Review

Movie Review: Open by Christmas
Subtitle: “When Letters, Love, and a Lot of Glitter Collide.”

Open by Christmas is Hallmark’s sweet and slightly ridiculous take on second chances, unsent love letters, and the power of Christmas to fix everything—including the fact that you’ve been hiding your feelings for 15 years. It’s a holiday movie that combines nostalgia, romance, and enough gift-wrapped awkwardness to make you wonder if your own mailbox is hiding secret letters of love.

The story follows Nicky (Alison Sweeney), a woman who finds a mysterious Christmas card from a secret admirer in her childhood home. The card is accompanied by a letter that was never opened, and as she sets out to find the sender, she uncovers long-buried feelings, family drama, and the slightly improbable chance that her childhood crush (played by the always-swoon-worthy Brennan Elliott) is somehow still the guy of her dreams.

Alison Sweeney’s Nicky is relatable and charming, balancing her big-city ambition with her small-town roots. She’s determined to unravel the mystery of the letter and reclaim her lost love (without making it too awkward, of course). Brennan Elliott’s Derek is the classically perfect Hallmark hero: handsome, caring, and conveniently still living in the same town with the same undying feelings for Nicky, despite years of non-communication. Their chemistry is as obvious as the glitter falling off the Christmas tree in every scene—sweet, inevitable, and a little bit magical.

The humor comes from Nicky’s increasingly comical attempts to investigate the origins of the letter while pretending not to have any feelings for Derek—despite the fact that every time they’re in the same room, the air crackles with romantic tension. Watching Nicky awkwardly dodge the truth, while Derek stands there being all “I know you still like me, but I’m not going to make this easy,” is a rom-com formula we know and love. Add in a couple of nosy neighbors, a Christmas tree decorating contest, and a slightly too enthusiastic best friend, and you’ve got a recipe for holiday chaos.

The family dynamics are classic Hallmark: loving, meddling, and entirely too invested in Nicky’s romantic life. Everyone knows what’s going on before she does, and they’re all perfectly happy to offer unsolicited advice in the form of Christmas cookies and late-night hot cocoa sessions. The town itself feels like it’s been dipped in eggnog and glitter—perfectly festive, with snow falling at just the right moments and enough twinkling lights to power a small village.

The romance unfolds predictably but sweetly. Nicky and Derek slowly uncover the past while accidentally creating new memories that lead to the inevitable kiss under the mistletoe moment. By the time they share their first kiss, you’ll be grinning so hard you’ll need a second cup of cocoa (with extra marshmallows) to handle it.

The grand finale delivers everything you want from a Hallmark movie: emotional confessions, a perfectly timed snowfall, and an ending that ties everything up with a big, glittery bow. It’s cheesy, it’s predictable, and it’s exactly the kind of heartwarming holiday fluff you came for.

Open by Christmas is a funny, feel-good rom-com that blends nostalgia, second chances, and just the right amount of holiday magic. It’s perfect for anyone who’s ever wondered about a love letter they never received—or anyone who just wants to watch two people fall in love while untangling Christmas lights. Grab some cocoa, a cozy blanket, and let the holiday magic work its charm. 🎄❤️✨