There’s a whole category of holiday movies that exist purely to keep you company while you’re half‑wrapping gifts, half‑doomscrolling, and fully avoiding the group text about who’s bringing what to Christmas Eve. Melt My Heart This Christmas fits squarely—and comfortably—into that lane.
The movie is not trying to be prestige TV. It’s not trying to reinvent the genre. It’s just here to give you warm lighting, mild conflict, and the cinematic equivalent of a cardigan you forgot you owned but suddenly appreciate again. And honestly? That’s a service.
Holly James (Laura Vandervoort) is a glassblower trying to make her mark at the Fern Grove Fair, which is basically Etsy, but in person. She keeps getting rejected by Jack Dubois (Stephen Huszar), who has the energy of a guy who alphabetizes his vinyl but still insists he’s “laid‑back.” Their chemistry is serviceable—nothing that’ll melt your heart, but enough to keep you from switching over to Die Hard for the 47th time.
The real MVP is Bianca Bonhomme (Jennifer Wigmore), a legendary glassblower in the middle of a creative slump. She’s got big “aging rock star doing a residency in Vegas” vibes, and honestly, I respect it. Holly ends up helping her run her booth, which is where the movie finds its groove: two artists, one burnt out, one trying too hard, both surrounded by glowing furnaces and the faint smell of cinnamon‑scented capitalism.
Directorially, the film knows its strengths: glowing furnaces, swirling molten color, and the meditative rhythm of craft. These sequences give the movie a visual identity beyond the usual garland‑and‑gingerbread palette. The romance is sweet, the stakes are gentle, and the message—about finding your voice by helping others rediscover theirs—lands with genuine warmth.
Is the plot predictable? Absolutely. Could you outline the entire third act after watching the first ten minutes? Without breaking a sweat. But the movie has a warm, handmade charm—like an ornament your kid made in 1998 that you still hang up because it’s crooked and sentimental.
The glassblowing sequences are surprisingly cool, the romance is mild but pleasant, and the whole thing has that “holiday wallpaper” quality that these movies have mastered. Melt My Heart This Christmas is not the greatest of Hallmark movies, but it’s not the worst either. It is sweet enough to keep on in the background while you pretend to organize your life.
Streaming now on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies Now, the film was shot in Ottawa, Ontario, which doubles convincingly for the kind of quaint, artisan‑friendly town where everyone somehow has both a thriving small business and unlimited time for holiday festivals.
MPAA Rating: TV-G.
Runtime: 84 mins
Director: Amy Forces
Writer: Ansley Gordon
Cast: Laura Vandervoort; Stephen Huszar; Jennifer Wigmore
Genre: Holiday Romance
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "I can't take a risk on an unknown artist."
Distributor: Hallmark Channel
Official Site:
Release Date: November 23, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: Glassblower, Holly, seizes a last-minute chance to assist her idol at a famed Christmas market. Holly must navigate the icy disapproval of Jack.
