Countdown To Christmas 2024 Review: Christmas With The Singhs

Traditions. We all have them, especially around the holidays. Some traditions are based in our cultures, some based in family – but all are based in something. Honoring them is something that is som important no matter where they came from. Traditions shape us.

For newly engaged Asha Singh and Jake O’Brien, traditions are challenged in this Countdown to Christmas movie. In Christmas With The Singhs, Jake and Asha are newly engaged. They are excited to spend Christmas together, but their relationship is tested when their families’ cultural and holiday traditions clash.

And boy do they clash.

The two grew up in the same town and reconnected in the city. Jake was injured while trying to help someone and ended up in the emergency room. It’s there where he runs into Asha, a nurse practitioner, whom he once went to high school with. The two connect immediately and in my shock – we have them kissing that same night. Totally not against this. All for it.

Go Hallmark.

In what feels like a quick montage, we see Ben and Asha over the course of a year. Anuja Joshi and Benjamin Hollingsworth are magic as Jake and Asha. Though the montage shows the two characters falling for each other, it would not have been sold convincingly if it wasn’t for Anuja and Benjamin.

The two have an onscreen chemistry that just glows. I do believe that part of it is that you can see their passion for these roles and showcasing the love that Ben and Asha are sharing. It’s because of the way that they play off of each other that you find yourself drawn in.

For me, even one point screaming at the television to tell Hollingsworth’s character of Jake to pay better attention to Asha. He would make little comments and not seem to notice that those comments hurt her.

Asha has a guilt that she has to be one way because of all of the things that her parents have sacrificed for her. She sees the way that her father is treating Jake and doesn’t like it, but doesn’t know how to talk against it. For her – she’s been her fathers entire world and she knows the way that he thinks. His traditions and his judgement matters to her. She can’t and wont take it for granted.

Asha’s parents aren’t the only ones that are hung up on traditions and culture. So are Jakes. They feel that they are doing everything that they are supposed to in order to honor the Singhs traditions, but that is not something that is being reciprocated.

Over the course of fourty or so minutes, it seems like one misunderstanding after another. The families are trying to navigate everyones opinion, but the people who are suffering are Jake and Asha. The difficulty of seeing their parents not get along, one snide comment after another, and the avalanche or rude interactions drives Asha to her breaking point.

And she needs space.

It’s always frustrating to me that in movies that really examine a father/daughter relationship – it almost always takes the daughter getting her heartbroken for the father to reexamine their actions. I do love a father making everything right and doing what is best for their daughter. However, that being said, I do get the trope. I just wish it didn’t have to always go to the point of heartbreak.

While everyone tries to make everything right, we do get to see the love that Jake and Asha share. They are going to survive the ups and downs of their relationship and the family will find the way.

Anuja Joshi and Benjamin Hollingsworth shine in Christmas With The Singhs. The movie is beautiful, heartbreaking, and gives hope. The two are magnetic.

OTHER THOUGHTS

• I really loved Asha’s Mom. She was always trying to be positive and supportive
• Jake outside with the boom box – I laughed. Those dance moves were something
• I don’t do spicy either Jake… but it was a good try
• Never say you can do spicy. There is always a level of spicy you can’t do
• Love the costumes in this movie
• Jakes parents crack me up, but good for them trying to get back together

Christmas with the Singhs is out now on Hallmark.