Hallmark’s A Dance in the Snow succeeds as a film that celebrates mothers and daughters. The romance of it all is a bit too syrupy and ultimately feels unnecessary. It pushes too intensely on plot over characterizations.
The movie starts in a great place and centers around an autistic high school student during her senior year, which is a lovely joy to see on Hallmark. It’s no surprise that the network has been doing better in recent years, and with films like this, plus last year’s A World Record Christmas, it’s easy to respect their desire for more inclusive representation. Yet, the biggest setback here is that in telling this beautiful story about two women and their different means of doing things, it attempts to also mix in romance and ultimately takes away from the film’s heart.
I loved watching Vanessa Burghardt in Cha Cha Real Smooth, and it’s delightful to see how far she’s come with her character embodiment in Hallmark’s A Dance in the Snow. There’s undeniable talent in her, and she’s undoubtedly the best part of this story, so it’s easy to wish that the script gave her the proper attention she deserves. More than anything, what transpires in the miscommunication feels like it’s crafted solely to cause drama. While I fully understand that a story needs a plot, when the characters take a backseat to the narrative unfolding just to check a few boxes, it makes the story feel tired.
Jenny’s relationship with her mother is a shining balm in the film, and so is her budding friendship with Will (Dorian Giordano), who’s also neurodivergent. All of that works incredibly well. Jenny’s relationship with her teacher and his unwavering belief in her is also a great piece to include, but it’s her mom’s relationship with the teacher that feels completely detached from the rest of the film. This isn’t to say that they shouldn’t have gotten together because it could work, but how it happens feels inorganic and, unfortunately, a bit cringe-worthy.
Additionally, there’s the matter of the title, and while the element of snowfall triggering Jenny makes complete sense, it’s how Hallmark’s A Dance in the Snow shows it that feels disjointed. While the world is full of triggers left and right, it’s challenging not to feel like this wasn’t as thought out. It could very well be someone’s authentic experience, but the execution on screen doesn’t translate as well. Instead, it takes me out of the story, especially considering how it happens while both mother and daughter are doing their own thing. If this woman knows her daughter has this fear and they’re in the middle of winter, wouldn’t she have an immediate tracker or something on her phone? With how she’s written, that’s the kind of awareness I’d expect from Melanie, yet it gets muddied with the romance they’re trying to throw in.
Overall, where heart and representation are concerned, Hallmark’s A Dance in the Snow is on the right track toward showcasing that people deserve to be heard and their boundaries deserve to be honored. Without all the forced romance, I would’ve appreciated it far more, and this is coming from someone who always wants to see romantic relationships. Yet, sometimes, when it’s unnecessary, it’s better not to force it.
Watch A Dance in the Snow on the Hallmark Channel this Christmas.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Hallmark