Ever get that weird, heavy feeling in your chest when you realize a memory is just... a memory? That's the vibe Hallmark Movies & Mysteries tapped into with the 2022 release of Five More Minutes: Moments Like These. It isn't just another cookie-cutter holiday flick. It’s actually inspired by the lyrics of Scotty McCreery’s hit song, which gives it this grounded, almost aching sense of nostalgia that most TV movies miss. Honestly, the cast of Five More Minutes: Moments Like These is what makes the whole thing work. Without the specific chemistry between Ashley Williams and Lucas Bryant, the plot—which involves a young widow and a Christmas wish—could have easily drifted into being too "saccharine."
Instead, it feels real.
The Faces Behind the Story: Who Stars in Five More Minutes: Moments Like These?
Ashley Williams plays Kaitlyn. You probably know her as Victoria from How I Met Your Mother or from her dozens of other Hallmark projects, but she brings something different here. She has this frantic, "I’m holding it all together" energy that feels incredibly relatable to anyone juggling grief and parenthood. In the film, Kaitlyn is a widow moving into a new home with her young son, Adam. She’s trying to preserve the memory of her late husband while somehow finding a way to move forward. It’s a messy balance.
Then there’s Lucas Bryant. He plays Matthew.
If you were a fan of the Syfy series Haven, you’ll recognize him immediately as Nathan Wuornos. Bryant has this incredibly understated way of acting. He doesn't overdo the "love interest" tropes. He plays Matthew with a quiet patience that acts as a perfect foil to Williams’ more high-energy performance. Their interaction isn't just about "falling in love." It’s about two adults navigating the complexities of timing and shared history.
The supporting cast is just as vital.
- Brady Droulis plays Adam, Kaitlyn's son. Child actors can be hit or miss, but Droulis captures that specific childhood wonder mixed with the confusion of loss.
- Fred Henderson appears as Grandpa, providing that bridge to the past that the "Five More Minutes" theme requires.
- Carey Feehan and Frances Flanagan round out the ensemble, filling in the world of the small town and the family dynamics that make the setting feel lived-in.
Why the Casting Works for This Specific Sequel
Technically, this is a "sequel" in the sense that it follows the 2021 Five More Minutes, but it’s an anthology style. New characters, new story, same emotional core. The producers didn't just try to replicate the first one. They leaned into the "moments like these" aspect of the title. The cast of Five More Minutes: Moments Like These had to sell the idea of a supernatural or "Christmas miracle" element without it looking goofy.
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When Kaitlyn’s son makes a wish for five more minutes with his dad, and then things start happening—clues appearing, memories resurfacing—it requires the actors to react with genuine awe rather than just checking off plot points. Williams is great at that "is this actually happening?" face.
The Scotty McCreery Connection
You can't talk about the cast and the film without mentioning the man who started it all. Scotty McCreery didn't just lend a song title; he’s an executive producer.
The song "Five More Minutes" was written after McCreery lost his grandfather. It’s deeply personal. That DNA is all over the movie. The cast had a high bar to clear because the song is so beloved in the country music world for its raw honesty about wanting just a little more time with the people we've lost.
Actually, the movie does a great job of showing that those "five minutes" aren't always about a physical manifestation. Sometimes it's about a realization or a piece of advice that finally clicks.
Breaking Down the Filming and Chemistry
The movie was filmed in British Columbia, specifically around Vancouver and the surrounding areas like Langley. This is standard for Hallmark, but the cinematography in Moments Like These feels a bit more intimate. There are a lot of close-ups on Williams and Bryant.
Their chemistry is "slow burn."
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It’s not a "meet-cute where they spill coffee on each other" situation. It’s a "we’re helping each other through a difficult transition" situation. Bryant’s Matthew is a contractor helping Kaitlyn with her new house. It’s a classic trope, sure, but the dialogue stays grounded. They talk like actual adults. They have hesitations. They have baggage.
