Jack Vasen
This story is about the insecurity and uncertainty of the two leads, Zach and Marilee. Neither of them is willing to admit that they have something that might be worth making a commitment. Beyond that, it is a pretty straightforward story. They meet by accident; they get thrown together; they spend time together; they love. They just won't admit that what they have is the lifetime kind of love.Brandon Routh and Kimberly Sustad fit so well together. Their characters are a joy to watch together and that is what makes this movie enjoyable. Add the humor factor of watching them be so clumsy around each other, sometimes physically and sometimes relationally. The story may be no big deal, but it is enjoyable to watch.
Prismark10
The Nine Lives of Christmas is an Hallmark festive themed romantic movie, in this case the presence of Brandon Routh made it one of its highest rated films of the year.Routh plays a hunky fireman, the kind that models for a fundraising calendar. He is going out with an attractive but shallow model, saves lives and even ends up adopting a tabby cat. An all round super guy one might say.Kimberly Sustad is studying to be a vet and holds down a job in a pet store which means she has no time for a love life.A chance meeting in a supermarket and an interest in cats means that both keep having random encounters which of course slowly leads to love even though Routh is happy to remain single and Sustad wishes to avoid commitments until she qualifies as a vet.The film only has a loose festive connection but it has plenty of easy charm even though the plot is slightly hokey.Almost 8 years after he played Superman for his one and only appearance Routh displays more charisma in this made for television film than Henry Cavill the present holder of the red cape.
jarvis54
Ironically I first saw the leading actress in another Rom com where she played the sister of the main female character. And when I saw Kimberly Sustad I immediately believed she could hold her own in her own movie. So here she is the lead in this movie and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Okay let's be fair, this is not a movie that will end up on the Oscar best film short list. It is a movie that once the main characters are identified you pretty much know what is going to happen and just go along for the ride. So what for me lifted this movie above average? Kimberly Sustad. And why? Well there are not that many actresses that can really do emotions well. Kimberly managed to convey sadness and joy really well with her eyes watering up with tears almost flowing. Believe me this is not easy to pull off, so many actresses cry and there are no tears at all. I'm glad Brandon Routh recovered from superman. All in all this is a light and enjoyable Rom com that is light and fluffy and not a bad way to spend an hour and a half.
adoptshelterpetstoday
As an animal lover, who is owned by 7 precious cats, I was really, really looking forward to this movie being really good. But once again, I was awfully disappointed by one of Hallmark's new Christmas movies. However, the beautiful, TALENTED cats are what saved this movie from being rated "awful." Alone, I would give the cats an "excellent" rating for their excellent performance!Brandon / "Zach"...and Kimberly / "Marilee"...were a perfectly annoying match with acting like skittish teenagers. They continuously behaved awkward towards each other...as if they were attempting to speak to the opposite sex for the first time at the age of puberty, and didn't know what to say or how to act. The ANNOYING result: two fumbling adults stammering and stuttering like naive teenagers throughout the movie!In several scenes, Kimberly's ANNOYING, immature expression looked like a deer caught in the headlights!...which became tiresome...along with her stammering. Just because of her STUPID expressions alone, I will not watch this movie again! And what was with wearing a black evening dress during the day??Throughout the movie, Brandon was annoyingly portrayed as a highly sought-after, glorified stud...which became tiresome. (Give me a break! He wasn't THAT handsome!) The firemen acted like a bunch of juveniles or old biddies, depending on the scene. The ONLY thing enjoyable about this movie was watching the beautiful, TALENTED cats: 10 Paws Up!
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