Vintage: Hallmark, 2020
Hallmark-approved summary: When Melody’s neighbor, Nina, learns that her illness has returned, Melody promises to keep Nina’s kids, Holly & Ivy, together. To adopt the children, she must renovate her new fixer-upper, which she does with the help of contractor, Adam.
Actual summary: Finally, children’s librarians get the Hallmark movie we deserve.
Cast member prestige: Adam is played by Jeremy Jordan, who I know and love from the film adaptation of the musical The Last Five Years. He is also known for performing a life-alteringly dramatic cover of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.” You’re welcome. Melody is played by Janel Parrish from Pretty Little Liars, and Nina is played by Marisol Nichols from Riverdale. Pretty solid, all around.
The basics:
Spunky li’l Melody is moving into her new home in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, having just earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Excellent program, Melody. Pulling into the driveway of her new [to her, actually it is a crumbling Victorian] home, Melody meets her new neighbors: single mom Nina and her two kids Holly and Ivy. Melody tells them that she moved to Chippewa Falls to follow her dream of being a children’s librarian. Then she opens the trunk of her car and it is filled to the brim with books. Loose books. Like, not in boxes. This woman just plucked books off her shelves and stuffed them in the car. I had to avert my eyes. A librarian WOULD NEVER.
Once settled in, Melody takes her resume to three different libraries (in Chippewa Falls, WI?), and is soundly rejected at each one. She pulls up in front of a fourth, this one a quaint little building with a sign identifying it as Bridgewater Public Library. Inside, there is a) an overabundance of Christmas decorations, and b) an elderly librarian who says they can’t hire Melody but could take her on as a volunteer.
Melody: But I have a Master’s Degree.
[Melinda, taking a break from chiselling an entire ecosystem of dried bird shit off of her Storywalk : YES, TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT.]
Elderly Librarian: With that kind of degree you should look for a job in data management or information technology - that’s how people are using their library science degrees these days.
[Melinda: stares blankly]
Ultimately, they agree that Melody will come lead a children’s program - that she developed in library school - for free, and then maybe, if the library likes it, they will consider hiring and paying her.
Later, Melody is shopping in the local hardware store for materials to use in fixing up her new home. She has a meet-cute moment with Adam, a contractor, who tries to mansplain deadbolts to her before realizing that Melody actually knows what she’s talking about. They chat and flirt. Later, he asks her out for hot cocoa. She gives him her digits.
Neighbor Nina and Melody do some serious bonding. It starts when Nina brings over food to welcome Melody to the neighborhood and ends up passing out on Melody’s kitchen floor. She’s just exhausted, Nina claims, and overworked. Melody offers to help out with Holly and Ivy a couple of days a week, to help relieve Nina’s workload.
Melody is a natural with the girls, especially with Holly, who is a big reader. They share books, they bond over Trixie Belden, they talk about vision boards. They get close, quickly. Melody helps Nina and the kids decorate their Christmas tree, and Nina finally reveals the real reason behind her fainting: her lymphoma, which she battled twice before, is back.
Melody reveals to Nina that she was raised in foster care. Nina says that she, also, has no family, and that she worries what will happen to her kids if she can’t beat the lymphoma this time around. Melody blurts out: “I”ll take them.”
Ok, then!
Melody and Adam finally go on that hot cocoa date, after which Adam comes over to look at Melody’s house. He offers to build her a window seat, because -- even though his parents want him to take over one of their family’s car dealerships -- furniture building is his “overwhelming passion.” Melody encourages him to follow his dream. She quotes some Roald Dahl at him, a solid children’s librarian move. In response, Adam says, “You wanna maybe quote me some more kids books on another date?” HOT.
Melody delivers the program she “developed in library school” at the local public library. It appears to be… a paper snowflake workshop? Which… is nice? But Grandma Librarian’s got that library so tricked out with trees and Santas, I’m pretty sure she already knows her way around some white paper and scissors, is all I’m saying. ANYWAY. Melody starts following the librarian around the library -- like, literally FOLLOWING her around while she puts books away, proposing various program ideas to her. A giving tree. Book adoptions. Something called “elf school.” Finally the librarian turns to Melody and says, patiently and expertly, “Melody, I’m going to think about all of these ideas.” and then walks away. Psssst, Melody: she’s not gonna think about all of those ideas.
