Review

Movie Review: "Christmas at the Plaza"
Or, as I like to call it, "The Hallmark Guide to Decorating and Romance in Five Easy Steps."

"Christmas at the Plaza" is the cinematic equivalent of a hot cup of cocoa—sweet, comforting, and a little too sugary if you’re not in the holiday spirit. The story revolves around Jessica (Elizabeth Henstridge), a historian hired by New York’s famed Plaza Hotel to curate a Christmas exhibit. But let’s be real: the only history lesson here is how to find love while surrounded by expensive décor and copious tinsel.

Enter Nick (Ryan Paevey), a charming Christmas decorator who seems to have an endless supply of perfectly coordinated ornaments and charisma. Their banter starts out as frosty as the Plaza’s exterior, but—spoiler alert—it doesn’t take long for their chemistry to heat up faster than a chestnut roasting on an open fire.

The movie ticks all the Hallmark boxes:
- Snowy NYC scenes: Check.
- Misunderstandings: Double check.
- An “I’ll help you carry that ridiculously heavy tree” moment: Of course.
- An antagonist boyfriend who’s so boring he might as well be made of cardboard: Oh, you bet.

Elizabeth Henstridge brings a warm vulnerability to Jessica, a woman trying to balance her love for tradition with her dream of a fulfilling career. Meanwhile, Ryan Paevey delivers his usual swoon-worthy performance, making every line sound like a Hallmark Christmas card come to life. Together, they’re the gingerbread and icing of holiday romance.

Now, let’s talk about the real star of the show: the Plaza Hotel. If this movie doesn’t make you want to blow your holiday budget on a luxury stay, I don’t know what will. The decorations are so dazzling they practically outshine the characters—though, to be fair, Nick probably hung half of them himself.

But let’s not pretend this movie is perfect. The subplot about Jessica’s passion for history feels like an excuse to sprinkle in trivia about the Plaza’s Christmas legacy, and Nick’s backstory is as thin as the wrapping paper he expertly folds. Also, why is there always so much time to sip cocoa in these movies? Do these people ever work?

In the end, "Christmas at the Plaza" is as predictable as it is delightful. You know exactly what you’re getting, and that’s what makes it so enjoyable. It’s the kind of film you watch in your coziest pajamas, surrounded by twinkling lights and a plate of cookies you promised yourself you wouldn’t eat in one sitting. And honestly? Isn’t that what Christmas movies are all about?

Final Verdict: 3.5/5 Christmas trees, with bonus points for the Plaza’s décor and Nick’s inexplicable ability to be both a handyman and a dreamboat. Would I recommend it? Only if you’re ready to embrace the holiday cheese and let yourself believe in love at first ornament.