A Quick Look at the Main Players' Career Paths
- Ashley Williams: Beyond Hallmark, she’s a massive advocate for birth doulas and has written extensively about her own life experiences. This "real world" depth shows up in her acting. She isn't just a "Hallmark Queen"; she's a versatile performer who understands the nuances of motherhood.
- Lucas Bryant: He’s a Canadian-American actor who has spent years in much darker, more complex roles (like Haven or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.). Bringing that "leading man" gravitas to a holiday film gives the movie a weight it wouldn't have otherwise.
- The Director: Kevin Fair. He’s a veteran in the TV movie world. He knows exactly how to pace these stories so they don't get bogged down in the sad parts, keeping the "Christmas spirit" alive even when dealing with themes of loss.
What People Get Wrong About This Movie
People often assume these movies are just background noise for when you're wrapping presents. And for some, they are. But Five More Minutes: Moments Like These tackles the "Second Christmas" phenomenon.
The first Christmas after a loss is pure survival. The second one? That's when the reality sets in. That's when you realize life is moving on without the person you love. The cast portrays this transition with a lot of grace. Kaitlyn isn't just sad; she's trying to figure out how to give her son a joyful life while her own heart is still mending.
It’s a specific kind of "moments like these" that the movie highlights—the small, quiet ones.
Behind the Scenes Tidbits
Interestingly, the production had to balance the "magic" of the wish with the reality of the setting. If you watch closely, the production design uses a lot of "memory triggers"—old photos, specific ornaments, and even the way the house is lit.
The actors have mentioned in interviews that the set felt very familial. Because the story is so focused on a small group of people, the cast of Five More Minutes: Moments Like These spent a lot of time in that "new house" set, which helped build the lived-in feel of the family unit.
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Key Moments to Watch For
- The Wish Scene: Watch Brady Droulis's performance here. It’s heartbreakingly sincere.
- The Attic Discovery: This is where the mystery element kicks in. The way Ashley Williams handles the "clues" feels like a woman genuinely searching for a sign.
- The Final Act: No spoilers, but the resolution of the "five minutes" wish is handled with more nuance than you might expect from a standard holiday film.
The Impact of the "Five More Minutes" Brand
Hallmark has found a goldmine with this concept. Why? Because everyone—literally everyone—has someone they wish they could have five more minutes with. By casting actors like Williams and Bryant who have established trust with the audience, they ensure the emotional beats land.
It’s not just about the cast of Five More Minutes: Moments Like These; it’s about the collective experience of the audience. We see our own losses in Kaitlyn’s struggle. We see our own hopes in Matthew’s support.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Watch
If you’re planning on sitting down with this movie, keep a few things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Listen to the Lyrics: Before you watch, play Scotty McCreery’s "Five More Minutes." It sets the emotional stage for what the movie is trying to achieve.
- Look for the Details: The movie uses "Easter eggs" or small visual cues that tie back to the original song and the first movie’s themes.
- Check Out the Lead Actors' Other Work: If you like Lucas Bryant here, go watch Haven. If you love Ashley Williams, her "Sister Swap" movies with her real-life sister Kimberly Williams-Paisley are a great next step.
- Keep Tissues Handy: Seriously. Even if you think you’re immune to Hallmark movies, the "wish" storyline is designed to pull at the heartstrings of anyone who has ever experienced a loss.
The film stands as a reminder that while we can't actually get more time, we can change how we honor the time we already had. It's a solid, well-acted piece of holiday media that earns its emotional moments through a dedicated cast and a script that respects its source material.
Next Steps for Fans: Check out the original Five More Minutes (2021) starring Nikki DeLoach to see how the anthology began. If you're interested in the music-to-movie pipeline, look into other Hallmark films inspired by country hits, such as A Nashville Legacy. To stay updated on Ashley Williams' upcoming projects, following her social media often provides "behind-the-curtain" looks at how these movies are filmed in the snowy trenches of Canada.