Hallmark’s Deck the Walls surprised me. In the past, films involving some sort of renovation project have generally resulted in a miss for me, and I expected this to follow the same pattern, except I really, truly loved it. Starring Ashley Greene and Wes Brown, Deck the Walls is thoughtful, inclusive, and genuinely wholesome, delivering the type of ending that makes it easy to want a sequel to see one more love story unfold on our screens.
While the story’s premise isn’t all that unique and follows a familiar pattern of the successful city girl returning to her hometown to help her family, it feels refreshing in the sense that her motives for leaving make complete sense. Yes, Rose DeMonte (Greene) left Colorado to follow her dreams in Chicago, but she also left because losing both her parents destroyed her in a way that only grief can manage. She ran from her pain, leaving her brother, which results in an interesting beat of character complexity that examines human faults in a way that’s redeemable.
Thankfully, Rose and her brother, Sal (Danny Pellegrino), are still very close, and the two of them processing their grief so differently explores how human beings crumble in the face of loss. This realization makes their sibling dynamic fascinating right from the start, so when he asks her to help with a renovation project, she obliges.
Oh, but there’s a deliciously delightful twist in the form of a hate-to-love secret-unrequited crush between Rose and Sal’s business partner, Brysen Douglas (Brown). They can’t stand each other but forced to work and live—gasp—together results in something worthy of kicking your feet and giggling for. The chemistry between Greene and Brown elevates some of the worthy tension between the two, making their eventual truce feel earned and easy to invest in. We all know where the story is going the second she spills coffee all over him—none of this is unique or new, but in order for it to work, the chemistry has to sizzle, and that, dear readers, it does.
However, that’s not the only hate-to-love relationship budding on our screens. There’s an undeniable attraction between Sal and his nemesis, Jake Hunter (Claybourne Elder). There’s even a hilarious and heartfelt conversation that indicates how all their hatred resulted from miscommunication, and longing glances across the room give us plenty to feel giddy about.
Hallmark’s Deck the Walls is first a story about a woman understanding how to navigate through her grief, and second, an account of starting over with a relationship that was meant to be all along. The movie delivers countless sweet moments for both couples, resulting in a satisfying conclusion that ensures the character journeys to feel earned. Overall, this is a movie about doing the right thing for people who need it most, bringing that sweet holiday magic to our screens with a message that serves as a reminder that good people do exist somewhere. (I also want every single out Rose wears, so bonus points for that—and whatever this magical holiday coffee is—yes, please.)
Watch Deck the Walls on the Hallmark Channel this Christmas.
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