I’m a huge fan of Katrina Law! I’ve loved her since her days on Arrow and have continued to follow her Hallmark career since one of her first films with the channel, Snow Bride. With her latest film, Christmas with the Darlings, she stars with Carlo Marks in a story about a young woman named Jennifer (Law) who offers to take care of her boss’s nephews, who have recently lost their parents, and need to come and live with him and his handsome brother, Max (Marks). Knowing what it's like not to have a "real" Christmas, Jennifer is determined to show these kids a good time during the holidays. However, with Max's spontaneous affliction towards everything, and their growing feelings for each other, this Christmas may be a bit more complicated than she expected.
What I loved about this film was that it something new, story-wise. I don’t think Hallmark has ever done a story quite like this before and all I can say is that I hope they keep it up. It felt fresh while at the same time, familiar. Not only is Hallmark taking steps (albeit, small) to include the LGBTQ community into their stories, they’re doing it with an unapologetic smile, which is HUGE for the network and I applaud them. In regards to the story itself, I loved the dynamic between Jennifer and Max. Both have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to taking care of the kids, but in the end, that’s what makes them a good duo. With Jennifer, she’s all about organization and making lists (much like me) while Max is all about being impulsive and in the moment. There’s also the fact that he’s been in love with Jennifer since he met her years before that adds to this sweet romance.
There’s not much to dislike in this Christmas romance. The only thing I can think of that annoyed me was towards the beginning, when the kids “meet” Mrs. Brooks. Upon entering the room, they run towards her, screaming her name in excitement with plenty of hugs to go around, to which she responds, “Do you remember me”? Ugh, what? No, Mrs. Brooks, they don’t. They confused you with another Mrs. Brooks who looks and sounds just like you, but they definitely don’t remember you…
It may seem easy to compare this with last week’s premiere, Holly & Ivy, but for some reason, I can't even put the two in the same category. Maybe it’s because one’s a little sadder than the other or because this one has Christmas upfront and center compared to the other, but Christmas with the Darlings definitely makes it into the rewatch pile. I absolutely loved the characters and the story was too charming to turn down, yet alone skip viewing. Katrina Law did it again, this time with her new co-star Carlo Marks and I can only hope that we get to see them again in future Hallmark movies, preferably Christmas ones (but I’ll take what I can get).
What did you think of this film? Let me know in the comments below!
***I do not own this photo.
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