With Christmas approaching in New York City, Jessica, an archival historian enmeshed in a declining romantic relationship, is hired to create an exhibition honoring the history of Christmas at The Plaza Hotel. There, she meets Nick, a handsome decorator who’s been commissioned to deck out the iconic landmark. When they’re paired together to prepare the exhibition, they wind up enjoying a host of holiday traditions together and find themselves falling for each other. Tensions soon rise as Jessica must figure out her romantic priorities and decide with whom she’ll ultimately spend Christmas at The Plaza. Starring Elizabeth Henstridge, Ryan Paevey, Bruce Davison and Julia Duffy.
Elizabeth Henstridge and Ryan Paevey’s Chemistry
I don’t feel like Christmas movies are made to be judged. I feel like they are made just to make you happy. But the reality is that everything in life gets judged. People have actual jobs to do just that. Myself, included.
I will be the first to admit that most couples in Christmas Movies feel like they were names drawn out of a hat and just thrown on the screen. But these two – there was chemistry. There was this electricity that jumped off the screen and made you feel at home in their presence. You felt like you were watching two characters actually fall in love.
And that’s the best kind of romance in a movie. The one that takes you out of it being a movie and the one that leaves you feeling like you’re just watching everything happen to people in front of you.
I smiled for them. I cried for them. I laughed for them
And I cheered their way through the natural evolution of finding their way to each other.
The Backdrop of New York
And I will say this – the backdrop of New York is always something that brings me to life. Why? Because there is something magical about New York, especially during the holidays.
New York is Christmas. But Christmas at The Plaza has a certain mystique to it. It’s the place where we all believe that we can get lost. It’s the place where we believe that dreams can come true.
The Plaza is iconic and it is New York.
But the thing about this movie is that it doesn’t just set it at The Plaza. You see the city – little parts of it – and make sense of the little things that make New York feel alive.
I think that Hallmark movies are great set in small towns, don’t get me wrong. But there is also something about them being set in cities that makes them great. We all aren’t going to move to small towns and we aren’t all going to move to big cities. But seeing that they can be in both is pleasing.
A Passion for History
I loved the approach that this story took – that the overall thing was history of tree toppers at The Plaza. It was original and something I had never seen. Also didn’t know there was such a fancy word for tree toppers. But anyhow, it was the search through the history of The Plaza that made me want to look into New York’s history. And I love that this movie was able to inspire me to look into the history of New York.
New York is a city full of passion and I love to be inspired by it.
The Spirit of Christmas
Tis the season! I am the grinch, I admit it. But this movie made me get lost in the season and enjoy it. The spirit of Christmas wasn’t overbearing, it was just there.
And it made me feel like I was at home with the holidays.
I loved that the main character specifically decorated for Christmas. And the whole ugly sweater, karaoke, and Christmas things. MY HEART!
I love that this made me love Christmas.
A Happy Ending
I have yet to see a Hallmark movie that doesn’t have a happy ending, but I am all for it. And I love the way this happy ending came about.
Overall Thoughts
- The entire thing with the bellhop – OMG I loved it
- Hallmark needs more movies like this.
- New York is a great setting for anything
This movie has been my favorite Christmas movie thus far. Hallmark has felt like a little let down thus far, but this movie restored my faith in the holiday movies to come. You can’t miss this one.
