Review

Movie Review: The Christmas Doctor
Subtitle: “Paging Dr. Love: Diagnosis? Holiday Cheer.”

The Christmas Doctor is Hallmark’s festive answer to “What if your favorite traveling doctor took house calls… and fell in love along the way?” It’s a warm and fuzzy rom-com wrapped in holiday spirit, where romance blooms in the most medically appropriate way: through chance encounters and heartwarming small-town charm.

The story follows Zoey (Holly Robinson Peete), a physician who specializes in temporary gigs, moving from town to town like a stethoscope-wielding Christmas elf. Her latest assignment? A small town desperately in need of holiday healthcare and a reminder of what makes Christmas magical. Enter Luke (Adrian Holmes), a former soldier with a heart of gold and enough charm to make Zoey consider putting down roots—or at least extending her stay through New Year’s.

Holly Robinson Peete is delightful as Zoey, bringing warmth and relatability to her role as a traveling doctor with commitment issues. Adrian Holmes’s Luke is the epitome of Hallmark leading man perfection: rugged, kind, and clearly harboring a not-so-secret crush on Zoey. Their chemistry is as comforting as a bowl of soup on a snowy day, with just enough tension to keep you invested.

The small-town setting is classic Hallmark, filled with friendly locals, Christmas decorations on every surface, and a bustling diner where at least one character delivers sage life advice over pie. Zoey quickly becomes the town’s unofficial therapist, holiday cheerleader, and possible matchmaker as she helps everyone with their problems—medical and otherwise.

The movie delivers all the Hallmark staples, including:
- An over-the-top Christmas festival where Zoey and Luke “accidentally” end up under the mistletoe.
- A cookie-baking scene where flour is thrown more than mixed.
- A heartfelt speech about how the town is “more than just a stop—it’s home,” delivered in front of a conveniently placed roaring fire.

Zoey’s journey to figure out whether she can stay in one place long enough to fall in love is sweet, if a little predictable. But it’s the little moments that make the movie shine—like when Luke convinces Zoey to join a caroling group, or when Zoey uses her medical expertise to save the day at the Christmas festival by… diagnosing someone with the holiday blues? (Okay, not quite, but it’s close.)

By the time the big romantic finale rolls around, complete with a perfectly timed snowfall and a kiss that feels straight out of a Christmas card, you’ll be grinning like you’ve just had your own Hallmark-worthy meet-cute.

The Christmas Doctor is a feel-good holiday movie that blends romance, humor, and a gentle reminder that sometimes the best cure is a little love and a lot of Christmas spirit. It’s perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed of finding love in a small town—or just likes the idea of a doctor prescribing “hot cocoa and a snowball fight” as a treatment plan. Watch it with a cozy blanket, some cookies, and a willingness to believe that even doctors need a holiday miracle now and then. 🎄🩺❤️