Stream It Or Skip It?
The Hallmark Channel’s Countdown To Christmas series is taking you on a wondrous, wintry adventure from the comforts of home with An Alpine Holiday. This festive family rom-com stars Laci J. Mailey and Ashley Williams as estranged sisters who are brought back together by a last request from their beloved late grandmother’s will. The two will have to come together to embark on an exciting adventure to the French Alps, where they’ll be guided by a handsome local mountaineer (Julien Samani). With old hurts, resentments, and insecurities resurfacing during the journey, is there still a chance for fresh beginnings, reconciliations, and happy endings? You can probably guess, but it’s still worth watching to find out!
The Gist: After losing their mother to a car accident and subsequently being abandoned by their father, sisters Faith (Ashley Williams) and Kelly Green (Laci J. Mailey) were lovingly raised by their kindly grandparents, Rebecca (Diana Hardcastle) and Albert (Robert Chapman). Growing up, Faith and Kelly were extremely close to one another as well as their grandparents, who fostered in them both a sense of adventure and creativity. Unfortunately, following Albert’s death, things started changing for the family as Faith left home shortly thereafter at age 18, not looking back as she hopped from place to place, never putting down roots. Meanwhile, Faith stuck around and became scared of ever taking chances or embracing spontaneity.
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Now, the sisters are in their 30s and only see each other every few years, leading to lots of tension between them every time they do meet up, since steadfast Kelly resents Faith for leaving her and their grandma behind, and free-spirited Faith judges Kelly for giving up on her childhood dreams of an adventurous life. But following the death of their grandmother, the sisters are forced to confront old hurts and resentments (or at least put them aside for the time being) as they fulfill their grandmother’s last wish on a trip to the French Alps. Many decades ago, Albert proposed to Rebecca on a fateful trip to the peak of Mont Blanc on Christmas Eve, and Rebecca created a thorough itinerary and an all-expense-paid trip for her dear granddaughters to follow in the family footsteps, hoping that it would help the girls reconnect and grow in the process.
Yoga teacher Faith is eager to run off to the Alps to escape the reality of her boyfriend’s still unanswered proposal, while magazine photographer Kelly is reluctant to miss work obligations for this sudden journey to an unknown land. Luckily, the girls get a reliable (and very handsome) guide in Frenchman Frederic (Julien Samani), who immediately feels attracted to Kelly. Together, the three of them embark on a life-changing voyage that just might see Kelly rekindle her passion for photography, writing, and adventure, Faith stop fearing potential heartbreaks or abandonment by finally settling down, and Frederic explore his own old musical skills. And maybe we’ll even get some blazing romance and heart-warming family stories along the way in this globetrotting Christmastime tale.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of? An Alpine Holiday is like if you mixed other movies revolving around travel, romance, and self-discovery, such as Eat Pray Love, Under the Tuscan Sun, and A Tourist’s Guide to Love, with the 2021 Hallmark sisters-reconnecting-over-the-holidays movie Every Time a Bell Rings.
Performance Worth Watching: Ashley Williams is especially charming and entertaining as free-spirited yogi Faith Green. She delivers a performance that’s not only amusing and quippy but also layered with moments of real vulnerability and emotional depth, culminating in some truly standout work.
Memorable Dialogue: There are multiple moments of solid Faith and Kelly banter, but this one from early on in the movie stands out:
“Oh, by the way, I looked up our tour guide. He’s super hot.”
“No, thank you.”
“Oh, come on, you know the old adage: The quickest way to get over an ex-”
“Ah! Don’t finish that sentence!”
“-is to climb to the highest peak in the French Alps.”
A Holiday Tradition: After their mom died, Kelly and Faith would spend meaningful childhood Christmases with their grandparents, opening presents, dancing around, and delighting in each other’s company.
Does The Title Make Any Sense? This movie is about Christmastime spent in the Alps, so, yep, An Alpine Holiday makes perfect sense.
Our Take: An Alpine Holiday is a delightful destination movie that will fill you with coziness, merriment, and a hunger for croissants this holiday season. While the Chamonix and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains settings are so gorgeous that you may want to fly there yourself posthaste, the movie also has some actual substance to pair with its worldly and eye-catching style. Beyond the nice romantic storylines, An Alpine Holiday has even deeper central themes of family and following your heart, even when it’s hard or scary.
The cast understands what the movie is all about and fully commits to the bit, delivering engaging, believable, and charming performances to bring likable, multifaceted characters to life. Julien Samani just might make you swoon with his portrayal of flirty French mountain guide, Frederic, and his great chemistry with Laci J. Mailey cements their budding love story as one you want to root for. But the core of An Alpine Holiday is definitely the incredible acting and connection between Ashley Williams and Laci J. Mailey as sisters Faith and Kelly, and they light up the screen whenever they appear, especially when in scenes together. With all of this in mind, An Alpine Holiday is truly a cute and cozy movie worth watching this Christmas season.
Our Call: An Alpine Holiday takes viewers on an enchanting and warm-hearted European wintry vacation without you ever needing to splurge on a plane ticket. STREAM IT to embark on a sweet journey that celebrates love, family, and personal growth today!
How To Watch An Alpine Holiday
The only way to watch Hallmark Channel live without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. We recommend DIRECTV, which comes with a five-day free trial before payment begins.
DIRECTV offers a number of flexible subscription options, including Genre Packs, so you can best choose which streaming plans fit your needs and budget. Plans start at $49.99/month.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (At least, that’s what Andy Williams promised.) The holidays are a time to celebrate with family, friends, food, and, let’s not forget, fun things to watch. Whether you’re huddled up with the whole family in your living room or cozying up under the covers with your tablet, let Decider be your guide to all things festive this holiday season.
Maddy Casale is a Chicago-based writer and comedian who covers everything from animated series to Hallmark movies. Follow her on Duolingo @MCasale.
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