Winter brings the sappy tradition of Hallmark Christmas romances. They usually follow a simple formula and many have some unique aspect to them like traveling somewhere exotic, getting stranded at a log cabin, tie-ins with fashion, or others. A Dogwalker’s Christmas Tale is the sappy romance movie that centers around a dog park.
The movie opens with viewers meeting Luce Lockhart. She’s young and pretty and entitled and boy, does she love Christmas. In a short span, she breaks up with her Christmas-hating boyfriend, maxes out her parents’ credit card, and finds that they are out of the country doing charity work. That means Christmas is just going to be her and her sulking little brother.
She gets a visit from her neighbor, Missy Braxton, and winds up agreeing to walk Hank, the Braxton’s dog. Luce meets the regulars who hang out at the local dog park. Among them is wise-cracking Dean Stanton. Dean mocks her for being out of her element, explaining the strong connection the others have with the park.
As the formula demands, they are at odds for the first half of the movie. Soon, news arrives that Paxton construction is going to tear down the dog park to build a high-end spa. Luce’s employers are behind the plan. Dean immediately thinks she should convince them not to build, but Luce is afraid to speak up with her career aspirations at risk due to the Paxton’s influence.
The dogwalkers devise a plan for a big holiday festival to celebrate the dog park on Christmas Eve. This leads to the big turnaround moment where the couple find a way to save the park, fall in love, share a kiss, and roll credits.
The movie doesn’t break any new ground but. Those looking for the trademark comfort that has become Hallmark’s brand will enjoy it. Jonathon Bennett (Cake Wars) is charming enough as Dean. Lexi Giovagnoli (All She Wishes) gets Luce’s journey from entitled to empowered. Dina Meyer (Starship Troopers) is good as the smiling but focused businesswoman, Missy. Patrick Muldoon (Days of our Lives) really leans into the emotionless business mogul, Byron Paxton.
A Dogwalker’s Christmas Tale first aired in 2015. It runs 84 minutes and is available wherever Hallmark movies are streaming.