'Countdown to Christmas' movie review: 'Christmas at the Plaza'
Even in the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, the romance “Christmas at the Plaza” (premiering Nov. 28 as part of the Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas) relishes in a New York landmark's past with a protagonist struggling with her own conflicted present.
In short: Historian Jessica (Elizabeth Henstridge) is hired to create the Plaza's Christmas display, she finds more than facts while teaming up with handsome decorator Nick (Ryan Paevey) to bring the display to life. Bruce Davison and Julia Duffy also star.
Most Hallmark movies are set in small towns, filled with quirky characters and sprinkled with various holiday festivities. Yet, this decidedly big city story still finds a way to feel intimate and personal. On paper, the plot has Jessica tasked to put together a Christmas exhibition for the renowned hotel - and "Plaza" smartly uses that impulse to gently push the story on course. A lesser movie would have mired the story down with a ton of events for Jessica to plan - instead, the fairly open-ended plot actually presents Jessica with a bit of a mystery, while also allowing her to consider her situation.
Jessica's story is firmly rooted in the story's connection between the past, present and the future. The plot drives Jessica to dig deeper into the Plaza's past - as the story compels her to confront the parts of her present that she's not totally in love with. At the outset, Jessica isn't even sure what her project will be - much less have an idea of how it would affect her. She's uncertain about her career and even a bit hesitant about her relationship - but she uses her brains to overcome obstacles in her project, while letting her heart reconsider her left's current trajectory. Watching Jessica find certainty with her project and her life is the joy of "Plaza."
"Plaza" reaffirms that Paevey is a legit Hallmark MPV. The guy is effortlessly and genuinely charming. Paevey shines as a great supporting character whose warm chemistry with Henstridge shakes up her life, just by Nick being earnestly Nick. And its a crucial part of "Plaza" for Jessica to entirely re-evaluate her life as she works closer and closer with Nick. "Plaza" lets Jessica reflect on her life that is, ponder the future she wants -- and still has room for her to fall in love with a man who appreciates she skills and her interests.
Final verdict: "Plaza" is a beautifully written holiday romance set against a wonderful, historic backdrop in a story steeped in holiday traditions.
Score: Four calling birds (out-of-5)
"Christmas at the Plaza" is rated TV-G and has a running time of 90 minutes. The movie premieres on The Hallmark Channel on Nov. 28.
