With Love Christmas

With Love Christmas is an enticing 2017 Hallmark holiday feature that adds a delightful spin to the classical rom-com theme. This movie stars Emilie Ullerup, the charming Danish born actress who is well known for her roles in Chesapeake Shores and Arctic Air, alongside Aaron O'Connell, the American actor who soared to fame in the TV series The Haves and Have Nots. Rebecca Davis also joins in a supporting role, adding a layer of engaging performances to this festive feature.

The movie walks us through the story of Melanie Welch (Emilie Ullerup), a hardworking advertising executive who is thrust into the jolly yet stress-fueled rush of the Christmas season. Alternating between her pressing occupational duties and spending time with her close-knit family during the holidays, Melanie is assigned the hefty task of devising a high stakes Christmas commercial for a new cell phone. To make things interesting, Melanie is teamed with Donovan Goodwin (Aaron O'Connell), a co-worker who isn't particularly sold on the idea of Christmas festivities.

Donovan, a talented ad executive but a touch of a Christmas Grinch, prioritizes work over the yuletide celebrations. He sees Christmas as just another to-do on his calendar, complicating Melanie's task of bringing a heartfelt holiday vibe to their project. Melanie, a Christmas enthusiast, constantly finds herself running into creative disagreements with Donovan, frequently clashing over their contrasting views.

As the plot advances, we get introduced to the charming tradition of office Secret Santa. This tradition puts an interesting twist in our protagonists' lives, as Melanie picks Donovan's name. Melanie, who was already swimming deep in the Christmas fever, takes up this event as another major project. However, for her to get a perfect gift for Donovan, she needs to understand him better, leading her down the path of learning more about her serious, no-nonsense co-worker.

Coaxing Donovan into the holiday spirit evolves into a challenging journey. Melanie strives to not only complete her work project successfully but also to bring Donovan around to her perspective on the magic of Christmas. During this period, audience watch as the characters engage in a dance of discovery, growing respect and understanding for each other, and inevitably, an emerging romantic connection.

As Melanie and Donovan continue with their commercial project and their Secret Santa adventure, they begin to realize that there might be more common ground between them than initially thought. The storyline is beautifully intertwined with the joyous Christmas theme while adding nuances of a blooming office romance, exploring the axis around work, love, and the holiday season.

With Love Christmas does a splendid job in portraying layers of character development and growth, especially centered around Donovan, who slowly embraces the spirit of Christmas. Emilie Ullerup's brilliance as a cheerful yet driven Melanie balances the dynamics between the lead characters.

Aaron O'Connell's remarkable portrayal of Donovan adds a compelling flavor to the film. His transition from a workaholic executive to someone who appreciates the finer, festive aspects of life is handled with a subtle finesse. The movie beautifully uses the season's warmth, goodwill, and sense of love to break through Donovan's exterior, an achievement credited to the absorbing screenwriting.

Rebecca Davis, in her role as a supportive friend and confidante, adds another dynamic aspect to the movie. Her character, providing a sounding board for Melanie, adds a touch of realism and emotional depth to the movie.

With Love Christmas is a delightful blend of traditional holiday spirit, contemporary work dynamics, and a captivating love story. It masterfully sprinkles holiday amusement, festive decorations, the warmth of family, and a dash of romance, creating a compelling Christmas movie.

In essence, With Love Christmas is every bit a heartfelt, feel-good movie that celebrates the spirit of the holiday season, while also exploring love, understanding, and teamwork. It offers viewers a heartwarming escape into a Christmas fairytale, making it a must-watch for lovers of the holiday season and romantic comedies alike. Whether you are a Christmas enthusiast like Melanie or hold a more pragmatic outlook like Donovan, this movie has something to offer everyone.