Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing come straight for our hearts in Hallmark’s Santa Tell Me—a dazzling joy ride from beginning to end. While the premise is a little far-fetched at times, the execution is outstanding, and the characters are effortless to adore.
The moral of the story is that no one can tell you who your soulmate is, and the unexpected moments in life often end up being the most special. When Olivia (Krakow) was little, she’d asked Santa who her soulmate was. Years later, the answer appears, telling her that her soulmate is a man named Nick. Shortly after, she meets three of them, and all three aren’t even remotely fit for her. The person who is fit for her is Chris (Lissing), the man she initially gets off on the wrong foot with but grows to find great comfort around later.
As Olivia’s dates go comically wrong, she and Chris grow closer in the renovation project, allowing their bond to become worth investing in. A large chunk of the film’s appeal boils down to the gorgeous chemistry between Daniel Lissing and Erin Krakow. When Calls the Heart fans know how special the pair are, and seeing them back on our screens is a gorgeous delight. Further, with their chemistry and banter, Hallmark’s Santa Tell Me emphasizes the importance of letting life pan out as it should. Sometimes, the most hard-to-believe concepts are the ones worth believing in. It does indeed snow during a couple’s first kiss, the clock chimes at midnight, and everything you’ve wished for can come true.
The magic we find in Chris and Olivia’s story isn’t too hard to believe in when the movie spends ample time giving them moments to truly get to know each other. Through this, as audience members, we have a clear understanding of why they’re each other’s missing puzzle pieces and how those frustrating moments of arguing lead to quiet moments of vulnerability. Anyone who’s read enough romance novels or seen enough movies can predict that they’re the pair who’ll get the happy ending, yet it’s still exciting to watch their journey unravel. The execution is so entertaining that every time they’re on screen together, it’s easy to find ourselves kicking our feet and screaming.
Hallmark’s Santa Tell Me is also a lovely homage to sisterhood and the belief that people have in love. It’s always encouraging when romantics have someone in their corner who believes in the greatness they deserve. That said, Olivia and her sister’s bond is a joy to witness, making the movie even more lovely because it’s not just about the romantic bonds.
More than anything, the heightened showcase of finding someone who’s both your equal and challenges you is where the appeal in Hallmark’s Santa Tell Me lies. Plus, the film includes a classic airport (train station in this case) run, which is always a win in this hopeless romantic’s book. Love is worth fighting for, and every minute of the movie authenticates this fact with tender beats of longing and exceptional performances that sell the relationship in a short amount of time.
Watch Santa Tell Me on the Hallmark Channel this Christmas.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Hallmark