Stop the presses! We finally have the best holiday romantic movie of the year with Hallmark’s Round and Round. The films this year have been great in some areas and questionable in others, but none have had the kind of romantic journey that’s warranted kicking our feet up in the air and screaming. And it’s nice to get that through not only yet another wild sci-fi trope but also with a Hanukkah film! (The callout to Groundhog Day and Palm Springs are namedrops that also work so well.)
Starring Vic Michaelis and Bryan Greenberg at the helm of the romance, the amazing chemistry and gorgeous banter make the entire thing a fundamental delight. But at the same time, the film is made better by the family members and key players trying to stop Rachel from reliving the same day over and over again. Part of the reason holiday films hit even in all their saccharine glory is when the romance is worth investing in. And here, it’s not just the romance, but it’s the forthcoming changes that represent something even more familiar to viewers. It’s a story about families, traditions, and the one thing so many of us hate—big moves and the changes that follow in rapid succession. It’s about self-doubts, uncertainties, and the risks we’re scared of taking but how much we might lose.
Hallmark’s Round and Round ultimately proves we need more bold plot points in our holiday films. It’s why The Spirit of Christmas, Ghosts of Christmas Always, and even this year’s A Biltmore Christmas work so well. The cheese and the romance are made significantly better when we dabble with fantasy and sci-fi narratives. A little mystery adds the kind of worthwhile angst that makes the climax even more fun. It certainly also helps when we have excellent actors because one of the main reasons I was going to watch in the first place is because, other than Greenberg, Suits’ Rick Hoffman is a star! Oh, and did I mention there’s an effortless LGBTQ romance, too? There really are no faults to the film other than my selfish desires for more fluff and maybe a bit more spice.
It’s a big win for the fated mates’ girlies because it’s one of the biggest downers ever when this trope isn’t done well. Yet, in every way, the film nails it with one of the most adorable declarations of I’ll remember any time that hits in all the right ways because Greenberg has always been a heartthrob. (Where are my Jake/Peyton girlies at?)
Further, we have an abundance of Christmas movies with familiar traditions, so it’s refreshing to get a taste of Jewish customs. I immediately googled the closest Jewish bakery to me because, hi, now I’m hungry. Movies with food always manage to hit different, too. It also begs the question of why we only get one Hanukkah film every year and not more. While I personally can’t speak on whether the film does an accurate job of scenarios, I can say that it’s made me want to dig into everything to find out.
Hallmark’s Round and Round is a ton of fun from beginning to end, with a gorgeous romance worth rooting for right from the start. The tension between Rachel and Zach is so deliciously enticing and quietly sweet. The reserved moments and the loud banter make for a love story that’s thoughtfully vulnerable and features growth for both parties. The different outcomes make the progression that much more exciting, and every step we take with them moves the romance in an organic way that we don’t often see in Hallmark films.
Round and Round is now streaming on Frndly TV.