Review

Deck the Halls and the Painting Aisle: A Merry Art Attack
When Missing Easels Meet Mistletoe Magic and the Power of Hallmark Holiday Movies

There's an old saying: "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." But what if you're tone-deaf and your only vocal range is akin to a cat serenading another cat in a firetruck siren contest? Never fear! Christmas at Grand Valley, the latest from the infinite assembly line of Hallmark Holiday Movies, has you covered with a cozy visual carol where paintbrushes are magical wands, and romantic interests are as plentiful as the mistletoe.

Set in the bustling, lightly snowy town of Grand Valley (population: one main street and a mysteriously omnipresent hot chocolate stand), this film combines the typical ingredients of Hallmark movies: a protagonist escaping the big city life and copious amounts of decorative twinkle lights. Kelly, an artist who hasn't seen paint since the last whistle of her college graduation, returns to her hometown to find inspiration but instead finds potential love, sketching romance in the air instead of on her canvas.

Enter Leo, the charming but predictably underdressed businessman who single-handedly threatens the existence of flannel shirts by always showing up in a tailored suit. As Hallmark dictates, they meet under a perfectly orchestrated series of cutesy calamities, involving a dangerously enchanted recycled-paper ornament. From their awkward cocoa spills to synchronized Christmas tree falling, their chemistry delights and defies the laziest of science classes.

The incredible plot twists (no spoiler alerts needed) involve Kelly considering whether art is her destiny, Leo wondering if suits can be banned in small towns, and the revelation that yes, Santa may in fact be real—if you squint during a snow flurry. Throw into the mix a lovable but slightly disoriented dog, whose purpose seems to be to deliver letters to Santa and people's slippers with equal dedication, and prepare to chuckle your way to a merrier holiday spirit.

In the time-honored tradition of Hallmark Holiday Movies, Christmas at Grand Valley is like a warm mitten for your soul. But be warned, after indulging in this saccharine spectacle, you might find yourself oddly compelled to pick up paint-by-numbers kits and take long, deeply thoughtful walks down small-town streets (preferably with freshly baked cookies mysteriously appearing in your hands).

Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or a first-time viewer of the Hallmark metaverse, this movie guarantees you'll leave whistling jingle bells and pondering the eternal question: can relationships really be mended with craft glue and twinkling fairy lights? Thanks to Hallmark Holiday Movies, we think so.