Review

Movie Review: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Subtitle: "When Christmas Eve, Holiday Chaos, and Way Too Many Unexpected Surprises Collide in the Most Hilariously Predictable Way."

'Twas the Night Before Christmas is Hallmark’s latest yuletide adventure where the only thing more chaotic than the holiday preparations is the ridiculously perfect love story that’s definitely going to happen—but only after way too many misunderstandings, disastrous holiday mishaps, and way too many plates of cookies. If you’ve ever wondered, “What if Christmas Eve was more about last-minute decorating, family drama, and random holiday miracles?”—this movie is definitely for you.

The plot follows Maggie (played by Jodie Sweetin, because obviously)—a woman who’s been way too busy with work to even think about the holidays. Of course, the universe has other plans for her. With her family’s annual Christmas Eve celebration fast approaching, Maggie finds herself in utter chaos as she’s forced to return home, only to discover that everything about her perfect Christmas is about to go completely sideways.

Enter her childhood crush (played by Andrew W. Walker), who just so happens to be way too charming, back in town, and also—conveniently enough—completely in charge of Christmas Eve festivities. Obviously, Maggie's trying to avoid rekindling any old flames (even though her heart clearly wants to get swept away in a sea of Christmas nostalgia and way too many mistletoe moments). Naturally, the two are forced to work together to save the Christmas party (because why wouldn’t the whole town want to get involved in their Christmas drama?), and if you’ve ever watched a Hallmark movie, you know exactly how this one’s going to go. It’s a series of perfectly timed accidents, awkward moments under Christmas lights, and a magical romance that definitely blossoms amidst a snowstorm—because nothing says “Christmas miracle” like snow in every Hallmark movie.

The humor in this movie comes from watching Maggie pretend she has it together while her holiday plans slowly spiral out of control. She’s trying to get the perfect Christmas dinner ready while juggling way too many family expectations—from her aunt who insists on adding one more decoration (even though the tree’s already at maximum ornament capacity) to her cousin who insists that this year’s holiday games will change everything (spoiler alert: they don’t). Watching Maggie try to manage the family chaos, rekindle old relationships, and somehow keep the Christmas party from becoming a full-scale disaster is pure comedy gold. At every turn, Maggie finds herself being swept up in way too much holiday spirit—and probably too many Christmas cookies—and at some point, you’ll wonder how she’s still standing after all the accidental baking disasters, way-too-festive decorations, and over-the-top family traditions.

And then there’s the romance. Oh yes, the romantic tension. Maggie and her childhood crush have that classic Hallmark “I’m not falling in love with you, but clearly, I am” vibe that is impossibly sweet and ridiculously predictable. Every time they share a conversation about their high school memories or share a moment over a Christmas light disaster, you’ll be rolling your eyes—and loving every second of it. The sudden realization that they’re meant to be together after way too many misunderstandings and perfectly timed Christmas kisses is like watching a holiday card come to life, and it’s so cheesy, yet you’re so into it. It’s basically Hallmark’s love story formula wrapped up in a Christmas bow.

And let’s not forget the town itself—because no Hallmark Christmas movie is complete without an over-the-top festive town where everything looks like it’s straight out of a holiday postcard. The streets are lined with twinkling lights, the stores are filled with way too many Christmas decorations, and the entire town seems to be magically coordinated to make sure Maggie’s family Christmas is 100% chaotic—and 100% adorable. There’s the Christmas Eve countdown, the massive family party where everything goes wrong until it finally goes perfectly right, and the inevitable mishap involving Christmas trees—because, well, it wouldn’t be a Hallmark movie without one too many tree-related issues.

The grand finale? As expected, everything comes together in the most predictable yet heartwarming way. Maggie and her childhood crush realize that their perfect Christmas was right in front of them all along—after a snowstorm, a magical kiss under the mistletoe, and an over-the-top holiday toast. The town celebrates with one final Christmas miracle, and all of the perfectly timed holiday moments come to fruition.

“’Twas the Night Before Christmas” is exactly what you want in a holiday movie: heartwarming, funny, and filled with all the predictable holiday cheer you can handle. If you enjoy watching a woman accidentally save Christmas, rekindle a romance, and be reminded that everything works out perfectly in the end—then grab your coziest blanket, a mug of cocoa, and settle in for a Christmas movie that’s just as festive as it is ridiculously charming. 🎄🎁💋