Review

Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2 (2019): Unwrapping the Sequel Nobody Knew They Needed

Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2 is a Hallmark sequel that takes the classic "guy meets girl, guy gets amnesia, guy remembers girl" formula from the first movie and asks, “What if we threw even more Christmas at it?” Spoiler alert: it’s somehow both ridiculous and adorable.

Picking up where the original left off, this movie follows Darcy (Ali Liebert) and Aiden (Peter Porte), now a full-blown couple navigating their relationship amidst an onslaught of holiday cheer and quirky small-town shenanigans. Darcy is still a walking Pinterest board of Christmas enthusiasm, and Aiden is as charming as ever, with a smile so perfect it could probably fix all your problems.

This time, the drama revolves around a mysterious antique journal that Darcy finds (because nosy protagonists are a must in Hallmark sequels). Naturally, she becomes obsessed with uncovering its origins, because nothing screams Merry Christmas like a historical research project. Meanwhile, Aiden is dealing with a minor existential crisis about his career, because apparently amnesia wasn’t enough character development for him in the first movie.

The journal’s story unfolds in the background, conveniently aligning with Darcy and Aiden’s relationship struggles because that’s how Christmas magic works. Every clue leads to another opportunity for Darcy to make googly eyes at Aiden while spouting lines like, “Love is the best gift of all.” It’s cheesy, yes, but also kind of heartwarming in a way that makes you wonder if you’ve secretly become a Hallmark fan.

The supporting cast is as delightfully meddlesome as ever. There’s an eccentric neighbor who seems to have made it her life’s mission to ensure Darcy and Aiden get their happily ever after, and a fluffy dog who steals every scene just by existing. Honestly, the dog deserves its own spin-off movie.

Of course, this movie leans hard into the holiday clichés. There are tree-decorating scenes, snowball fights, and enough twinkling lights to make your electric bill cry. And let’s not forget the over-the-top Christmas market, where every booth looks like it was designed by Santa’s most festive elves.

The romance between Darcy and Aiden is as sweet as a sugar cookie, even if their problems feel about as high-stakes as picking the wrong wrapping paper. Their chemistry is undeniable, though, and by the time they’re sharing heartfelt confessions under the mistletoe, you’ll be rooting for them to live happily ever after—or at least until A Gift to Remember 3.

Is Cherished Memories: A Gift to Remember 2 groundbreaking? Absolutely not. But it’s cozy, charming, and exactly what you’d expect from a Hallmark sequel. It’s the cinematic equivalent of finding an extra present under the tree—unexpected, a little unnecessary, but still kind of delightful.

So grab some cocoa, suspend your disbelief, and settle in for a movie that proves Christmas miracles aren’t just for people with amnesia—they’re for everyone with access to cable TV. 🎄📖✨