Stream It Or Skip It?

Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas holiday programming has begun, and A Royal Montana Christmas is the first movie on their slate of new releases. This romantic-comedy is mostly set on a dude ranch in Montana, where a princess (Fiona Gubelmann) forms a surprising and strong bond with the ranch owner’s son (Warren Christie). Will her royal status stop their romance from taking off, or can they overcome their differences to achieve a happily ever after?

The Gist: Princess Victoria of Zelarnia (Fiona Gubelmann) is overwhelmed by her royal responsibilities and the many expectations placed upon her as she gears up to take over for her mother (Gwynyth Walsh) as her nation’s next Grand Duchess in January. Even with her mother, younger sister, Emma (Eva Tavares), and American assistant, Gabriel (David Kaye) at her side, Victoria still feels spiritually and literally (those fancy clothes are tight!) constricted, leading her to ask her mother for a brief break from her obligations. Seeing that her daughter has lost her spark, Grand Duchess Charlotte allows Victoria to go on her soul-searching journey as long as Gabriel goes with her and they return by December 19th to fulfill her various regal holiday obligations.

With that, Victoria sets off on a nostalgic journey to stay at a dude ranch in Montana, where she shared fond memories with her late father as a little girl. There, Victoria enjoyed the ranch’s big Christmas Holly-Day Dance as well as the opportunity to engage with exciting new activities like horseback riding and craftsmanship. But when Victoria and Gabriel check into Peaceful Pines Ranch, the longtime owners, Jimmy (Eric Keenleyside) and Nadie (Lynda Boyd) Blaylock, inform Victoria that the big dance is no longer one of their local traditions. To make matters even worse, Victoria accidentally drove over a handsome local man’s Christmas decorations on the way over and ends up meeting him again at the ranch, and he’s not happy to see her again.

It turns out that the man’s name is Huntley (Warren Christie) and his parents are Jimmy and Nadie. Realizing that they’re about to see much more of each other, Victoria and Huntley start fresh and get to know one another. Although Huntley is based in Billings, working as a minor league baseball coach, he returns home every holiday season to help out on the ranch. Victoria, in turn, speaks with him about her own personal ties to the ranch while omitting the fact that she’s a princess, allowing them to bond as equals with a surprising, brief childhood connection. As Victoria uses her royal teachings to help out around the ranch and bring back the Christmas Holly-Day Dance, she and Huntley fall hard for each other, forcing them both to reconsider where they belong and challenging Victoria to choose between following her heart and her sense of duty.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: You might be reminded of other Hallmark holiday rom-coms where a royal and a commoner fall for one another, like A Winter Princess, Private Princess Christmas, and A Royal Winter.

Performance Worth Watching: David Kaye consistently delivers comedic relief throughout A Royal Montana Christmas as Gabriel, while also bringing genuine heart and warmth to the character as he supports Victoria throughout her journey.

Memorable Dialogue: This fun little exchange between Victoria and Gabriel stands out:

“Thank you again for staying.”

“Please! I didn’t bring my cowboy boots for nothing.”

“You bring those everywhere.”

“They make me five foot nine!”

Honorable mention for this Gabriel one-liner: “Madam, the only ranch I’m acquainted with is ranch dressing.”

Sex and Skin: None whatsoever.

Our Take: A Royal Montana Christmas isn’t the most entertaining, swoon-worthy, or original Hallmark movie out there, but it’s a decent enough start to the network’s holiday movie programming. The movie follows all of the beats you’d expect from a Hallmark movie, adding a slight sense of whimsy and intrigue with the royal aspect, combined with the rugged charm of an American dude ranch. There’s always enough going on to hold your attention and keep the film galloping by at a solid pace while ensuring that you’re always along for the ride.

Sure, it’s kind of silly that Victoria’s whole thing is she’s “not like other girls,” from her many skills to her regal status, but Fiona Gubelmann brings enough warmth and cheer to the character that we can’t help but feel endeared to her anyway. Her chemistry with Warren Christie is solid enough for them to be believable romantic leads together, and their supporting cast helps to slightly flesh out the world around them and help strengthen the overall finished product. So while the movie isn’t going to knock your socks off or rattle your spurs (is that a saying? Let’s make it one!), it’s an easily digestible and pleasant enough way to begin your seasonal streaming.

Our Call: What A Royal Montana Christmas lacks in depth or wow factor, it makes up for in a simple, straightforward viewing experience. There are royals, horses, and even some passionate kisses set to the backdrop of Christmastime cheer, and that alone is probably enough to convince our diehard Hallmark fans to sit back, relax, and STREAM IT.