Hallmark’s The Christmas Charade is easily my favorite holiday film of the year (so far), and while it might be too soon to tell, I have a feeling this one will be on a yearly rotation. Starring Rachel Skarsten and Corey Sevier, this movie is especially perfect for everyone who loved The Royal Nanny—action-packed, hilarious, full of longing, and overflowing with excellent chemistry.
When it comes to tackling spies or agents of any kind, it’s imperative that we arrest some of our expectations to truly allow the tropes to play out. (These aren’t Bond films, and they aren’t trying to be.) The awkward and accidental meet cute thrusts Whitney (Skarsten) into a critical mission with Josh where they must feign dating in order to catch a jewel thief in action. Naturally, with all this, viewers get plenty of delightful moments that go from a fabrication to something real and surprisingly comforting.
What makes Hallmark’s The Christmas Charade especially enthralling is the loneliness the film tackles with both characters. Josh doesn’t have anyone in his corner, and he’s spent more holidays alone than in the company of others. At the same time, while Whitney has a loving family and friends who care for her, she’s often grappling with the way people try to shield her. She’s a bit too cautious and too reserved. So, in true romance fashion, when the two of them come together, viewers get a clear picture of what it’s like for two complete people to find the person they’re willing to share all their joys and heartaches with.
Additionally, and more often than not, for a movie like this to work in all its sentimental glory, the chemistry has to be top-tier. (At one point, a comment from her mom hilariously throws their involvement and the audience’s perspective into the narrative’s forefront.) But really, Skarsten and Sevier are exceptional at showing us the quiet moments that build toward something deeper. The tension during the charades scene, the moments where their hands linger a bit longer than they should. It’s the perfect kick-your-feet-and-scream movie, making every small moment more significant than the one before.
I know I’ve been asking for more cozy films that veer away from the glamorous side of the holidays, but make no mistake—Hallmark’s The Christmas Charade is as cozy as it is glitzy. There’s something achingly heartwarming about the softness that’s present in Whitney and Josh’s interactions, and when his scowling takes a backseat to the effortless smiles only she could bring out, it feels like putting on the most comfortable ugly Christmas to sit by a crackling fire. There’s a whole lot of magic in their exchanges, and they come out seamlessly anytime they’re forced into a situation outside their comfort zones.
How he takes care of her while they’re on their missions?! Wrecked me. The dance?! Tattoo it on my forehead. The film is sharp, well-paced, and so very romantic at times that it’s too much to handle in the best way. There’s plenty to appreciate that isn’t just for the Christmas aficionados but for those who love romance as a genre.
A successful arrangement of tropes could lead to a captivating movie that’s exciting from beginning to end. This is undoubtedly the case in Hallmark’s The Christmas Charade, as they easily help progress the relationship. Further, the ending leaves abundant room for similar plotlines and a sequel that could be so much fun to watch while Whitney and Josh are now a real couple. Who do I have to speak to in order to make this happen? It could be a yearly thing. A sequel, a trilogy, six series? I’ll take it all.
Between Kate Pragnell’s screenplay and directing from Sevier, everything about the movie works with the incredible performances. Truly and seriously, no notes.
Watch The Christmas Charade on the Hallmark Channel this Christmas.
First Featured Image | Official Poster Credit: ©Hallmark