Hallmark’s newest vacation movie, airing Friday, November 17 at 8/7 on the Hallmark Channel, reminds us of the significance of Christmas miracles. The lighthouse shines vivid, locals care about one another, and the movie options small-town appeal.
Navigating Christmas options three folks — Melanie, Peter, and Jason, who’ve been disillusioned and damage by these they love and discover themselves therapeutic by the spirit of the vacations.
Melanie Hobbs, Stephen Huszar, and Everett Andres star on this movie, and none of them are strangers to the Hallmark franchise.
But this movie was distinctive as a result of Chelsea Hobbs and Everett Andres had beforehand portrayed mom and son on The Holiday Sitter in 2022. That helped to construct a practical connection between them.
Everett Andres bought this movie. If you ask anybody, it is tough being a divorced child, however particularly that first Christmas.
You solely need your mother and father to get again collectively, however you hesitate to want for that and sound like an immature child. Lacking that, you wish to spend time together with your non-custodial mother or father.
Jason was damage when his dad canceled their vacation plans, however he made it sound like he needed to flee his mom.
Melanie (Chelsea Hobbs) tried to do what each mother does — consider a method to convey vacation magic to her child’s life and solely discovered one place open, not realizing they’d must work on the vacations.
Navigating Christmas works its’ vacation magic from the minute you meet the characters.
Peter (Stephen Huszar) hadn’t been residence in years and had been hiring folks to look after his household’s lighthouse. This yr, he returned on the identical water taxi as Melanie and Jason, however their first assembly did not go as deliberate.
I do know Melanie was upset, however I might have beloved the chance to be an immersive lighthouse keeper for the vacations. I go to lighthouses at any time when attainable.
Peter, Melanie, and Jason got here collectively as strangers however grew to become the unlikiest of pals. During this time, Jason craved male consideration, and Melanie wanted her son to imagine and behave like a carefree child once more.
Navigating Christmas does a wonderful job of sprinkling snow and demonstrating how some lights and a magical anchor are beacons of hope. Chelsea Hobbs and Stephen Huszar had a implausible on-screen presence with one another and a familial reference to Everett Andres.
I do not wish to give an excessive amount of away, however I can tease that you’re going to really feel such as you entered an enthralling small-town Christmas, and you’ll be captivated by all of the decorations and the actions.
It’s spectacular what number of strands of lights it takes to brighten the lighthouse, however seeing it lit up at night time is an actual sight.
Ruth’s Diner hosts a taste-off between peppermint scorching chocolate and cinnamon egg nog, and also you higher hope you choose the proper one.
At the Reindeer Games, there was the cutest recreation, the place teammates threw ringtoss whereas your teammate wore reindeer antlers. This was simply one of many holiday-themed video games. You’ll have to look at to see the video games that made me giggle and smile on the merriment.
The units and Christmas decor result in the standard performances of the actors. Stephen Huszar and Chelsea Hobbs portrayed fantastically flawed characters who might convey out the perfect in one another.
Navigating Christmas was completely different as a result of whereas sparks flew between them, they took time to nurture them slowly and consider how Jason was therapeutic from the divorce. It was a welcoming change from {couples} who rush into romance.
It was additionally refreshing to see a movie that focuses extra on household love than purely on romantic. They’re each important and Navigating Christmas highlights the significance of parental love, even when a baby does not at all times notice it.
This movie will present you many Miracles of Christmas, so convey wine, chocolate, and tissues.
Navigating Christmas was directed by Peter Benson, who has directed and appeared in so many Hallmark films, most just lately starring as Mark in Guiding Emily.
Working with many various forged members permits administrators to forge new bonds, however what we beloved most was the sense of group in Navigating Christmas.
It appeared like a small-town appeal with an old school diner, a number of vacation festivals, and fireworks going off at night time. St. Nicholas Island was the kind of place that I’d love to go to whereas sipping a peppermint scorching chocolate.
When you watch this vacation movie, in the event you cry over the Christmas miracles as a lot as we did, please share your ideas on social media. Your opinions matter, so we get film sequels or one other huge film slate in 2024.
We have a particular vacation shock only for you. TV Fanatic scored an unique clip of Navigating Christmas, the place Melanie learns about her lighthouse keeper’s duties and the legend of the lighthouse.
Here’s one factor to recollect — miracles at all times occur on St. Nicholas Island when folks open their hearts to the potential for hope.
Find out under what the St. Nicholas Island legacy was and the way it was a turning level for all three characters.
Navigating Christmas premieres on the Hallmark Channel on Friday, November 17 at 8/7c.
Laura Nowak is a employees author for TV Fanatic. Follow her on X.
