Christmas Joy – Sparkles and Sweet Cookies

Each week, Hallmark Channel will air one (and oftentimes two or three if you consider HMM) new Christmas original through the holidays. Their second one is Christmas Joy, which Danielle Panabaker (from CW’s The Flash) will headline.

Christmas Joy (2018) Hallmark Review

Disorganization isn’t in Joy’s vocabulary. Not only is she good at her job, she’s also good with multi-tasking. It’s this skill that Joy (Panabaker) doesn’t realize she’ll have to use a lot this Christmas. Just as she’s on the cusp of a new promotion, she gets word that her aunt has fallen and been injured. When her aunt is unable to use her leg, Joy rushes to the only place she knows as home to assist her.

But what she thought was a short-term trip becomes longer when she is roped into putting together the Christmas Cookie Crawl.

While back in her aunt’s house, Joy reconnects with a childhood acquaintance, Ben Andrews (Matt Long). What she doesn’t know is that Ben is her aunt’s cookie co-captain. This means, despite her belief she can handle all the work, Joy and Ben have lots of tasks to accomplish – together!

Honestly, this isn’t my favorite seasonal romance from this network. But as is the case with each Hallmark original, Christmas Joy is sweet. There are plenty of festive moments sure to keep you in smiles, and Christmas movie addicts happy. What makes me happiest is this film’s script is more realistic in where it leaves the characters, which is, the promise of a date. When the timeline restricts so much (usually, a week at most), it’s so much more rewarding to see the couple begin something rather than say “yes” to a proposal or exchange those three little words.

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There is plenty of fun shenanigans in this script including lots of cookie dough (which might awaken that sweet tooth!). This is the second Hallmark original for Danielle Panabaker, so it’s fun to see her again though I don’t remember seeing Matt Long previously. If you are anything like me, and watched all the teen comedies, you may recognize him from Sydney White! Together, these two share a sweet romantic moment or two. As usual, themes of community support and family is what shines through the personalities of the characters.

Based on the novel of the same name, anyone who wants to stay in on a Saturday night should set their TV to Hallmark Channel. It’s a story ready to give you ideas for your Christmas to-do list.

Christmas Joy premieres tonight, November 3.

Have you seen this one yet? Did you like it or do you plan to see it? Comment down below with all of your thoughts!

Photos: Hallmark Channel / Crown Media Press