Melody goes to talk to a lawyer about options for becoming guardian to Nina’s kids. The lawyer is all: that’s great, but you don’t have a job and your house isn’t up to code. In order for the state to even consider appointing her as a guardian, her home will need to be safe. If only there were a hot contractor Melody could ask to help her with this project.
Nina’s getting sicker. Melody submits paperwork for guardianship of the girls, and her home inspection date is set for December 28th. Melody feels the time crunch and, frankly, the money crunch. She starts applying to information technology jobs and, quickly, gets called for an interview, with a company called Westminster Data Management. It’s a six-month maternity leave contract, and Melody accepts. It’s not her dream, but she needs cash to fund her home repairs.
Speaking of those repairs: it’s Adam to the rescue! He surprises Melody by showing up at her house on Christmas Eve morning with a crew of workers, ready to bring the place up to code. Melody is emotional, overwhelmed with gratitude. “I spent my whole life believing I had to do everything by myself,” she swoons. Nina replies, as per her contract with the Wisconsin Board of Tourism, “And then you moved to Chippewa Falls.”
By the end of the day, Melody’s house is magically up to code and, for some reason, decorated with MANY poinsettias and wreaths. To make the day even better, Adam’s parents -- who were previously unsupportive but apparently spent the entirety of the film discovering the Spirit of Christmas off-camera -- show up to donate a van for Melody to use to open her own Bookmobile. Maybe Adam could build some custom shelves for the van, they suggest.
Fast forward a year. Nina has passed away, which we are literally told in a two-sentence voiceover like a footnote, JUSTICE FOR NINA. Melody petitions the court to adopt the girls and wins. Melody and the girls are shown opening gifts with Adam on Christmas Eve, pausing to toast Nina with their hot cocoa.
Rating: 8 of 10 Santas for Jeremy Jordan, Wisconsin, and children’s librarians everywhere. Warning for questionable adoption politics and Nina erasure.
Hallmark-approved summary: When Melody’s neighbor, Nina, learns that her illness has returned, Melody promises to keep Nina’s kids, Holly & Ivy, together. To adopt the children, she must renovate her new fixer-upper, which she does with the help of contractor, Adam.
Actual summary: Finally, children’s librarians get the Hallmark movie we deserve.
Cast member prestige: Adam is played by Jeremy Jordan, who I know and love from the film adaptation of the musical The Last Five Years. He is also known for performing a life-alteringly dramatic cover of Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.” You’re welcome. Melody is played by Janel Parrish from Pretty Little Liars, and Nina is played by Marisol Nichols from Riverdale. Pretty solid, all around.
The basics:
Spunky li’l Melody is moving into her new home in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, having just earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Excellent program, Melody. Pulling into the driveway of her new [to her, actually it is a crumbling Victorian] home, Melody meets her new neighbors: single mom Nina and her two kids Holly and Ivy. Melody tells them that she moved to Chippewa Falls to follow her dream of being a children’s librarian. Then she opens the trunk of her car and it is filled to the brim with books. Loose books. Like, not in boxes. This woman just plucked books off her shelves and stuffed them in the car. I had to avert my eyes. A librarian WOULD NEVER.
Once settled in, Melody takes her resume to three different libraries (in Chippewa Falls, WI?), and is soundly rejected at each one. She pulls up in front of a fourth, this one a quaint little building with a sign identifying it as Bridgewater Public Library. Inside, there is a) an overabundance of Christmas decorations, and b) an elderly librarian who says they can’t hire Melody but could take her on as a volunteer.
Melody: But I have a Master’s Degree.
[Melinda, taking a break from chiselling an entire ecosystem of dried bird shit off of her Storywalk : YES, TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT.]
Elderly Librarian: With that kind of degree you should look for a job in data management or information technology - that’s how people are using their library science degrees these days.
[Melinda: stares blankly]
Ultimately, they agree that Melody will come lead a children’s program - that she developed in library school - for free, and then maybe, if the library likes it, they will consider hiring and paying her.
Later, Melody is shopping in the local hardware store for materials to use in fixing up her new home. She has a meet-cute moment with Adam, a contractor, who tries to mansplain deadbolts to her before realizing that Melody actually knows what she’s talking about. They chat and flirt. Later, he asks her out for hot cocoa. She gives him her digits.
