I have always wanted to spend Christmas in London and I live in New York. I want to run away and experience the different traditions, the way that I would think that London would be versus the way it is. It just feels like Christmas in London would be exciting.
It would be different.
As I’ve gotten older, the dream of finding a man with a British accent, whisking me off to London and well, it all sounded perfect.
One of my favorite movies has always been Notting Hill. and Christmas In Notting Hill feels like Hallmarks answer to that movie. It’s a slice of cheesy rom-com perfection mixed with sport.
And Christmas. There definitely is Christmas.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: While visiting her sister Lizzie (Joelle Rae) and Lizzie’s boyfriend, Henry (Peter Rothwell) for the holidays in London’s Notting Hill neighborhood, American Georgia Bright (Sarah Ramos) meets handsome and charismatic famous English footballer Graham Savoy (William Moseley). Graham is charmed by the fact that Georgia has no idea who he is and each feels that initial spark of romance, but they don’t know if they’ll ever see each other again. That is until Georgia finds out that Graham is Henry’s older brother, and Graham finds out that Georgia is Lizzie’s older sister—seems like fate has brought them together again, but as they share each other’s holiday traditions in the days leading up to Christmas, they question if a relationship is possible given the fact that they come from two different worlds.
WHAT IT’S GIVING: We’re in love with a London Boy
STANDOUT PERFORMANCE: Sarah Ramos. She is all of us and we are her… well her character that is.
MY GRINCH-ISH THOUGHTS: Secrets. Romance. Soccer. We’re here for it all. Now, I admit that I am not a soccer fan, but I am a fan of William Moseley so if he wants to be a soccer player, then let the man be one. I will watch and I will drool.
Georgia, played by Sarah Ramos heads to London to see her sister. Seems easy enough, but the thing is it’s never that easy. Situations are complicated. Life is complicated. But I can respect the fact that the person that she runs to is her sister.
The thing is, I thought that to a point that we would have a story that took place with the secondary storying – the secrets – being what takes the forefront and the romance would fail. But Ramos and Moseley have such great chemistry that the romance takes center stage. The two of them are so in sync that you believe that they are falling in love.
Graham is a famous soccer player and Georgia, well, she has no idea who he is. It’s kinda funny to me as we watch Graham try hide his celebrity. Personally, I think that he loved someone not knowing who he was. I mean being a soccer star, is a big thing.
But that’s the thing – you can feel great with someone treating you normal, yet you still need to be honest. Then again, I was a little annoyed with Georgia that she couldn’t figure it out based on how people treated him and someone following them and taking pictures. It made me think that she was naive and I don’t think that is who her character was meant to be.
I think Georgia was a character that was meant to be strong and show that she can overcome whatever bullshit life puts in her way. In my opinion, she forgave him for his lies of omission way too easily. The two don’t know each other because everything was based on a lie.
And that puts up walls.
Well besides the secret of who Graham is, it’s who they really are. With fake names, missed dates, and everything in between, it’s all awkward. But Georgia’s sister, Lizzie is actually dating Graham’s brother. When Georgia and Graham are formally introduced, it seems as though the find themselves put at ease. Maybe it’s the fact that their sister and brother are dating. Maybe it’s that, that gave them validation that they were safe with each other.
It’s how the two come alive with each other that makes you feel like you’re watching them fall in love (or at least be smitten with each other). The way that Graham and Georgia are together makes them easy to watch. With the chemistry that Moseley and Ramos have together that make the movie.
Loved watching the two learn about each other and their traditions.
When the two help to pull off a surprise engagement (between their siblings, not between them), you can’t help but smile, because you watch and think that will be Graham and Georgia one day.
And you hope that it will.
Christmas in Notting Hill is Hallmarks answer to Notting Hill and I loved every moment of it.
CHRISTMAS CHEER FACTOR: 🎄🎄🎄.5