Sometimes, the Hallmark Channel surprises me, and I am thankful for it. We Met In December, well, that’s one of those movies that surprised me. From the moment that Autumn Reeser and Niall Matter walk onto the screen, something just screams chemistry, and that this movie was going to be different.
The tropes were there. Christmas romance was what I thought would be the biggest one. But it’s more than that. It is a lot more than casual encounters, missed opportunities, and searching for love. It’s a story of believing that love exists – love for oneself and opening your heart to dreams and the possibilities. It’s a story of believing that love exists and can be felt quickly and deeply.
We Met In December is one of those movies that sticks with you, and you stop to wonder – could one open their heart and see that there is so much more out there?
One perfect night together, Annie and Dave part ways, believing that a few hours later, they will meet in the lobby and take a flight. Four hours – they have four hours until they are supposed to see each other again and fly home – seats next to each other, giving them all the time to talk.
But that is not where the story begins or ends. It is a flight delay and is being booked at the same place. A magical hotel. There is an opening of a door and chivalry, but more than that, it is this instant chemistry. Dave and Annie’s story is magical and the kind of love that everyone prays for.
We Met In December is unlike any other Christmas movie I have ever seen, and a big part of that is because of the way that Autumn Reeser and Niall Matter bring their characters to life. Instantly, I was drawn in, and I cared about Annie and Dave. I was rooting for them as soon as they both reached out to the door of the hotel to go inside.
Autumn Reeser and Niall Matter have an onscreen chemistry that not everyone has. I truly watched We Met In December and thought that I was watching two people search out each other and fall in love. They kept me staring at the screen and believing that I was watching their lives. They made me forget this was a movie, and I believe that when that happens, it is a movie that should be bragged about and swooned over.
THE HOTEL
After days of delays, Annie and Dave are put up in a beautiful hotel for the night. Both are dropped off separately, but make it to the door at the same time. He insists on holding the door open for her – his Mom would be upset if he didn’t.
It’s the way that they connect instantly. The way that he looks at her is as if she’s the only person who is alive. To him, she’s the only person that exists. And well, you can tell that she feels the same way.
The two are waiting to check in when the systems go down. The hotel sent them to a desert tasting, and neither complained. After all, this is the time that they get to spend together. It doesn’t matter how much time passes – it’ll never be enough time to spend together. The two are never going to run out of things to say.
It’s not surface-level stuff they are speaking of. It’s stuff from their past, the way they grew up, family, friends… It’s all stuff that just comes out. The biggest gift that they give each other is a sense of comfort. They’re reminding each other that there is more to life out there than what they are settling for in their own lives.
It’s magical to watch these moments. Moments where you know that they are each other’s person, even if they are not willing to admit it yet (if they even see it).
They’re supposed to be flying back to Chicago together – but the next morning, he oversleeps, and she’s going to have to fly without him. They don’t have any way of getting in touch with each other, because they thought that they would have time on the airplane to get to know all these things.
CHICAGO WITHOUT HIM
Annie is a lawyer at a fashion house. She loves her job because it is fashion adjacent. She loves fashion. But, right now, she can’t get Dave out of her mind and wonders how she is going to find him.
That night that they had spent together, they spoke of work and what they do. He’s got dreams of making Christmas perfect; it’s his dream. He’s opened his own business, and he loves it. For her, there hasn’t been any time to dream. But she likes to sew – she tells him about it, and making a dress with her Grandma, and how she loved it. Giving the best advice, he tells her that if she gambles on herself, she’ll win.
Annie is still afraid to gamble on herself. She likes stability, routine, and well, quite frankly, she’s forgotten what it’s like to dream.
It’s the scenes at the beginning, with seeing her and Dave realize that they want to find each other, that made me really feel bad for both of them. They had these great moments together, hanging out. They even both had commented previously that spending time together felt like it was meant to be.
Dave is with his friends having dinner and tells them that he wants to find Annie. He’s trying to write down a list of all the places that she gave him clues to. This is his best way to find her. It’s the only clue that he has.
THAT HOUSE
I think that every single town has that house. What is that house? The one that looks like Christmas threw up on the front lawn, and every tacky lawn ornament went there to die. Annie remembers Dave describing his house at that home, so all she has to do is find that house. Only, that’s really not that easy in a place like Chicago.
Dave’s house really is that house, though. He’s got a picture of years past – ones where his Dad was the one doing it, and he’s trying to recreate it. Annie and Kate can’t find “that house,” and some people would feel defeated. She just thinks that she’s going to have to try a different way.
