Though I’ve personally not read any myself (I know, I know), cowboy romances come wildly hyped in the literary world. And surely there’s good reason for it, which is why it’s riveting that Lifetime is playing on it while simultaneously including the first glimpses of sex and intimacy in holiday films. Sarah Drew indeed does it again with one of the stronger films of the season. However, Lifetime’s A Cowboy Christmas Romance is both a hit and miss, more the former than the latter, playing on familiar tropes and predictable twists with an enticing romance at its center.
There are moments throughout Lifetime’s A Cowboy Christmas Romance that are so well written and feel so incredibly organic, and then there are moments that fall into the overly saccharine territory and come off as unfortunately lackluster. Yet, this isn’t something that should deter the viewer from watching because it simultaneously understands exactly what it wants to be and how to get there. The execution is primarily consistent, and the characterizations, with the exception of one, work seamlessly to set up a story that’s easy to invest in. If you’re generally a viewer who’s not fond of kids in your media, then this might not be the film for you.
Lifetime’s A Cowboy Christmas Romance, despite the detail, isn’t merely a romance—it’s an entire family affair, and it’s one with plenty of meat slow roasting toward the drama. There’s no need to look further than within the Crenshaw household. Lexie (Jana Kramer) returns home after ten years to sell a ranch for a hefty bonus before her Iceland adventure, but the angst that unravels tells us enough about how much her family keeps under wraps. There’s a point where I thought we might be watching Succession part deux, waiting for the moment when none of the kids get anything, and their father, Harrison (Bruce Thomas), dies of a heart attack at another’s wedding. But we are, in fact, not watching Succession, and there are no sudden on-screen deaths happening here. We don’t need two when one is more than enough.
In truth, for a story about fathers and daughters and a woman’s role in an ostensibly male-dominated world, Lifetime’s A Cowboy Christmas Romance gets a ton right. In truth, the only area where the movie fumbles to succeed is through the Mason family’s dynamic, bringing in moments that feel contrived and overly formulaic in a way that come off as confusing than anything else. Is Abby supposed to be five or thirteen or thirteen going on thirty? The scene at the bar becomes so much more awkward when you realize she’s old enough to understand the meaning of Christmas and the perils that come from arguments. And this isn’t to say that kids can’t be a combination of both, but it’s unclear here, making it more uncomfortable than anything else.
Still, there’s a fun story unfolding that relies on familiar tropes to keep the viewers engaged, and with some well-written, hilarious beats coupled with Kramer and Adam Senn’s chemistry, the romance is a winner. It’s not only easy to believe why they fell in love, but it’s also easy to note the progression and feel all the necessary emotions alongside them. With the chemistry, the familial moments work as well, allowing the endgame to feel earned in a way that showcases growth from most characters. Thereby, while imperfect and a bit too much at times, Lifetime’s A Cowboy Christmas Romance is still a solid watch.
A Cowboy Christmas Romance is now streaming on My Lifetime.