Review

Movie Review: Christmas in Rome
Subtitle: "When in Rome, Do as the Hallmark Leads Do—Fall in Love Over Pasta and Festive Lights."

Christmas in Rome is what happens when Hallmark decides to take its tried-and-true formula, slap a passport on it, and sprinkle it with a dash of Roman holiday magic. It's the story of Angela (Lacey Chabert), a tour guide so passionate about Rome that she’s basically a walking history book, and Oliver (Sam Page), a buttoned-up businessman with the charm of a well-tailored suit and the emotional depth of an espresso shot—at first.

The plot is simple: Angela gets fired from her tour guide job (because apparently being too enthusiastic about Rome is a fireable offense), and Oliver, who’s in town to negotiate a business deal involving a family-owned ceramics company, hires her to show him around. Because when in doubt, hire your own personal Hallmark-certified manic pixie tour guide.

From there, we’re treated to a whirlwind of Roman clichés so on the nose you’d think they were reading from a travel brochure. There are gelato-fueled strolls, magical views of the Colosseum, and impromptu Vespa rides that somehow don’t end in traffic disasters. Angela’s relentless enthusiasm for all things Rome contrasts hilariously with Oliver’s initial “I don’t have time for fun; I’m here to close deals” attitude. But don’t worry—Rome, with its cobblestone streets and twinkling Christmas lights, soon works its charm on him. (As does Angela, of course.)

The romance unfolds like a well-cooked plate of spaghetti—comforting, satisfying, and a little messy in spots. Lacey Chabert does what she does best, bringing her signature doe-eyed earnestness to Angela, while Sam Page’s Oliver transitions seamlessly from uptight businessman to heart-eyed tourist. Their chemistry is undeniable, even if their conversations occasionally feel like they were scripted by someone who just Googled “Italian phrases to sound romantic.”

But let’s talk about the real star of the show: Rome. Every scene looks like it was shot in the middle of an Italian postcard. The piazzas, the fountains, the Christmas markets—it’s enough to make you consider blowing your savings on a Roman holiday, even if you’ll likely never run into a dreamy ceramics negotiator while eating gelato.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Hallmark movie without a few hilariously unrealistic moments. For instance, Oliver’s business problems are solved with Angela’s advice to “focus on the heart” of the deal, which somehow works, because corporate negotiations in Hallmark world are powered by feelings. And let’s not forget Angela’s firing—if loving Rome too much is a crime, I guess she’s guilty as charged.

Final Verdict: 4.5/5 gelatos. Christmas in Rome is exactly what you’d expect from a Hallmark movie set in the Eternal City: cheesy, predictable, and dripping with holiday charm. It’s like a bowl of carbonara—familiar, comforting, and totally satisfying, even if you know exactly what you’re getting. Watch it with a glass of wine and an “I ❤️ Rome” mug filled with cocoa, and let yourself be swept away by the romance, the lights, and the sheer audacity of a businessman learning the true meaning of life in just three days. When in Rome, after all!