Review

Movie Review: Boyfriends of Christmas Past
Subtitle: “A Ghostly Guide to Your Love Life, Holiday Edition.”

Boyfriends of Christmas Past is Hallmark’s answer to the age-old question: What if A Christmas Carol met your exes, and they all had opinions about your dating life? The result is a festive rom-com full of laughs, life lessons, and enough awkward encounters to make you rethink your own romantic history.

The movie follows Lauren (Catherine Haena Kim), a career-focused marketing executive who’s got no time for love—or so she thinks. When she starts getting visited by the ghosts of boyfriends past, present, and potentially future, she’s forced to confront her romantic missteps and figure out why she keeps friend-zoning Nate (Raymond Ablack), her charmingly perfect best friend. Spoiler: It’s Hallmark, so you know exactly why.

Catherine Haena Kim’s Lauren is a delightfully relatable mix of ambition, sass, and mild existential panic as her romantic history is paraded in front of her like a holiday-themed intervention. Raymond Ablack’s Nate is basically the human embodiment of a warm blanket: comforting, reliable, and clearly in love with Lauren, even as she pretends not to notice. Their chemistry is the classic “best friends who are obviously in love but too stubborn to admit it” trope, and it works like magic.

The humor comes from Lauren’s ghostly visitors, who are more exasperated therapists than spooky specters. Each ex-boyfriend serves as a hilariously cringe-worthy reminder of her dating blunders, from the guy who was too into Christmas to the one who ghosted her first—literally and figuratively. Watching Lauren relive these moments is like flipping through your old Facebook photos and realizing every haircut was a mistake.

The movie’s festive setting is peak Hallmark: twinkling lights, snow-covered streets, and more holiday parties than any sane person would attend in a single month. Lauren’s coworkers and friends serve as a comedic Greek chorus, constantly nudging her toward Nate while delivering witty one-liners and questionable advice.

The heart of the movie lies in its emotional arc, as Lauren slowly realizes that her fear of vulnerability is the only thing standing between her and happiness. Cue heartfelt conversations, meaningful glances, and a snowball fight that somehow doubles as foreplay. By the time the movie hits its grand romantic moment—a Christmas Eve confession under a sky full of perfectly timed snow—you’ll be cheering for Lauren and Nate like they’re your best friends.

Boyfriends of Christmas Past is a delightful holiday rom-com that blends humor, heart, and just the right amount of supernatural shenanigans. It’s perfect for anyone who loves second chances, festive nostalgia, and the idea that sometimes, your exes are actually rooting for you—just not with them. Watch it with cocoa, cookies, and a healthy sense of humor about your own romantic history. 🎄👻❤️