Just as Dave keeps trying a different way by attending all the places that he thinks he could run into her. One being Margie’s Kettle. It’s her favorite place, and yet the waitress he gets is new and doesn’t know her. However, the waitress takes her number, and she assures him that if Annie comes in, they will give it to her.
Annie tries on an online app and thinks she’s found him, but she hasn’t. It was a different Dave in Finance. These two keep striking out, but they aren’t willing to give up.
MISSED CONNECTIONS
Dave and Annie keep missing each other, and it’s kinda frustrating to see. I found myself screaming at the TV, begging for them to just turn around and see that the other person was there. From missing each other at the choir, the Christmas tree lot, and the recital – I was like, look up people.
Their missed connection meant that eventually they would have to stop looking. Both felt defeated, and I don’t blame them. It’s not easy to find people if you don’t know where you’re looking.
At the choir concert, Dave tells his sister that what-ifs – what if she thinks he gave up on her? What if she thinks he bailed? His sister says that is why he can’t give up. Spoiler alert: she is not wrong.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Annie and Dave offer to help one of the bellmen out at the hotel. He had to decorate a tree in the ballroom and didn’t know how would do it. The two insist on helping, and he finally gives in and lets them.
Dave and Annie can make anything fun. They don’t know how they are gonna make some things happen – and it is kinda frustrating. It’s frustrating because they belong together, and you just see that it’s not going to work out. They have no faith, and selfishly, I wonder then why I have any.
But I am reminded why. Because even as all these things go wrong, these two still love each other and want to make it work. They start making plans, even if they are small ones. Will they go to church on Christmas Eve? Will they make it to the friendship open house? The world may never know, because they don’t know what is happening.
As I said, they keep missing each other.
But in the hotel, they are able to talk openly and without judgment. They only have to deal with each other’s judgment and neither one is doing anything but trying to listen and learn from the other one.
The way that these two move in sync and their chemistry is there – well, I just found myself over and over saying that I wanted a love like that. I love the love that they don’t even realize is there.
BE PRESENT
Dave crosses a line with his family when he excludes them from getting the tree. He just brings one home, and they are frustrated that he’s trying to control the situation, versus really listening to those around them.
It’s Dave letting down walls that allows others to help him. Also, for Annie and Dave to make up. They also need to find a way to stop lying to each other. But also to the people around them. Yes, everyone is supportive, but they haven’t told everyone that they are back together.
On that night, the night that they shared, Annie had told him that not being present was a problem. So as he listens to Annie as well as his family, he starts to get better. He starts to feel free because he is not carrying everything on his shoulders – he’s being a part of things versus running things.
And just being present was all anyone could ask. Including Dave for himself.
When he thinks he sees Annie at the kids’ recital (he does), but then can’t even just find her, he gives up. He says the search is over. Granted, Annie has said that too, but I am just begging that it works out for these two. I need it too.
Dave being present led him to a clue, as his bestie had bought a dress Annie had made. This leads him to the market where she bought it. Unfortunately, it’s closed, but he hears singing in a church and goes in.
Dave and Annie finding each other was everything. It was so simple, but I’d waited so long for the payoff that I was screaming at the television and excited they’d found each other.
I will say it over and over again – Autumn Reeser and Niall Matter are perfect together. I need more movies with them together. They made me believe in the magic of the holidays.
And they taught me to always get the phone number. So that’s important.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Felt bad for Annie that she was scared to share her sketchbook at first. She’s really good
- Dave sending a schedule for the holidays made me LOL (I mean, I would do that)
- I appreciate that they don’t show Dave and Annie making or eating s’mores. I find them gross (the smores)
- Dave hiring a PI initially to find Annie – well, that’s love.
- Dave’s Mom telling his sister to just have some patience is sweet. She knows that he’s trying – he just misses his Dad
- Flashbacks with them talking about how easy they are to talk to – love that
- Margies Kettle being invested in Dave finding Annie – that was cute
- Love that Dave was willing to go shopping on Christmas Eve – I wouldn’t
- Annie is starting to sew again – I love that for her
- What will be important is the time we spend with others, but nothing is more important than taking care of ourselves
- Violet getting engaged was so cute because it made Dave stop
- Annie, being a customer, was so cute and fulfilled her heart
- Loved that Grace agreed to mentor Annie after seeing her design
- Christmas message on the radio was a good idea
