'A Very Vermont Christmas' Review: Katie Leclerc brings early holiday cheer in this joyful Hallmark movie
Contains spoilers for 'A Very Vermont Christmas'
VERMONT, NEW ENGLAND: 'A Very Vermont Christmas' premiered on Hallmark on July 20, 2024, and the joyful Christmas movie gave the viewers an early dose of holiday cheer with an upbeat story that subliminally touches on issues like grief and forgiveness.
The movie tells the story of Joy Keogh (Katie Leclerc) who takes it upon herself to get her parents's pub Mogul's Joe back to its glory days. She and her mother Mary Keogh (Joanna Herrington) have a holiday special IPA that they are pinning their hopes on with a special ingredient that only a few people in Joy's close circle know about.
The ingredient however leaks and reaches her competition Frosty's which is owned by her ex-boyfriend Greg Harris (John Forest) who is sore after their breakup and wants to bring Mogul's Joe down. She finds help from a new charming lover, Zac Chase (Ryan McPartlin), a beer distributor for her competition, Frosty's.
The movie creates a beautiful world around the characters and tells a heartfelt story. Here's a detailed review of the film.
'A Very Vermont Christmas' is a simple and relatable story
Often the stories that connect most with an audience feel relatable and are told simply without bringing any complex elements into play. This story and its characters are people the audience can connect with immediately.
The whole Christmas vibe has been created beautifully in this film too and that adds to the entire festive feel of the movie. From the beautifully snowy landscapes to the community vibe around the holiday season, 'A Very Vermont Christmas' tells an intimate story that encompasses human emotions and hits right where it should
The addition of skiing as a plot point works beautifully for the film as it adds a unique layer to the characters and the storytelling. The writers have done a fabulous job of building a cinematic storyline that feels simple yet says a lot of things
Katie Leclerc and Ryan McPartlin steal the show in 'A Very Vermont Christmas'
The movie is about a pub and its competition but would have felt incomplete without Zac and Joy's love story. And Katie and Ryan bring out the best in those two characters.
Their chemistry from the moment they meet to the final shot of the movie is adorable and will have viewers gushing over their cuteness.
They share a vulnerable moment in the film where Joy talks about losing her father and that has to be the best scene of the movie. It adds so much to Joy's motives and gives a glimpse into her mind and insecurities.
John Forest deserves a special mention as Greg as he is the ideal antagonist, a man you would love to hate and eventually appreciate for the performance he has delivered.
'A Very Vermont Christmas' has a subliminal message
While telling a wonderfully intriguing story, the makers also manage to touch upon some important aspects of life subliminally. The idea of forgiving and trusting the ones you love comes out while watching this film.
The movie is a perfect blend of crisp storytelling and an important feel-good film that will stay with the viewers for a long time. The film has a breezy run time but never feels rushed because of the attention paid to detail in every scene of the film.
'A Very Vermont Christmas' trailer
'A Very Vermont Christmas' is streaming on Hallmark