Review

Movie Review: Write Before Christmas
Subtitle: “When Greeting Cards Become Cupid’s Arrows in a Holiday Rom-Com Frenzy.”

Write Before Christmas is what happens when Hallmark combines heartfelt holiday sentiments, a dash of romantic chaos, and a plot that sounds like it was brainstormed at a greeting card convention. It’s a feel-good whirlwind of crossed paths, misty eyes, and enough twinkling lights to power a small country.

The movie follows Jessica (Torrey DeVitto), who’s dealing with a recent breakup and decides to pour her feelings into five Christmas cards, sending them to people who’ve made an impact in her life. What begins as a harmless act of holiday nostalgia quickly turns into a festive butterfly effect that somehow involves a hunky musician, an elderly neighbor, a long-lost friendship, and possibly Santa (okay, not literally).

Jessica’s five-card journey includes:
1. Her hot cello teacher crush from high school, Luke (Chad Michael Murray), now a brooding musician with a jawline sharper than her stationery scissors.
2. Her best friend, who clearly skipped the memo that these cards were about Christmas cheer, not emotional sabotage.
3. Her mom, because obligatory Hallmark tear-jerker moments are a must.
4. Her quirky neighbor, who’s so full of life lessons she might as well be a Hallmark spirit guide.
5. And, for good measure, the delivery guy, because why not?

Torrey DeVitto brings charm and relatability to Jessica, a woman who somehow has the time to meticulously write heartfelt cards while balancing the usual Hallmark-level Christmas activities. Chad Michael Murray as Luke is, predictably, a total dreamboat, with just the right amount of broody musician energy. Watching their relationship unfold is a masterclass in Hallmark chemistry, featuring lingering looks, awkward cookie-baking attempts, and, yes, a cello duet that feels way more romantic than it should.

The supporting characters steal the show, from Jessica’s hilariously nosy friend to Luke’s meddling sister, who deserves her own spin-off called Matchmaking Before Christmas. And let’s not forget the town itself, which looks like a Christmas card exploded onto every building, tree, and unsuspecting bystander.

Unintentionally funny highlights include:
- Luke’s brooding cello solos, which are treated like life-changing emotional events instead of mildly melancholic tunes.
- Jessica’s magical ability to write five cards and accidentally change everyone’s lives in the span of one holiday season.
- The sheer convenience of all these characters living within snowball-throwing distance of each other.

And then there’s the Big Romantic Moment, where Luke and Jessica finally confess their feelings in front of a picturesque Christmas backdrop so perfect it probably has its own Instagram account. The dialogue is peak Hallmark cheesiness, but by that point, you’re too invested to care.

Write Before Christmas is a delightful mix of romance, sentimentality, and unintentional hilarity. It’s the kind of movie that makes you believe in the power of words, love, and holiday clichés. Grab a box of cookies and some blank cards—you might just feel inspired to send a few of your own by the time the credits roll. 🎄✉️❤️