36:08

And then jordan mentions the rock on the tree at the beach yes, and let me tell me, tell you, I got goosebumps. I know I'm getting them now talking about it.

Garry 36:19

I teared up and when I saw the look, on Oliver's face, the tears in his eyes. I was like and I have that because I.

Amy 36:28

I when you, in that moment, you see the realization in Oliver you see it on his face and he doesn't question it.

Garry 36:38

Nope.

Amy 36:39

He believes in that moment. He believes, and, eric, maybe this should have gotten a freaking Emmy for that.

Garry 36:46

Yes, he should have that scene alone.

Amy 36:49

I mean I just it was so powerful and so moving. And when Oliver tears up a little bit, when he that realization and then he kind of knows what he has to do, and it's just I mean it was so good, I can't even describe it. It was so good it was good, you know and then Jordan says what you know Christmas is a gift, oliver, but it's your choice whether you accept it.

Garry 37:11

Yep.

Amy 37:12

You know, and I'm just like okay, I'm done, Give me the tissue. It was so powerful and so good and the messaging is just it's everything in this movie. That's what I got out of that scene too.

Garry 37:28

It was brilliant. Did you have any jeers?

Oliver and Shane's Emotional Connection

Amy 37:31

No, are we going to talk about the Shane and the.

Garry 37:34

Oliver, you know what I forgot.

Amy 37:37

Let's go. Do you have that in your?

Garry 37:38

no, you yes, okay that you want to talk about that.

Amy 37:41

You go first so, oliver and shane, um, what does he confront or what does he talk to her about first in the hallway? Um she I can't remember.

Garry 37:52

Now I well, she's escaping, she was struggling with, like wearing the halo for the angel scene in the pageant. She's feeling down and everything and he still has the letter. And this is right. After this scene, this is the second letter, right? The second letter. This is not the letter from the little girl, right?

Amy 38:10

But there's another letter and you see a little girl writing a letter at the very beginning, but you don't see her face, right. And you presume it's the little girl whose mother?

Garry 38:20

is in the hospital, correct?

Amy 38:22

And in the moment that Oliver and Shane are talking, after he's talked to Jordan in the chapel right.

Garry 38:31

He realizes he goes to.

Amy 38:32

Shane. He realizes that the letter that Jordan has given him is a letter from. Shane, yes, in that moment Another surprise, right, and so you know that's where he goes. He goes into this very powerful monologue you know to well. First of all, he calls her Shane. She starts to walk away and he and he says Shane.

Garry 38:55

Yes, and then you're like again goosebumps, because he, he calls her Shane.

Amy 38:56

She starts to walk away and he says Shane, yes. And then you're like again goosebumps because he doesn't call her that.

Garry 39:01

He calls her.

Amy 39:03

Mrs McInerney McInerney yes, mcinerney, yeah, I was like are you going to make me say the last name? I'm terrible at it.

Garry 39:09

I know I'm sorry about that.

Amy 39:18

You're going to make me do, do it. But that's when he goes into. You know he talks about how you know we've all lost someone we love in this world. Someone says happy Christmas can make it hurt all over again If we don't let Christmas do what it's supposed to do. And I almost cry because we love Christmas so much and it's like, and I know, for a lot of people it's not a happy time, it's a sad time, it's a depressing time for so many people.

Amy 39:36

And I understand that, but you just want to hug them and say let it in, let the light shine in. And he goes on to say that she has met her family. She missed her dad, but now she has a family she has a sister now in Rita.

Amy 39:55

She has a brother now in Norman, she has a brother now in in Norman. And then he calls himself an odd fellow who loves words and books, which I thought was funny. So and then he he said I have learned how to hold firm in a storm by trusting that the one thing I love in this world will never let go of me.

Garry 40:12

No Perfect love, god, you know meaning God, and I was just like oh my God, I can't take it, I know. Goosebumps again.

Amy 40:19

And he said hope is what you ask for every Christmas, and you were given it.

Garry 40:23

Yeah.

Amy 40:24

And you have a choice, and then Shane kind of has her own epiphany. And she tears up and kisses him on the cheek and then they go off and we're a mess and we're good Right and this is him on the cheek.

