‘The Mistletoe Promise’: A Modern Scrooge Romance With Jaime King

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With nearly thirty all new original movies airing between Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel, there was much jolly on our TV screens. Because of this, there was bound to be one to enchant no matter your preferences. One of their 2016 originals imagines a familiar plot, but somehow made it fresh.

The Mistletoe Promise (2016) Hallmark Review

Christmas is not a happy time of year for Elise Donner (Jaime King). This year, it’s worse because of the presence of her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Contributing to the problem is the co-ownership her ex retains of the company she started long before their marriage. By happenstance she meets Nicholas Derr (Luke Macfarland). 

the mistletoe promise

Nicholas has a Scrooge complex not unlike Elise’s though for different reasons. This year, he’s up for partner at his firm, but there’s one caveat. His boss’ are a family orientated firm who believe Nick is in a committed relationship. Their meeting seems fates gift to them as they agree to a business transaction they dub “The Mistletoe Promise.”

Elise has to accompany Nick to social functions, and in return, she gets to have a boyfriend over the holidays, and perhaps relieve the stress caused by her ex. But a simple business transaction might become more than these two bargained for. 

Based on the bestselling novel by Richard Paul Evans, this film is darling in ways I didn’t anticipate. I always begin my Hallmark marathons with the expectation of being entertained, but oftentimes I underestimate the accuracy of this reaction. ‘Mistletoe’ again proves true the many reasons why I’m a Hallmark movie junkie.

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The Mistletoe Promise: A Modern Scrooge Romance With Jaime King. Have you seen this 2016 #Hallmark romance? Click To Tweet

The humor of the script flows without effort, and the actors deliver the funniness of the script without awkwardness. I loved that the characters had Christmas-y names (super cute ones at that) in subtle ways rather than the more obvious choices of Holly or Eve (although there is the best friend character named Holly). The actors also play off each other very well. This is part of the reason why I suspect the humor comes so naturally. Luke is no stranger to the role of Hallmark leading man (The Memory Book, Christmas Land), and seeing Jaime in something outside of her Lemon Breeland (Hart of Dixie) character was fabulous.

the mistletoe promise

Aside from my typical love and blanket fangirl recommendation of Hallmark Christmas movies, I haven’t much more to say. This film manages to wrap so much Christmas into its story (including the subtle similarities to the Dickens A Christmas Carol classic) that its viewer cannot help but smile. I know I giggled my way through the charm, romance, comedy and festive shenanigans. As Elise and Nicholas flounder through their white lie promises, and work their way towards one another, there is a sense of emotional weight to their stories. As with each Hallmark, this is another impressive and wonderfully nostalgic bit of TV happiness.

Photos: Hallmark / Crown Media Press

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

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