Review

Movie Review: Christmas with a Kiss
Subtitle: "When Christmas, Romance, and Way Too Many Perfectly Timed Kisses Collide in the Most Hilariously Predictable Way."

“Christmas with a Kiss” is Hallmark’s one of the latest holiday movies that gives us all the romantic drama, Christmas chaos, and way too many kisses we never knew we needed. If you’ve ever wondered, “What if the Christmas spirit was way too enthusiastic and there were too many accidental romantic moments in a picture-perfect small town during the holidays?”—then this movie is absolutely your holiday dream come true.

The plot follows Emma (played by Sarah Drew), a woman who’s just trying to survive the holidays without getting sucked into the over-the-top Christmas madness that comes with being in a small town that loves Christmas a little too much. After a dreadfully chaotic year, Emma decides to head to her childhood town for a quiet holiday and maybe find herself some peace and quiet. But of course, this is Hallmark, and nothing says “quiet holiday” like a town that has its Christmas decorations up year-round and a romantic past that’s about to come back with a giant bow and a sprinkle of mistletoe.

Enter Jack (played by Kristoffer Polaha, who’s obviously the perfect man for this role), the charming but totally misunderstood guy from Emma’s past. Jack is back in town for the holidays and definitely not into rekindling old flames. Except, of course, that he’s totally into rekindling old flames, and the two of them get caught up in way too many festive moments—from awkward holiday parties to forced, festive traditions like decorating the community Christmas tree and building the world’s largest gingerbread house. Every time Emma and Jack accidentally share a Christmas moment—whether it’s being covered in glitter from a holiday craft disaster or getting stuck under mistletoe (because who isn’t?), you’ll be laughing at how obvious their attraction is, even though they keep insisting they’re not falling for each other.

The comedy comes from the absolute absurdity of the entire “we’re definitely not falling in love” dance. As Emma tries to pretend she’s definitely not interested in Jack, she’s also getting pulled into a whirlwind of romantic moments that are as predictable as they are adorable. Whether it’s a spontaneous snowball fight that ends in too much laughter and awkward eye contact, or a holiday event that forces them to be together more than they want to, you’ll be rooting for them even though they’re definitely pretending they don’t like each other. Every awkward romantic tension moment is paired with too much Christmas magic and way too many kisses to make this predictably heartwarming love story even more entertaining.

Of course, let’s talk about the Christmas magic in holiday movies—because this is Hallmark, and if you’re not feeling festive after watching the entire town of Christmas-obsessed people throw way too many cookie decorating contests, snowball fights, and sudden romantic declarations—then are you really even celebrating the holidays? Emma’s town is so perfectly decorated that you’ll wish you could live in it—it’s got that too-perfect Christmas look, with snowy streets lined with twinkling lights, and even a Christmas parade that, of course, brings everyone together for the most picture-perfect reunion.

The grand finale? As predictable as it gets. After way too many holiday disasters (because no one’s holiday is perfect, right?), Emma and Jack finally realize they’re totally in love—and, naturally, they end up sharing the most perfect Christmas kiss under a snow-covered archway (because it wouldn’t be Hallmark without way too much snow and way too much romantic chemistry). Of course, the whole town gathers to cheer them on, as everyone realizes that Christmas isn’t about having a perfect holiday—it’s about falling in love with the person who’s been right there the whole time.

“Christmas with a Kiss” is the ultimate feel-good, laugh-out-loud, predictable holiday movie that’s filled with romantic tension, Christmas magic, and way too many sweet moments. If you enjoy watching way too much mistletoe, awkward family traditions, and too much holiday cheer that somehow always leads to love, then grab your coziest blanket, a plate of Christmas cookies, and get ready for a movie that will have you laughing, swooning, and probably planning your own romantic holiday getaway.- what the best holiday movies do! 🎄💋