I think we might have the first “teaching someone how to Christmas” movie for this season. After all, people that don’t have large families don’t know how to celebrate Christmas, right? That is what Journey To Christmas would like us to believe.
Cali Caldwell (Ash Tsai) is an influencer-turned-model who is going on a charity press tour from New York to California. Her manager has hired Jack (Joey Heyworth) to drive her to across the country. However, a midwestern snowstorm strands them at Jack’s family home in Illinois. Can Cali make it in time?
There are definitely some cute moments in there. Tsai is absolutely adorable as Cali, especially when she’s helping others. When Cali learned that she would be actually cutting down a Christmas tree with Jack, I think I would have the same stunned reaction. But my favorite is how, even though he barely knows her, Jack supports Cali’s dreams without hesitation. I know that this is a rather typical trope of these Christmas romance movies but, somehow, Heyworth had me believing in these two much more than any other Christmas couple.
Of course, every movie needs their villain and Cali’s manager, Max (Jeffrey Hanson), fills that role. A little too well, if you ask me. I understand that Cali is supposed to be young but Max is so awful to her that I have no idea why she keeps him around. He’s supposed to work for her, not the other way around.
Rating: Make me a fancy dress and invite me to their wedding