Review

Movie Review: Cross Country Christmas
Subtitle: “Planes, Trains, and Too Many Holiday Shenanigans.”

Cross Country Christmas is Hallmark’s take on a festive road trip where everything that can go wrong does—except, of course, the romance. It’s a holiday tale packed with misadventures, misunderstandings, and two people slowly falling in love as they navigate an increasingly absurd journey home for Christmas.

The story follows Lina (Rachael Leigh Cook), a charmingly Type-A woman determined to make it home to Colorado for Christmas, and Max (Greyston Holt), her old high school acquaintance who happens to be on the same flight. When a snowstorm derails their travel plans, they’re forced to team up to reach their destination by any means necessary. Spoiler: “any means necessary” includes farm trucks, hayrides, and a reindeer-themed sidecar (okay, maybe not that last one, but it wouldn’t feel out of place).

Rachael Leigh Cook’s Lina is delightfully exasperated for most of the movie, which is understandable given the increasingly bizarre obstacles they face. Greyston Holt’s Max is the laid-back yin to her tightly wound yang, bringing just the right amount of charm and holiday cheer to keep her from losing it completely. Together, they bicker, banter, and stumble into enough romantic tension to light up a Christmas tree.

The road trip premise is ripe for comedy, and the movie delivers. Lina and Max find themselves in a series of increasingly ridiculous scenarios, including:
- Getting stranded in the middle of nowhere after their rideshare driver mysteriously vanishes.
- Trying to hitch a ride with a Christmas tree delivery truck that’s so overloaded it feels like Santa’s sleigh had a breakdown.
- Crashing a small-town Christmas festival where they’re somehow roped into a cookie-decorating contest against a bunch of seven-year-olds.

Despite the chaos, their journey is sprinkled with classic Hallmark moments: decorating a random stranger’s tree, making snow angels on the side of the road, and sharing heartfelt conversations about their lives, dreams, and why they’re still single (spoiler: it’s Hallmark; everyone is always single and adorable).

The supporting cast is a delightful mix of quirky small-town characters and conveniently helpful strangers, including a farmer who seems suspiciously good at matchmaking and a diner waitress who somehow knows Lina and Max belong together before they do.

By the time they finally make it to Colorado—complete with a dramatic last-minute dash to the Christmas dinner table—it’s clear that this isn’t just a journey to get home. It’s a journey to discover love, teamwork, and the magical power of shared exasperation during a holiday travel nightmare.

Cross Country Christmas is equal parts sweet and silly, with just the right amount of holiday magic to keep you smiling through the absurdity. It’s the perfect movie for anyone who’s ever been stuck in an airport during the holidays—or just loves the idea that a missed flight might lead to the romance of a lifetime. Pack your snacks, suspend your disbelief, and enjoy this wild sleigh ride of a rom-com. 🎄🚗❤️