The Christmas Contract Synopsis: A recently-single woman dreads the thought of going back to her home town in Louisiana for Christmas when she finds out her ex-boyfriend will be there with his new girlfriend.
Written by: Cassie Doyle
Released: November 22, 2018
Runtime: 89 minutes
Rated: TV-PG
After learning her ex-boyfriend is bringing his new girlfriend home for Christmas, Jolie begins to dread the holiday until her best friend Naomi suggests Jolie and her brother Jack pretend to be dating to make her ex jealous. Jack, an aspiring author, agrees to the charade, but only if Jolie designs him a website. Together the two travel to Louisiana to spend Christmas with Jolie’s family.
While I generally protest against the idea that a woman needs a fake boyfriend to save face in front of an ex, I’m still somewhat of a sucker for the fake dating trope. There is never any doubt that the two leads will end up together, but as in all romantic comedies, I enjoy the journey to that happy ending. And I definitely enjoyed the journey in The Christmas Contract, thanks to the nice chemistry between Hilarie Burton and Robert Buckley.
Jolie is a down-to-earth, successful woman who doesn’t need to be quirky or clumsy or insecure to be interesting and I enjoyed Jack’s rather nonchalant sarcasm and humor. However, he does seem to mellow out quite a bit after he and Jolie arrive in Lafayette. Both leads were likable, as was the rest of the cast, though I feel Jolie’s ex-boyfriend Foster (Hunter Burke) lacked personality. He was never a serious obstacle to Jack and Jolie’s relationship.
Watching Jolie and Jack get to know one another better really sold me on their blossoming romance. Their interactions never felt contrived, and they had a very natural rapport.
This was a very simple holiday rom-com that didn’t need a lot of shenanigans or sugary sweet moments in order to work. The Christmas Contract was definitely more character-driven, and I think that’s what made the romantic angle so enjoyable to watch. It felt believable to me.
The Christmas Contract was a pleasant surprise, and with an 88-minute runtime, it’s certainly worth squeezing it into your holiday rotation this Christmas.
Watched: 11.30.2020
The Christmas Contract Notable Song: When I See You I See Home by Tyler Hilton
