There are few things that stress me out the way a narrative centered around a time loop does, but it’s also glorious every single time we get an earned happy ending. Simultaneously, it’s always exciting when a Christmas movie dares to give us something beyond the familiar tropes and fully leans into a bit of magical realism. I love some of the original, deliciously tropey gems about bake-offs and small towns, but something about these whimsical movies scratches an even more specific itch. It also thrills me to know that I wasn’t wrong in having full confidence in the fact that The Nights Before Christmas would be one of the best ones on Hallmark this year.
In general, a Tyler Hynes movie doesn’t miss, but pair him with someone as charming as Laci J Mailey, and we have an unmistakable winner. It helps that the narrative is genuinely a whole lot of fun as well, making the entire story stick the landing beautifully.
The Nights Before Christmas also offers an interesting perspective on the time loop by making the earlier beats work as an exploration of what human beings actually need: more time. What would we do if we had all the time in the world to hone new skills, catch up on everything we’ve missed, and exist in a state where we wouldn’t have to worry so much about tomorrow? That concept works especially well around the holidays, and it hits even harder when Marty is a customer service employee.
So many of us know what it’s like to work through the holidays with no days off. We know what it’s like for machines to break and for sold-out items to make last-minute shoppers rage at us as though it’s somehow our fault. Those frustrations, coupled with how busy the holiday season generally is, leave you feeling lost and wistful. Because even when you’re present with your family on your one day off, chances are you’ve still got work on your mind. You’re thinking of everything else you’ve missed out during the year.
Because of how oddly specific and grounded Marty’s predicament is, it makes the time loop feel more realistic. It adds depth to the longing he starts to feel when his feelings for Chloe grow, and it underscores his quiet desperation to break the loop as well. All the different ways they fall in love and the natural progression of their relationship become so easy to invest in when we can see that there’s transparency in their arc. (I love that he tells her about the time loop early on instead of using it to his advantage because that detail then makes everything between them more thoughtful.)
While you have to suspend a lot of disbelief for a movie like The Nights Before Christmas, every part of the romance feels believable in a way a grounded story would. The meet-cute, the conversations, the lingering gazes, the chemistry that flares to life every single time they start over. It’s a testament to the excellent performances both Hynes and Mailey bring, but it’s also a credit to the writing. The characters are fully fleshed out, the emotions on the page are profound, and the result is the kind of magical movie people will rewatch for years to come.
The Nights Before Christmas is now streaming on Hallmark+
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