Great American Family is switching things up with their new holiday movie A Royal Date for Christmas. In fact, it’s kind of funny that a channel that has “American” in its name is sharing a romance featuring a Canadian playing a British duke, but it’s cool to see them breaking the mold kind of like they did with A Paris Christmas Waltz . But is this Danica McKellar and Damon Runyan–led film enough to be a seasonal success or is it just a royal flop? Keep reading to find out.
The Gist: Former New Yorker Bella Sparks (Danica McKellar) is a stylist who owns her own boutique, Bella Sparks Couture. Though the business could be better, Bella and her co-worker Meredith (Patrice Goodman) keep the place afloat with hard work and a welcoming atmosphere. Their fortunes change for the better, however, when a new client Stefan (Damon Runyan) stops by asking for suits and sleep clothes after his luggage got lost at the airport. While the Englishman initially appears a bit brisk and rude, it turns out he has just been going through it lately (as he explains to Bella when he comes in to apologize the next day).
As it turns out, Stefan’s full name is Stefan William Francis Brown and he holds the title Duke of Tangford. He is a private man who has just had a relationship end rather publicly and is attempting to spend this holiday week staying at his estate in the U.S. so he can do damage control to improve his image and dissuade the tabloids. In an attempt to do so, Stefan ends up asking Bella to not only be his stylist for the week but also to act as his plus-one at his various events and appearances. Will this week be enough to stir up some Christmastime romance and save both Stefan’s image and Bella’s business, or will these two peoples’ very different backgrounds end up making them ultimately crash and burn?
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: It’s like Cinderella meets A Christmas Prince meets Maid in Manhattan.
Performance Worth Watching: While Danica McKellar definitely is a standout as lead Bella Sparks, it’s Patrice Goodman as Bella’s coworker and friend, Meredith, who was the biggest highlight of A Royal Date for Christmas for me. Goodman just oozed an effortless sort of charm and affability whenever she was onscreen that made it pretty impossible not to like her. Also, her character was essentially single-handedly holding Bella Sparks Couture together while Bella was off with the duke for that week, and Meredith still managed to be a supportive friend to Bella through it all. So Stefan may be a duke, but in my eyes, Meredith is truly the queen.
Memorable Dialogue: “Well that’s the best part of having a title. Being able to help people and pups through my patronage.” And you know what, I’m sure the rest of the peerage would wholeheartedly agree with your alliterative assessment, Stefan.
A Holiday Tradition: Stefan’s parents used to throw a huge festive Tidings and Tinsel Christmas party at Tangford House every year. This ended once Stefan’s mother fell ill, but now the duke is bringing it back this year. Hooray for the triumphant return of holiday cheer!
Does the Title Make Any Sense?: He’s a Duke. It’s Christmas. What more do you want?
Our Take: You know what, A Royal Date for Christmas is refreshingly secular for a Great American Family holiday movie. Of course it takes place over Christmas but they skip out of namedropping the big guy in the sky in favor of telling a fairytale-like love story between an English duke and an American boutique owner who come from very different backgrounds but can still find something special in one another over the holiday season. Is it predictable? Yep. Is it deep? Nope. Will you feel sad that Stefan has never made a snowman in his entire 40+ years on this Earth? I know I did (seriously, does being nobility mean you can’t have any dang fun?!). But all of that is okay because the movie and its characters have enough personality and charm to make this feel like easy viewing.
A Royal Date for Christmas has some serious schmaltz that at times is a bit over the top, but it’s nothing that can’t be improved by going in knowing this is a fun, fantastical, and unrealistic movie, and sometimes that’s all you need in a Christmas movie. Oh, and it would make for a really fun drinking game. Seriously, take a shot or sip every time a character says “too good to be true” or “tidings and tinsel.” You may walk away not remembering much of the movie but will surely be left with the impression that you had a pretty pleasant viewing experience (once you get over your potential raging hangover, of course).
Our Call: STREAM IT! A Royal Date for Christmas is the perfect drinking game disguised as a Christmas movie, and who doesn’t love a little libation to go with their holiday cheer?