Mystic Christmas

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Girls Gone Hallmark is your go-to Hallmark movie review podcast! Join Megan and Wendy as they sit down with The Iconic Keith Costumes to chat about his latest project, “Mystic Christmas.” Not only do the girls dive into the costumes with Keith, but they also share their own thoughts on the film, highlighting what they liked and what they wished for. Tune in to hear all the festive fun plus some behind-the-scenes news on Keith Costumes’ other Hallmark projects!

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About “Mystic Christmas”

“Mystic Christmas” was filmed in southeastern Connecticut in late May and early June 2023.
Some filming locations included Olde Mistick Village, Mystic Seaport Museum, Mango’s Pizza, and Sift Bake Shop.
Jessy Schram plays Juniper Jones. She has 66 previous acting credits, including the series “Chicago Med” as well as Hallmark movies like “Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas” and “A Nashville Christmas Carol.”

Chandler Massey plays Sawyer Adams. He has just 23 acting credits overall but he also has done 763 episodes of “Days of Our Lives.” As for Hallmark, Massey has been in “The Professional Bridemaid,” “Heart of the Matter,” and “A Tale of Two Christmases.”
Patti Murin plays bestie Candice. Patti was in last year’s “In Merry Measure” and is probably best known for her role as the original Princess Anna in the musical Frozen on Broadway.
Keith Nielsen (known professionally as Keith Costumes) was the costume designer for “Mystic Christmas.” He has also designed costumes for Hallmark movies like “A Holiday Spectacular,” “Where Are You, Christmas?” and the upcoming “A Merry Scottish Christmas” and “A Biltmore Christmas.

This movie as directed by Marlo Hunter. Marlo has just four other movie directing credits and this appears to be her first Hallmark film.
Writing credit is given to Nicole Drespel, Christy O’Connor, and Andrew Gernhard.

Our Thoughts on “Mystic Christmas”

This blog post is a synopsis of the ideas we discuss in greater detail on our podcast, “Girls Gone Hallmark.” If you’re a fan of Hallmark movies, be sure to tune into our episodes and join us for some festive analysis and fun!

What We Liked

We absolutely adored this movie. Here are some of the highlights:

The Seal: Oh yes, the seal named Peppermint totally stole our hearts. Keith even shared behind-the-scenes details about how those realistic seal scenes were shot!
Locations: The film showcases real places in Mystic, making it a genuine love letter to this charming town. You can visit Stiff Bakery for a chestnut croissant or Mango’s Pizza, which served real pizza on set.
The Cast: Patti Murin was amazing and her character added so much warmth. We also loved Jesse Schramm and Chandler Massey’s chemistry—they were top-notch.
Wardrobe: We couldn’t stop gushing over Juniper’s coats, especially that striking green one. Keith’s costume designs, as always, elevated the movie.
Writing: Nicole Drespel’s script was a true gem, filled with witty lines and meaningful dialogue. We particularly liked Juniper’s line about traditions: “Do you like it? Or do you just remember it?”

What We Wished For

While we loved the movie, there were a few things we wished were different:

More on Seal Conservation: We would have loved a bit more information on seal conservation. Nerds that we are, we wanted to know why Peppermint was sick and more about the broader conservation efforts.
A Dress Moment: Though it wasn’t aligned with the story, Keith missed incorporating a grand dress moment. This movie didn’t have the typical ball gown scene, but it was still filled with thoughtful wardrobe choices.
Better Management by Sawyer: Sawyer could have been a better manager. Training Brooke to be the manager should have been a no-brainer, especially given the tight-knit, supportive community the movie portrays.
More Beluga Whales and Penguins: Keith wished we could see more belugas and penguins from the Mystic Aquarium.

Did You See That?

A few standout moments we noticed:

Location Authenticity: Those shots of trainers working with real seals in the background added a layer of authenticity we appreciated.
Flyer on Burlap: Juniper taping a flyer to burlap was a bit of a “facepalm” moment. Even Sawyer came in with a stapler to save the day!
Communication Breakdown: The whole conflict based on lost emails was a tad frustrating. We couldn’t help but think they should have sorted that out much sooner.

Our Rating

Out of 5 stars, we all landed at a solid 4.5. This movie truly captivated us and even exceeded our heartwarming expectations, making it a standout in Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas series.

So, if you’re in the mood for a feel-good Christmas movie that’s not over-the-top “Christmassy,” “Mystic Christmas” is a must-watch. Be sure to listen to our full discussion on the Girls Gone Hallmark podcast, and don’t forget to join us on Instagram and Facebook!

What Christmas Movies Will Girls Gone Hallmark Review this Year?

We’re Your New Hallmark Besties

Hey there! We’re Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan’s a longtime Hallmark movie fan, while Wendy – well, she used to be a Hallmark hater. Now, we’ve teamed up to share our (often very different!) takes on these films. Get ready for some lively, fun-filled conversations!

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