I thought Hallmark’s The Christmas Quest would be an instant DNF (did-not-finish) for me, but the second viewers learn that this is a second chance romance with a divorced couple set in Iceland, I was sold. Pleasantly surprised to realize that Lacey Chabert and Kristoffer Polaha make an excellent team.
If this were a romance novel, I’d gobble it up one sitting while kicking my feet and screaming. That’s exactly what I did during the movie, too, particularly during a specific montage that’s so achingly wholesome my heart grew three sizes. The movie isn’t just a Christmas quest for treasure, but it’s a story about learning to love again—a narrative that highlights the importance of second chances and choosing to do the hard thing. And perhaps, more importantly, it’s a story about grief.
There’s such depth and richness in the characterizations that ensures we understand where they’re both coming from in their struggles. The holidays are about reconnecting, but more than anything, for Stephanie, it’s about connecting to her mother again and now, connecting back with Chase. It’s clear as day that they’re kindred spirits from the moment they reunite, so when we watch them find that spark again, it feels incredibly familiar and intimate. We don’t know much about their past other than what they tell us, yet between the writing and the performances, we can feel every ounce of the adoration between them. We can tell that in the same way they once fell in love and got married once, they’ll find themselves down that path again.
There’s a moment when they talk about their past, and every bit of dialogue and eye contact ensures that we see the longing that connected them back in the day. It makes their relationship so much more poignant to see. The things that they’re supposed to do because of the quest naturally drive them back to each other in a way that feels so organic I’m legitimately shocked this isn’t something written by one of today’s best romance authors. Every piece, even the more obvious ones, feels carefully established not to check boxes, but to tell a story that feels like uncovering something truly life-changing.
It’s fully formulaic, yet it never feels tiring to watch or hard to invest in. There’s something special here in the second chance romance we watch unfold in front of us, and while there have been a few this year on the network, none hit the way Hallmark’s The Christmas Quest does—it has every bit of the pining and emotional depth that I’ve been hoping to see.
It’s tender, vulnerable, and deeply sincere as they explore what tore them apart and how they could do better in the future. The teamwork we get shows us plenty, and the hidden depth behind all their interactions makes for something truly remarkable. As a thoughtful example of show, don’t tell, the movie fills every frame with something profound that allows the characters to drive the story. Plus, every scenic moment and bit of history we get makes it that much more delightful.
Watch The Christmas Quest on the Hallmark Channel this Christmas.
First Featured Image Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Eva Rut Hjaltadottir