Review

Movie Review: If I Only Had Christmas
Subtitle: “Dorothy in Kansas City, Corporate Scrooges, and a Whole Lot of Holiday Sparkle.”

If I Only Had Christmas is Hallmark’s charming attempt to channel The Wizard of Oz into a modern-day holiday rom-com. And while there aren’t any flying monkeys or actual ruby slippers, there’s enough Christmas cheer, corporate hijinks, and metaphorical heart-searching to make you wonder if Dorothy traded the Yellow Brick Road for a red carpet and a festive marketing gig.

The movie follows Darcy (Candace Cameron Bure), a plucky publicist who lands her dream job working on a holiday fundraiser for a mysterious billionaire. Darcy is all sunshine and positivity—essentially if Dorothy Gale moved to Kansas City, traded Toto for a smartphone, and made her career goal “saving Christmas, one gala at a time.” Her job pairs her with a grumpy-but-dashing executive, Glenn (Warren Christie), whose serious demeanor screams, “I need to find the true meaning of Christmas, and also maybe love.”

Candace Cameron Bure plays Darcy with her signature bubbly charm, practically bouncing through every scene in her quest to spread holiday joy. Warren Christie’s Glenn is the perfect Hallmark grump: rugged, emotionally guarded, and constantly rolling his eyes at Darcy’s relentless optimism—until, of course, he starts falling for her.

The plot leans hard into its Wizard of Oz references, with Darcy assembling her very own holiday-themed trio of companions: a brainy coworker (the Scarecrow), a kind-hearted event planner (the Tin Man), and a surprisingly brave assistant (the Cowardly Lion). Together, they try to pull off the perfect Christmas gala while Darcy slowly uncovers the mystery behind her enigmatic boss, who’s essentially the Wizard if he also owned a chain of luxury resorts.

The movie is packed with Hallmark staples: decorating cookies, accidentally cute moments while stringing Christmas lights, and heartfelt speeches delivered in front of roaring fireplaces. Darcy and Glenn’s romance builds with classic Hallmark awkwardness, featuring plenty of hand-touching and meaningful gazes during a snowball fight. By the time they share their first kiss, you’ll be rooting for them like a munchkin cheering for Dorothy’s victory.

Unintentional hilarity abounds, like Darcy’s ability to solve massive corporate crises with a single pep talk, or Glenn’s bafflement at why anyone enjoys decorating gingerbread houses. But these moments only add to the movie’s charm—because let’s face it, we’re not here for realism; we’re here for Christmas magic.

The grand finale is a sparkling gala that looks like it was designed by Santa’s personal stylist. There’s a big romantic confession, a twist about the mysterious boss, and enough Christmas lights to make the entire town’s power grid flicker. It’s cheesy, heartwarming, and exactly what you’d expect from a Hallmark holiday movie.

If I Only Had Christmas is a lighthearted, feel-good film that delivers on its promise of romance, holiday spirit, and enough Wizard of Oz winks to keep fans grinning. It’s perfect for anyone who loves cheerful heroines, reluctant heroes, and the idea that there really is no place like a Hallmark Christmas. 🎄✨❤️