Rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Premiere Date: November 16, 2024
Description: Jingle Bell Run follows Avery (Ashley Williams), a schoolteacher whose idea of adventure is probably rearranging her bookshelves. Her well-meaning sister signs her up for The Great Holiday Dash—a reality show that’s like The Amazing Race but with candy canes, twinkle lights, and a surprising number of wreaths. She’s paired with Wes (Andrew Walker), a former hockey player who brings the brawn while Avery brings the brains. Together, they crisscross cities, tackle festive challenges, and—because this is Hallmark—discover that love might be the best prize of all.
Chemistry: These two could probably read the phone book to each other and still make it charming. Williams and Walker have a natural banter that makes the whole competition sparkle, and the supporting cast is unusually fun, giving you extra people to cheer for along the way.
Plot: Sure, “quiet teacher meets sporty ex-athlete” is a classic Hallmark setup, but putting it in the middle of a holiday travel competition made it feel fresh. The challenges gave the romance momentum, and the misunderstandings were just enough to keep things moving without derailing the cozy vibes.
Design: The travel format was a real win here—each stop looked festive, unique, and big enough in scale that you felt like you were along for the ride. It’s a nice change from the one-town, one-square, one-bakery setup we usually get.
Overall: This one earns its four trees with ease. It’s lively, charming, and anchored by two leads who know exactly how to keep a holiday rom-com humming. Like a cup of hot cocoa with extra whipped cream, it’s sweet, comforting, and just indulgent enough to feel like a treat.
Holiday Movie Wrap 