If there’s one thing in Hallmark Christmas movies that’s always guaranteed to make me cry, it’s the stories centered on time travel. From A Timeless Christmas to Ghosts of Christmas Always, and now, A Newport Christmas, the network undoubtedly and always delivers something worthy.
Starring Wes Brown and Ginna Claire Mason, alongside Talia Robinson, Evan Alexander Smith, and more, this one’s for the romance fans who love the invisible string theory—the right person and the right time, the it was always meant to be you trope. From the Gilded Age to the present day, 2025, it’s a magical, genuinely wholesome approach to two people quietly falling in love despite knowing that they’re from different eras.
The screenplay and directing are excellent throughout, but the performances are what contribute to the narrative’s charm. Brown and Mason have such lovely chemistry throughout that, from the moment they meet and we realize that they’re from different times, it instantly feels palpable how agonizing the angst will be. And it is. The more they get to know each other, the more we get a sense of how beautiful their relationship can be.
Plus, speaking of the word beautiful, it feels necessary to acknowledge how the writing in A Newport Christmas uses it because the intention to emphasize its weight is not only there, but it feels profound. “Beautiful” is, in short, a beautiful word, and that’s not something we really recognize often because it’s in our vernacular. And while I don’t think the overuse of it has made it lose any of its meaning, taking the time to acknowledge how lovely it is feels significant. And so much of the reason for this idea is because of Brown’s performance every time he uses it when talking to Ella. It’s how he recognizes it from her quotes that makes their connection that much sweeter.
And Ella sparkles with so much light in her personality that it’s impossible not to be entranced by her. But how Brown shows us the slow progression and Nick’s emotions is no small feat. We get a real strong sense of how genuine the feelings are for him as we visibly watch him fall for her. And as a romance writer, everything that’s in the quiet moments is so loud in the film that it’s admirable in every way to watch.
It’s also worth noting that premises like this often throw themselves in a bind that makes it harder to get out of, but A Newport Christmas doesn’t have to. And really, even if it did, during this time of year, it all feels extra believable. Lovely. Warm. We can easily accept the fact that he was always meant to be the one to bring her home because his life in 2025 wasn’t going to be as extraordinary as what he admired from the Gilded Age. More importantly, without her. It was always meant to be her—in every way.
With that said, A Newport Christmas is a must-watch—a sweet, magical story with memorable performances from start to finish. It might be too early to say, but it’s already one of the strongest Hallmark movies of the year.
A Newport Christmas will stream on Hallmark+ on Nov. 3rd.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Hallmark