Rating: 3/5

The holiday season is here, and there is no better way to celebrate than to cuddle up with some hot chocolate and watch newly released holiday movies like The Noel Diary. This rom-com stars Justin Hartley as Jacob Turner and Barrett Doss as Rachel Campbell, who go on a journey together after Jacob’s mother dies and as Rachel searches for her own mother. Once they arrive in Vermont, Jacob relives childhood memories while Rachel (who is adopted) is able to find out more about her biological mother.

While The Noel Diary was a heartwarming movie, it was very cliche. It felt like every other Christmas rom-com I’ve watched before. Even as a Netflix original, the film was exactly like a Hallmark movie about two people falling in love during the holiday season. While the plot was great, it seemed very simple and there just wasn’t enough added to keep the movie interesting. The story could have gone into more depth about the main characters’ backstories and developed the bond that formed between them more. However, the scenery and cinematography really brought out the heartwarming holiday ambience in the film, giving it an uplifting and joyful sentiment that really made me feel the Christmas spirit. 

Overall, the movie was very dull and slow; by the middle of the movie, I had mostly lost interest. Another big issue was that the film never fully encapsulated any of its genres. As a rom-com, I expected more romantic scenes than what was given, and even though the movie portrayed many festive attributes for the holiday season, I do not think there is enough there to create a renowned Christmas film. 

While this movie definitely made me feel the Christmas spirit, which is nice right before the holiday, it’s not a movie I would recommend.