Review

Movie Review: Haul Out the Holly
Subtitle: "When Christmas Decorations, Family Chaos, and Way Too Much Holiday Spirit Collide in the Most Predictable (But Hilarious) Way."

“Haul Out the Holly” is Hallmark’s latest holiday extravaganza that proves one very important thing: nothing says Christmas like way too many decorations, an overwhelming amount of family drama, and a protagonist who’s just trying to survive the holidays—while being bombarded with unsolicited advice, awkward family reunions, and a little romance on the side. If you’ve ever found yourself face-to-face with an entire village of Christmas lights, with a slightly overwhelming family gathering, this movie is basically your Christmas spirit embodied.

The plot follows Emily (played by Lacey Chabert), a woman who is definitely not ready for the Christmas season. She’s been avoiding her family’s holiday traditions and the intense expectations that come with it. But of course, this year, Emily’s been strongly encouraged (aka, “told”) to get into the holiday spirit and haul out the holly—literally, her family’s over-the-top Christmas decorations that have turned into a “must-see” attraction for the entire neighborhood. And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s got her hands full with dealing with her quirky relatives and the unbearable pressure of living up to their ridiculous holiday expectations. And, of course, she’s forced into the ultimate Christmas challenge: making sure her house is festive enough for the family photo op.

Enter the obligatory love interest (played by Tyler Hynes), a man who’s just too perfect for this kind of movie—handsome, a little grumpy about Christmas, and way too into holiday lights. Naturally, Emily and Tyler share “We’ve totally known each other since childhood” vibes, but the real drama lies in them definitely not falling in love—until they do, of course, because nothing says “Christmas romance” like suspiciously timed encounters under an avalanche of Christmas decorations.

The humor here is classic Hallmark: awkward moments piled on top of even more awkward moments, with a side of overwhelming family chaos. Watching Emily try to manage her family’s unrealistic expectations of her totally overdone Christmas display is like watching someone try to put up Christmas lights while blindfolded. Every time she gets things together, someone else swoops in with an even bigger idea for holiday magic. There’s the cousin who insists on “fixing” the entire neighborhood’s decorations, the aunt who’s always way too excited to make the most ridiculous Christmas cookies, and the mom who wants to recreate every single family tradition—except, you know, without the stress. Of course. Meanwhile, Emily and Tyler try to stay professionally aloof from each other’s holiday mishaps, but it’s basically like watching two people pretend they aren’t clearly meant for each other. (Spoiler: they totally are.)

The small-town setting is peak Hallmark: festive decorations, over-the-top town events, and a neighbor who’s so into Christmas they probably have a live reindeer in their front yard. There’s way too much Christmas cheer happening for Emily to handle—especially when she starts to realize that maybe she’s been avoiding the holiday spirit for way too long because of unresolved family issues. (Plot twist: It’s because her family is ridiculously extra, but what’s a Hallmark movie without slightly dysfunctional relatives who, by the end, have so much love to give?)

The grand finale? Well, it’s exactly what you expect: Emily and Tyler finally admit their feelings (probably after a dramatic snowstorm forces them to share a Christmas tree decorating moment), the holiday lights are “magically” perfect, and Emily’s family finally realizes that they don’t need to go overboard to have a perfect holiday. It’s heartwarming, cheesy, and filled with way too many Christmas puns.

“Haul Out the Holly” is exactly what you want in a holiday movie: festive, funny, and full of family chaos. It’s perfect for anyone who loves over-the-top holiday traditions, awkward family dinners, and the predictable but delightful romance that only Hallmark can deliver. Grab your coziest sweater, a plate of Christmas cookies, and settle in for a movie that will leave you smiling and maybe questioning whether you need to haul out all your decorations—immediately. 🎄💡🎁