Garry 40:36

And then they go off and we're a mess and we're good Right and then the pageant happens. And then the pageant happens which we haven't mentioned, and they don't have a baby Jesus, but later on the lady has the baby. She's fine, the baby's fine and the dad rolls the baby in, and that's the baby Jesus.

Amy 40:51

That's the baby Jesus. Yeah, oh, okay.

Garry 40:55

But did you have any jeers, did I?

Amy 40:57

have any jeers. The only jeer that I have is I did not like the song at the end.

Garry 41:04

I don't remember the song when he walks into the DLO and it's all lit up in candles.

Amy 41:09

I love the music at first. He walks in. I was so moved by the music. He walks in and it's lit and everything. And then he sees the tree. The tree is there with a little note on it and he decorates the tree. I did not like the song. It was some. I just you know.

Amy 41:26

I'm sorry to the artist, who it is, but so if I had to pick a jeer right, that would be the only one, and that's not even really a bad jeer, but I, that's just a personal man thing. What about you? Did you have any jeers?

Garry 41:37

well, it was going to be a jeer, and it was.

Amy 41:41

When norman, rita and shane leave oliver at the hospital to go on their vacation or whatever they were going home to see their family yeah, to see their family.

Garry 41:49

Well, shane was going to go have a hot tub moment oh yeah but later you find out that they come back when Oliver is decorating the tree in the office and I was so mad and hurt because he's walking the street and you don't realize what he's doing.

Amy 42:05

You don't know what he's doing, right, right, right, and you find out.

Garry 42:08

He's trying to find a cab.

Amy 42:10

He's trying to find a lost necklace. Is what he's trying to do?

Garry 42:13

One of the cab drivers in exchange for the sheep.

Amy 42:17

I didn't know you were sitting there all mad and stuff. Yeah, I was like. I was like they left him. How could they leave him? How could they leave him? Poor, poor Oliver, because he looks sad. And then they all show up.

Garry 42:26

And then they all show up.

Amy 42:27

So yeah, it was good, it was yeah.

Garry 42:32

Yes, anything else Any.

Final Thoughts and Ratings

Amy 42:33

No Like, oh, by the ways. I have a lot, but you know we're going on.

Garry 42:37

Yeah, we're long into this one, right, we're long winded on this one.

Amy 42:40

We apologize. Yes, we apologize, so out of now, like I have to even ask out of five corks, how many corks Ten?

Garry 42:49

Yes.

Amy 42:58

It's so good, it was so good. I'm looking forward to the other movies and seeing where the characters go.

Garry 43:04

Yeah.

Amy 43:05

So I mean we know how To the Moon and Back is, and it's going to be great to see the evolution of them.

Garry 43:10

I know I can't wait, looking forward to it. So is that a wrap?

Amy 43:13

That's a wrap.

Garry 43:14

Well, thanks for listening. Be sure to follow the podcast wherever you listen so you don't miss one. Also, follow us on social media. We'd love to have you leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Amy 43:27

Word. Hopefully it's a positive review, we'd really appreciate it. Yes, if you have a positive review or some feedback, and talk to us on social media.

Garry 43:35

Yes, We'd like to talk to you.

Amy 43:37

Let us know what you'd like us to watch. Maybe, after we're done with all 13 more movies, we can throw in some other bonus episodes and things.

Garry 43:43

If we missed something in the episode, let us know. Let us know. I'd love to go back and see it.

Amy 43:48

Yeah, and I know we're going to be watching For Christmas Again. That's all I'm going to say.

Garry 43:51

Yeah.

Amy 43:52

Join us Wednesdays for new episodes reviewing Hallmark movies, and on Tuesdays for our recaps and reviews of Hallmark series. We'll also be dropping bonus episodes of the Signed, sealed, delivered movies.

Garry 44:03

Yes, we will.

Amy 44:03

Follow us on social media and wherever you podcast, so you don't miss an episode.

Garry 44:07

Don't miss it.

Amy 44:08

Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks for listening.

Garry 44:12

Cheers.