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6.1/10
Christmas Comes Twice
2020
80 minutes
Director
Michael M. Scott
Cast
Tamera Mowry-Housley
Michael Xavier
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Description
Cheryl Jenkins (Mowry-Housley) is an astrophysicist who works for the National Science Foundation reviewing grant applications for projects, although she’d prefer to be working on a project of her own. Cheryl heads home to spend the holidays with her family and first on the agenda is a visit to the annual Christmas carnival with her sister Trish (Zarrin Darnell-Martin, “Burden of Truth”). While there, Cheryl sees a carousel in the distance and ventures over to take a ride. But when the revolutions wind down and she returns to the carnival to find her sister, Cheryl discovers that — somehow — it’s five years earlier. Dissatisfied with where she is in life, Cheryl sees this as a chance to change her path by making different choices. As Cheryl navigates her way through her visit back in time, she’s able to connect with her beloved science teacher Ms. Nelson (Ralph), who was an inspiration to her both in and out of the classroom and had passed away several years previously. The time Cheryl spends with Ms. Nelson as well as with her “frenemy” George (Xavier) helps her find a new appreciation for what she’s doing in life and starts to see George in a new light. But when the carousel returns Cheryl to present-day Christmas with lessons learned, will the love she found be waiting for her?
Professions
Astrophysicist
High School Science Teacher
Mayor
Settings & Cities
Wellsboro (fictional small town)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Washington, D.C.
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
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Review
Movie Review: Christmas Comes Twice
Subtitle: “When a Carousel Gives You a Do-Over, and Love is the Prize.”
Christmas Comes Twice is a Hallmark holiday movie that takes a whimsical twist on time travel and wraps it in twinkling lights, small-town charm, and just the right amount of romantic destiny. It’s a delightful blend of holiday magic, self-reflection, and one of the strangest plot devices ever—a time-traveling Christmas carousel. Yes, really.
The story centers on Cheryl (Tamera Mowry-Housley), a successful astrophysicist who feels unfulfilled in her career and returns home for the holidays. Cue the magical carousel, which inexplicably sends her five years into the past. Now, Cheryl has the chance to relive a pivotal Christmas, revisit old decisions, and maybe fall for George (Michael Xavier), her high school science teacher and current crush, who somehow looks even better in Christmas sweaters than in a lab coat.
Tamera Mowry-Housley is charming as Cheryl, balancing her existential crisis with a genuine enthusiasm for the holidays. Her wide-eyed disbelief at the whole time-travel situation feels relatable—because, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t question their life choices when a carousel starts playing fast and loose with the space-time continuum? Michael Xavier’s George is effortlessly sweet and surprisingly down-to-earth for a man caught in a romantic subplot that involves time travel.
The movie is packed with holiday moments, from cookie decorating to tree lighting ceremonies, all of which conveniently help Cheryl figure out her past, present, and future. The time-travel twist adds a fun layer of absurdity as Cheryl attempts to subtly improve her life while making sure no one suspects she’s a time-traveling astrophysicist on a mission. (Spoiler: They don’t. This is Hallmark, not Doctor Who.)
The romance between Cheryl and George is sweet, slow-building, and full of those classic Hallmark moments: accidental touches, meaningful glances, and conversations that somehow always end with snow gently falling. Watching them reconnect while Cheryl tries to reconcile her ambitious career with her longing for love is both heartwarming and just the right amount of cheesy.
The supporting cast includes Cheryl’s meddling sister, who seems to have a sixth sense for romantic drama, and a group of townsfolk who treat the carousel like it’s just another quirky holiday decoration, not a cosmic time machine. Honestly, the nonchalance is impressive.
The movie leans into its ridiculous premise with gusto, and you’ll find yourself surprisingly invested in whether Cheryl will get her happy ending—or just end up stuck on that carousel for eternity. The Christmas cheer is abundant, the romance is predictable (in the best way), and the time travel? Let’s just say it’s more about the magic than the science.
Christmas Comes Twice is a delightful holiday escape that combines heart, humor, and a carousel that deserves its own IMDb page. It’s perfect for anyone who loves a good second-chance story and isn’t too hung up on the logistics of how time travel works. Grab some cocoa, suspend your disbelief, and enjoy this merry, magical ride. 🎠🎄❤️