Review

Christmas Everlasting: When the Eggnog Hits Just Right

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be wrapped in a plaid blanket of predictability while hugging a mug of hot cocoa, then “Christmas Everlasting” is the cinematic experience you’ve been yearning for. Let me just say, in the world of Hallmark movies, this one is like a giant cookie-shaped ornament hanging on the evergreen of holiday clichés.

The plot (as if you need to ask) follows Lucy, a super-successful lawyer, who is lured from the big city back to her charming and almost suspiciously festive hometown. Why? Because her sister, who apparently had the foresight of a psychic, has passed away – but don’t worry, she left behind an annual Christmas celebration that Lucy now has to run. Now, call me a cynic, but in the realm of Hallmark holiday movies, you can bet your jingle bells that somewhere among the twinkling lights, Lucy is going to bump into her high school sweetheart, who, surprise, surprise, still looks like he just stepped out of a flannel-clad cologne commercial.

The chemistry between Lucy and her forever lumberjack-looking beau is about as subtle as a snowplow in July. Every interaction is peppered with more longing stares than you can shake a candy cane at, creating an atmosphere so thick with unspoken feelings you could spread it on toast.

And let’s not forget the scenery. In true Hallmark fashion, this movie is dripping with more Christmas cheer than Santa’s workshop in overdrive. The set designer must have had a personal vendetta against unlit surfaces, because everything glows brighter than a child’s eyes on Christmas morning – if those eyes were, in fact, two strands of high-voltage LED lights.

In conclusion, if you’re a fan of Hallmark holiday movies that follow the tried-and-true formula of romance, redemption, and a ridiculous amount of decorative garlands, then grab a bowl of popcorn (and maybe a shot of something stronger) and settle in for “Christmas Everlasting.” It’s a festive romp where emotional baggage gets lost like airline luggage, and love is found in the most predictable of places: right under everyone’s nose – and a mistletoe.