Why ‘Snowed Inn Christmas’ Is The Best Holiday Romance Of All Time
'Snowed Inn Christmas' is about two journalists competing over one job, who get stranded in a small town called Santa Claus.
I am a sucker for a holiday romance. There’s something about their cheesy predictability that is soothing. The stakes are low, the surroundings are sparkly, and all problems are resolved within 90 minutes.
It’s an idealised version of a life that I don’t really actually remotely want (there are some serious problems with the gender dynamics and general lack of diversity in so many of these movies). And yet I can’t resist their siren call — which sounds something like “Jingle Bells”.
Unfortunately, not all holiday romances are created equally. For every excellent one, there are at least 40 average ones and an additional 30 truly terrible offerings. I have about five old favourites I turn to over and over again, and every new watch is an attempt to chase the high they give me.
This is especially true for what I believe is, objectively, the greatest holiday romance of all time: Snowed Inn Christmas, a 2017 Lifetime movie. I could talk about this movie forever, but I won’t — I’ll limit myself to this article (and about a dozen or so tweets, which I like to think is restrained).
Let me tell you what makes it so great (other than its punny title, which any good holiday romance must have).
All The Right Tropes
Holiday romances — and romances in general — sink or swim depending on the tropes that build them, and how effectively they’re utilised.
Snowed Inn Christmas is about two journalists competing over one job, who get stranded in a small town called Santa Claus en route to a travel gig in Aspen. Jenna (Bethany Joy Lenz) is uptight, organised, and a dreamer; Kevin (Andrew Walker) is a laid-back and chaotic, but practical.
In the premise alone we have opposites attract AND enemies to lovers, plus stranded together, on the road, and office romance. There’s also a bit of a love triangle in there (Jenna’s ex shows up). And that’s without even diving into all the heartwarming tropey moments that pepper the story (a late night meeting in the kitchen which leads to baking and meaningful looks is basically the jackpot).
The tropes are great, but more importantly they’re also done well. They’re also anchored by the story overall — in addition to the main career-centred arc, there’s a sweet emotional subplot around Kevin’s family and Jenna’s loneliness that adds heart to all the hijinks.
Cast and Chemistry
Every holiday romance is basically an iteration of one of three possible movies, just told slightly differently. The repetition and predictability are part of the appeal. But it also means many of them are utterly forgettable. What makes some, like Snowed Inn Christmas, more memorable than others is ultimately tied up in the cast. The right actors can elevate even the most mediocre of material.
Bethany Joy Lenz has a warm every-woman kind of appeal that makes her perfect for these movies. Her presence on screen often feels like a hug; you just want to be her best friend and you definitely want what’s best for her (in the case of holiday romances, it’s always finding love). Andrew Walker, meanwhile, is a staple of Hallmark/Lifetime romances for good reason — his jawline, his general good looks, and his oodles (oodles!) of charm.
Together, the two of them have excellent chemistry, with a natural flow to their banter that is all-too-rare in these movies.
A Sprinkle of Batshit Insanity
It wouldn’t be a holiday romance if something completely ridiculous wasn’t happening. In addition to the quite unbelievable job competition these two (pretty bad) journalists face, Snowed Inn Christmas piles on a magical subplot: the inn they’re staying in is possibly owned by the real-life Santa Claus. Yes, that sounds absurd, but you’ll just have to trust me when I say in the context of the movie, it works. It’s not heavy-handed, instead functioning more as a vehicle to explore ~the spirit of Christmas~ and the romance of whimsy.
All in all, the random, weird and wonderful parts add up to a sweet, charming, cozy Christmas romance that is exactly the kind of escape we all need. No other holiday romance comes close — although I won’t stop watching them in my quest to find one.
Jenna Guillaume is a Sydney-based writer who loves all things TV and pop culture. She tweets @JennaGuillaume, and her new book, ‘What I Like About Me’ is available now.