Review

Movie Review: Holiday Heritage
Subtitle: “When Family Secrets, Christmas Traditions, and a Lot of Holiday Drama Collide in the Most Predictably Entertaining Way.”

“Holiday Heritage” is the kind of Christmas movie that packs in family drama, a side of heartwarming tradition, and enough festive chaos to make you wonder if there’s a secret formula for holiday movies involving homespun holiday traditions and a slightly dysfunctional family. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be suddenly roped into rediscovering your heritage during the holidays (with way too many relatives involved), then this movie is for you. Spoiler alert: It involves a lot of emotional baggage, some totally uninvited family members, and way too many Christmas cookies.

The plot follows Sydney (played by Hallie Todd), a woman who, after years of avoiding her family's traditions, returns to her childhood hometown for Christmas—only to discover that she’s been volunteered to organize the family’s big holiday celebration. Apparently, she’s been too busy with work (as usual) to keep up with family obligations, and now she’s back in the mix to help recreate the family’s Christmas tradition. But of course, it’s not just about the decorations and gifts—it’s about rediscovering her roots, uncovering old family secrets, and realizing that maybe her cold, heartless corporate world might not be all that great compared to the warmth of family chaos and Christmas miracles.

Enter Jackson (played by Almando T. Hinojosa), the “handsome” guy who’s somehow involved in this whole family reunion, though no one is quite sure what his role is—other than looking really good in a scarf and making things uncomfortably romantic. Naturally, Sydney and Jackson have a history (of course they do)—and by "history," I mean some old unresolved feelings mixed in with way too many accidental romantic moments. Watching them bicker about family traditions while secretly eyeing each other in front of a giant Christmas tree is basically the movie’s romantic subplot wrapped in tinsel.

The humor in this movie is a mixture of predictable family hijinks and way too many "Wait, how did this happen?" moments. Sydney’s attempts to organize the family Christmas celebration while avoiding awkward family drama are like trying to bake a holiday cake while it’s simultaneously falling apart. There’s the aunt who can’t stop giving unsolicited advice about everyone's love life, the cousin who absolutely insists on taking over the Christmas decorations (even though they’re clearly doing it wrong), and the uncle who shows up every year and brings way too many poinsettias—because you just know, there’s always that one family member.

The real star of the show, though, is the town—because no Christmas movie is complete without a perfectly festive small town. Think snow-covered streets, twinkling lights, a charming downtown that’s way more into Christmas than you’ll ever be, and a town square that looks like it was lifted straight from a holiday card. Sydney’s return to this idyllic, festive town—where everyone knows everyone’s business and everyone’s already planning the next holiday miracle—is the perfect setting for her to rediscover what truly matters. (Hint: It’s not the big-city career; it’s about finding a way to deal with relatives you’ve been avoiding.)

As for the romance? It’s as sweet as it is predictable. Sydney and Jackson definitely have unresolved feelings, but like all good Hallmark movies, they take their sweet time getting there—until the very end, when everything comes together, and they finally admit that they were meant to be together, probably over a snow-covered Christmas tree with a side of sentimental holiday speeches and cookies that may or may not have been burnt (because it wouldn’t be a Hallmark movie without some cooking mishaps).

The grand finale? You can guess it—it’s perfectly Hallmark: Sydney realizes that her heritage isn’t just about family traditions, but about being open to the love and joy that her family—and Jackson—have been offering all along. Cue the big Christmas kiss, the rekindling of family bonds, and enough holiday cheer to make even the Grinch feel fuzzy inside.

“Holiday Heritage” is the perfect Christmas movie for anyone who loves family drama, holiday chaos, and predictably heartwarming moments. Grab your coziest blanket, your most festive mug, and get ready for a movie that proves no matter how messy your family is—there’s always room for love and Christmas miracles. 🎄❤️🎁