My Sweet Austrian Holiday is as sweet as the title promises—a tender romance with two cinnamon roll characters. This one’s not as big of a tearjerker as Hallmark Movies and Mysteries’ Christmas content usually tends to be, but it’s still worth watching for the viewers who appreciate good things happening to good people.
Starring Will Kemp and Brittany Bristow, the film follows a chocolate shop owner and an estate developer with an unoriginal concept that still shines with a lovely relationship. So much of what we see in this movie feeds into the familiar patterns we often get, and while the third-act conflict is deeply frustrating, we can still see it from miles away. Thankfully, however, it doesn’t take away from the film’s overall enjoyment.
More than anything, My Sweet Austrian Holiday works because of the softness of the romantic relationship. Typically, movies like this would have characters getting off on the wrong foot, so the initial attraction between the two of them makes it a bit more intruding and lovely. Henry (Kemp) is not only completely smitten with Charlotte (Bristow), but he isn’t subtle about it either. He shows her and her chocolate creations such refreshing kindness that it makes it easy to root for them as the movie progresses.
Further, while this very kindness feels like the reason he should’ve told her the truth faster about his company’s involvement in her eviction, the fact that we see him trying everything in his power to help certainly speaks highly of him. It’s also lovely to know that her grandmother was right all along, marking their shop as a historical landmark, which allows Charlotte to keep the place. The kindness doesn’t just stop with Henry and Charlotte, though, but it’s comforting to see that her coworkers are just as lovely, and they appreciate working with her as much as she enjoys working with them.
Many of the Hallmark Christmas movies right now feel like they don’t give couples enough time to get to know one another, yet, even while it still feels like everything is happening too quickly, Henry and Charlotte do get some solid time together to understand one another on intimate levels. It’s also worth noting that I especially love it when the male main character is the hopeless romantic because it reverses the gender stereotype that always places women in this role. (And no, this isn’t to say that women shouldn’t be hopeless romantics—I’m one—but I’d love to see more men who want to be in committed relationships openly voicing their desires aloud.)
Overall, even though My Sweet Austrian Holiday misses a few marks toward the end, it’s still a gorgeously shot must-watch with great characters and an even sweeter love story. It’s certainly bound to be someone’s new favorite of the year, and I’d personally love to see these actors star in more films, as both of them are undeniably charming. There’s also something soothing about the locations in the movie, along with the dancing, that makes it a lovely treat.
Watch My Sweet Austrian Holiday on the Hallmark Channel this Christmas.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Hallmark