A MATCH MADE AT CHRISTMAS
A clean Christmas romance where joy outlasts cynicism.
Should You Watch It?
If you want a fun Christmas romance that will warm your heart, this is a worthwhile choice. Holly and Chris begin with very different views of life and Christmas, but their relationship gradually brings out the best in both of them. The story values honesty, forgiveness, doing the right thing, appreciating what is in front of you, and spreading joy.
The film is clean and easy to follow. It has no foul language, lewd content, violence, sex, or nudity. One light alcohol scene is present. The romance uses familiar conventions, and the script could be stronger in plotting and pacing. Also, the birth of Christ is not the central theme; Holly and Chris’ romance is.
For a wholesome, entertaining Christmas movie with positive moral values, watch it with your family.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESHolly Everton has spent her life helping her family, loving Christmas, and watching her Great Aunt Lillian make successful matches. At a wedding announcement party for Holly’s brother and his fiancée, Aunt Lillian finally matches Holly with Chris, her brother’s cynical college friend.
Holly and Chris cannot stand the situation—or each other. But as their small town keeps pushing them together, the two begin discovering unexpected good in one another.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a decent movie with appealing performances and worthwhile themes, though it falls short of being especially strong. The film is cute, entertaining, wholesome, and easy to follow. Its romance is warm, and the characters’ contrasting personalities create some fun situations.
The predictable romance conventions are familiar, while the script could use stronger plotting and pacing. Still, the film’s positive moral values and appealing performances make it a pleasant Christmas choice.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong moral worldview with light Christian, redemptive elements. It exalts doing the right thing, appreciating what is already in front of you, spreading joy, and recognizing that people have choices in life. Holly and Chris both begin in situations they do not want, but they gradually learn to value their lives and each other.
The story also treats love as more than a feeling. Love is presented as a constant and important choice. Forgiveness is promoted, and the film shows that a romantic, emotional worldview can become harmful when feelings and personal opinions control how people treat others. Holly learns that interfering in other people’s lives and forcing her opinions on them can damage relationships, while Chris helps her communicate more honestly.
The film’s main departure from a distinctly Christian Christmas perspective is that the birth of Christ is not its central theme. Instead, the romance between Holly and Chris carries the story’s greatest weight, though Christmas remains an important setting and the melody of “Silent Night” is heard.
The film’s emphasis on choosing what is right echoes Scripture: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral worldview with light Christian, redemptive elements is set during the Christmas holidays where the characters are all trying to find the right thing to do by looking at situations and trying to figure out the right thing to do, the lead female character tries to bring joy into a man’s life via Christmas charm and showing there’s more to life than just being comfortable, man helps lead female character learn that her need to interfere in other people’s lives and force her opinions on them can be damaging, story shows how a Romantic, emotional worldview can be harmful, forgiveness is promoted, and the melody to “Silent Night” is heard
Foul Language
No obscenities or profanities
Violence
No violence
Sex
No sex
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
There’s some alcohol use during a bachelorette party, and the maid of honor stumbles a little bit as she goes back and forth between the party and a date she’s supposed to be having with the movie’s romantic interest
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs
Miscellaneous Immorality
Maid of honor withholds information from the bride and her own new boyfriend but gets into trouble doing that and eventually learns her lesson.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Holly and Chris begin with different views of life and Christmas. How can another person’s perspective help you see what you have been missing?
Philippians 2:3–4 · Romans 12:16The film presents love as a choice, not merely a feeling. What does Scripture say love chooses to do?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · John 13:34–35Holly learns that interfering in other people’s lives can damage relationships. When should we speak into someone else’s situation, and when should we step back?
Matthew 7:3–5 · Galatians 6:1–2The story values forgiveness and doing the right thing. What makes forgiveness difficult, and how has God treated us in Christ?
Ephesians 4:32 · Colossians 3:13The Final Word
A MATCH MADE AT CHRISTMAS is a clean, warm romance with appealing performances, positive moral values, and enough Christmas joy to make a family movie night worthwhile. Its plotting and pacing are modest, and Christ’s birth is not the central theme. For a wholesome Christmas romance, WORTH THE TRIP.
