Christmas at the Catnip Cafe

As you may have read, my viewing of Hallmark Christmas movies is typically a scene here, a scene there.  Maybe a twenty minute chunk on a good day.  Over the last few years I have been convinced to watch a few in their entirety, including this season's CHRISTMAS AT THE CATNIP CAFE.  It was not a hard sell.  Christmas and cats? I'm in. 

I was won over not only by the cute kitties but some genuine sentiment and warmth.  In between my usual snarky criticisms of HM's Plot-by-Numbers and some hilariously expository dialogue.  The kind where every character verbalizes their backstory and innermost thoughts.   Viewers needn't work very hard during these movies.

We meet another career woman who travels from the city to a small town and meets a handsome townie.  She's steely in her resolve at first but that guy is so darned cute and charming to her you know what will happen.  But not before some squabbles and a few hard feelings.

Californian Olivia (Erin Cahill) really wants this condo that's hot on the market.  Too bad she doesn't have enough for a down payment.  When she learns her recently deceased aunt left her half ownership of a coffee shop in upstate New York, she sees her opportunity to raise the cash.  Surely she will convince the other owner to buy her out?

Sorry, Olivia.  Dr. Ben Kane (Paul Campbell), the local veterinarian is short on funds himself.  He's up to his eyeballs as the sole practitioner at the clinic and running the coffee house, The Catnip Cafe.  Where cats wait to be cuddled and hopefully adopted by customers as they sip their machiatos. And Ben has no intention of selling a place so vital to the community, a legacy from Aunt Esther.

No, not that one!

Olivia really wants that condo, firmly informing her would-be partner that nothing will sway her desire to sell.  Not the good doctor's charms, not the sweet foster child who frequents the cafe, and not all those adorable felines.  They make a deal - Olivia will help Ben organize the annual Christmas festival if he agrees not to try to delay the sale.   Don't let me be a spoiler.....

CHRISTMAS AT THE CATNIP CAFE goes down as easily as any other Hallmark production.  I kinda liked the low key chemistry between the leads, even as they delivered the usual cheesy lines.  I totally succumbed to its sentiment, which this time didn't feel as contrived as elsewhere.  If you put a cat in your movie I immediately disarm.  Even a grumpy one like Gingerbread, who all but steals the show.