Round two of Christmas movie reviews is here! I’ve kept the cocoa flowing and the TV tuned to Hallmark and Great American Family, working my way through another batch of holiday cheer — some sweet, some silly, and some that completely missed the mark. Here’s what I’ve been watching lately.
7. Christmas on Duty
Hallmark | 2025 | ★★★☆☆ | Watched: Nov 10–11
Rival Marines Blair and Josh are forced to spend Christmas on duty together after a public argument lands them both in trouble. Determined to stay out of each other’s way, their plans are derailed when a snowstorm threatens to ruin the base’s holiday celebration. Teaming up to deliver missing gifts, they rediscover friendship, teamwork, and a little Christmas spirit along the way.
This one was really cute and had a fresh premise compared to the usual Christmas movie setups. The acting was solid, and I especially liked Janel Parrish as the lead — she’s always charming and believable. I enjoyed the rivalry-turned-teamwork dynamic and the sense of camaraderie among the characters. The snowy gift-retrieval mission added a fun adventure element, and the family and community vibes made it feel extra cozy. A solid, feel-good watch.
8. Christmas in Midnight Clear
Great American Family | 2025 | ★★★★☆ | Watched: Nov 12–13
Christmas in Midnight Clear follows Hillary Shaw, a driven corporate real estate developer who arrives in a struggling small town with plans to buy up properties and overhaul everything. But when she clashes — and slowly connects — with Daniel Porter, the local pastor rooted deeply in the community, her big-city vision starts to shift. Their opposing worldviews spark tension… and something more.
Great American Family movies usually lean pretty hard into religious themes, which isn’t always my favorite. This one definitely had deep faith-based undertones, but honestly, I didn’t mind it here. The story was sweet and exactly the kind of Christmas-movie formula I love: big-city woman rolls into a small town, gets swept up in the charm, and falls for the guy AND the place.
It had all the cozy small-town staples: tight-knit community, town traditions, the local diner, Christmas cookies. And yes, it was corny. But it hit that perfect blend of comforting and nostalgic that always works for me.
9. A Newport Christmas
Hallmark | 2025 | ★★☆☆☆ | Watched: Nov 14–16
A Newport Christmas follows Ella, a wealthy Newport socialite from 1905 who dreams of starting a charitable foundation instead of entering an arranged engagement. After a wish on a passing comet, she suddenly finds herself in 2025, and face-to-face with Nick, a sailor and local historian. As Ella navigates modern Newport and grows closer to Nick, she realizes she may not want to return to her own time… but staying could erase her legacy and alter history forever.
I haven’t watched too many time-travel Christmas movies, so this one felt pretty unique. Wes Brown is a familiar Hallmark face, and he was solid here; the rest of the cast, even the ones I didn’t recognize, did a nice job too. The movie was fun and the concept was interesting, but it didn’t deliver the things I love most: cozy small-town vibes and a more grounded, realistic plot.
It was worth watching, but it won’t be a standout for me this season.
10. The Great Christmas Snow-in
UPtv | 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ | Watched: Nov 17
The Great Christmas Snow-In follows Justin, a heartbroken songwriter who escapes to a cabin he originally booked for his honeymoon. A snowstorm leaves him unexpectedly stuck there with Jane, his ex-fiancée’s cousin, and a spark starts to form. When his ex shows up with her new boyfriend though, old feelings and new truths collide, leading to revelations about love, closure, and second chances.
I’ve learned over the years that UPtv’s movies… aren’t usually the strongest. And right from the start, I could tell this one wasn’t going to be great. It’s clearly low-budget with some very fake-looking backdrops, and the acting wasn’t strong, especially from the two male leads. The two women were better though, and I actually appreciated seeing actresses with curvier, more realistic bodies for once, so there's that!
The movie itself was super cheesy, even by Christmas-movie standards. The worst part? The bizarre fantasy sequences where the male lead imagines himself inside scenes from Jane's romance novels. Total cringe. Add in the tiny cast and almost zero festive atmosphere, and it just didn’t land.
11. Christmas Above the Clouds
Hallmark | 2025 | ★★★★★ | Watched: Nov 18–19
Christmas Above the Clouds is a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol, following workaholic CEO Ella Neezer as she tries to escape the holidays by flying to Australia. Mid-flight, she’s visited by spirits who show her the consequences of her past, present, and future, forcing her to confront the life she’s built and the love she pushed away. With a little supernatural nudging and a reunion with her ex, Ella gets a chance to rediscover Christmas… and herself.
This movie was great, even if it mostly took place on a plane instead of a cozy small town. Tyler Hynes is my favorite Hallmark actor, and Erin Krakow is really growing on me. They both did a solid job here. It wasn’t overly cheesy, and the acting felt strong across the board.
Ella’s transformation did happen a little fast once the spirits showed her the reality of her past, present, and future, but I still liked watching her growth play out. The ending was warm, satisfying, and very Christmas-movie perfect.
Right now, this one is tied as my favorite of the year (alongside Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper!), and I’d definitely recommend it.
12. A Soldier for Christmas
UPtv | 2025 | ★☆☆☆☆ | Watched: Nov 20–21
A Soldier for Christmas follows Hannah, a military widow trying to ease back into dating but finding zero success. Her brother sets her up with his friend Ryan, another soldier, over video chat. They click quickly, but Hannah struggles with the idea of getting involved with someone in the military again.
This movie was horrid. The acting was awful, the dialogue was flat, and they played cheesy elevator music throughout. It’s clearly low budget, and I honestly don’t know how any of these people were cast — there wasn’t a single believable actor in the mix.
One moment that really summed it up? Ryan tells Hannah’s daughter he knew she loved puppies. Hannah reacts like it’s a shocking revelation. How did he know?! Everyone loves puppies. He had a solid chance at guessing correctly. That’s not a plot twist... that's common sense.
UPtv movies continue to disappoint… and yes, I’ll still be watching them.
That wraps up my second batch of holiday movies. A mixed bag, but the season's still young. Plenty more to come!
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