Review

Movie Review: Christmas CEO
Subtitle: “When Mergers, Marshmallows, and Mistletoe Collide.”

Christmas CEO is Hallmark’s take on corporate drama with a festive twist in this movie off our Hallmark movie list, where boardroom battles are no match for the power of Christmas spirit and unresolved romantic tension. It’s the kind of holiday movie that makes you wonder if business school should include a “how to save your company with cookies” class.

The plot follows Chris (Marisol Nichols), the ambitious CEO of a toy company, who’s laser-focused on a big corporate merger that could take her company global. There’s just one problem: she needs the approval of her former business partner (and ex-boyfriend), Joe (Paul Greene), who now spends his days crafting handmade toys and avoiding corporate nonsense. Naturally, Christmas magic, small-town charm, and their undeniable chemistry conspire to turn this business deal into a second chance at love.

Marisol Nichols’s Chris is your classic Hallmark heroine: career-driven, a little frazzled, and hilariously unprepared for the emotional rollercoaster that comes with running into an ex. Paul Greene’s Joe is her perfect foil: laid-back, good with kids, and clearly still holding a torch for her despite his grumpy protests. Their banter is sharp, their awkward moments are plentiful, and their slow-burn romance is as cozy as a Christmas sweater.

The movie’s humor comes from Chris’s desperate attempts to win Joe over while navigating the kind of small-town holiday festivities that scream, “This merger can wait.” Watching her try to pitch a multimillion-dollar deal in between marshmallow-roasting contests and tree-decorating mishaps is both hilarious and oddly relatable. Joe, meanwhile, seems to enjoy dragging her into every festive activity imaginable—because nothing says “reignite our romance” like a snowball fight that turns into a flirting match in this one off our Hallmark movie list.

The supporting cast is equally delightful. Chris’s corporate cronies are hilariously out of place in the small town, while Joe’s friends and neighbors seem to exist solely to nudge him and Chris closer together. There’s also an adorable kid who’s basically a pint-sized Cupid with a hot chocolate addiction, ensuring that no scene goes without a dose of holiday cheer.

The town itself is classic Hallmark: snow-covered streets, twinkling lights, and more Christmas decorations than you’d think possible outside of Santa’s workshop. It’s the perfect backdrop for Chris and Joe’s growing connection, as they bond over their shared love of toys and their wildly different approaches to business (and life).

The romance builds predictably but sweetly, with all the Hallmark staples: accidental hand brushes, meaningful gazes across a crowded Christmas market, and a grand romantic gesture that involves Joe proving that the best mergers happen outside the boardroom. By the time Chris ditches her corporate ambitions for a life of love and handmade toys, you’ll be cheering like the locals at their annual Christmas parade.

The grand finale delivers everything you’d expect: a heartfelt confession, a kiss under the mistletoe, and a perfectly timed snowfall that ties the whole story up with a festive bow. It’s cheesy, heartwarming, and exactly why you watch Hallmark movies in the first place.

Christmas CEO is a lighthearted, feel-good holiday rom-com that proves even the most corporate-minded can’t resist the magic of Christmas—or the charm of an ex with great hair and a better heart. Watch it with cocoa, cookies, and maybe a notepad for all those small-town holiday business ideas you’ll definitely have by the end in this one off our Hallmark movie list.🎄📈❤️