Neighbor Nina and Melody do some serious bonding. It starts when Nina brings over food to welcome Melody to the neighborhood and ends up passing out on Melody’s kitchen floor. She’s just exhausted, Nina claims, and overworked. Melody offers to help out with Holly and Ivy a couple of days a week, to help relieve Nina’s workload.
Melody is a natural with the girls, especially with Holly, who is a big reader. They share books, they bond over Trixie Belden, they talk about vision boards. They get close, quickly. Melody helps Nina and the kids decorate their Christmas tree, and Nina finally reveals the real reason behind her fainting: her lymphoma, which she battled twice before, is back.
Melody reveals to Nina that she was raised in foster care. Nina says that she, also, has no family, and that she worries what will happen to her kids if she can’t beat the lymphoma this time around. Melody blurts out: “I”ll take them.”
Ok, then!
Melody and Adam finally go on that hot cocoa date, after which Adam comes over to look at Melody’s house. He offers to build her a window seat, because -- even though his parents want him to take over one of their family’s car dealerships -- furniture building is his “overwhelming passion.” Melody encourages him to follow his dream. She quotes some Roald Dahl at him, a solid children’s librarian move. In response, Adam says, “You wanna maybe quote me some more kids books on another date?” HOT.
Melody delivers the program she “developed in library school” at the local public library. It appears to be… a paper snowflake workshop? Which… is nice? But Grandma Librarian’s got that library so tricked out with trees and Santas, I’m pretty sure she already knows her way around some white paper and scissors, is all I’m saying. ANYWAY. Melody starts following the librarian around the library -- like, literally FOLLOWING her around while she puts books away, proposing various program ideas to her. A giving tree. Book adoptions. Something called “elf school.” Finally the librarian turns to Melody and says, patiently and expertly, “Melody, I’m going to think about all of these ideas.” and then walks away. Psssst, Melody: she’s not gonna think about all of those ideas.
Melody goes to talk to a lawyer about options for becoming guardian to Nina’s kids. The lawyer is all: that’s great, but you don’t have a job and your house isn’t up to code. In order for the state to even consider appointing her as a guardian, her home will need to be safe. If only there were a hot contractor Melody could ask to help her with this project.
Nina’s getting sicker. Melody submits paperwork for guardianship of the girls, and her home inspection date is set for December 28th. Melody feels the time crunch and, frankly, the money crunch. She starts applying to information technology jobs and, quickly, gets called for an interview, with a company called Westminster Data Management. It’s a six-month maternity leave contract, and Melody accepts. It’s not her dream, but she needs cash to fund her home repairs.
Speaking of those repairs: it’s Adam to the rescue! He surprises Melody by showing up at her house on Christmas Eve morning with a crew of workers, ready to bring the place up to code. Melody is emotional, overwhelmed with gratitude. “I spent my whole life believing I had to do everything by myself,” she swoons. Nina replies, as per her contract with the Wisconsin Board of Tourism, “And then you moved to Chippewa Falls.”
By the end of the day, Melody’s house is magically up to code and, for some reason, decorated with MANY poinsettias and wreaths. To make the day even better, Adam’s parents -- who were previously unsupportive but apparently spent the entirety of the film discovering the Spirit of Christmas off-camera -- show up to donate a van for Melody to use to open her own Bookmobile. Maybe Adam could build some custom shelves for the van, they suggest.
Fast forward a year. Nina has passed away, which we are literally told in a two-sentence voiceover like a footnote, JUSTICE FOR NINA. Melody petitions the court to adopt the girls and wins. Melody and the girls are shown opening gifts with Adam on Christmas Eve, pausing to toast Nina with their hot cocoa.
Rating: 8 of 10 Santas for Jeremy Jordan, Wisconsin, and children’s librarians everywhere. Warning for questionable adoption politics and Nina erasure.
I know I only sometimes recall budgets are a thing, my real question is how does she get paid for her bookmobile? Like, if they already have all these libraries in a small town how on earth is there more money for a book mobile. From a municipal budgeting perspective this is just not realistic.
ReplyDeleteAlso, from a family law perspective, this sounds like an incredibly bad system.