Review: “A Christmas Romance” (1994)

Finally — honest-to-goodness winter wear! Country setting plus snow equals coats, scarves, gloves, hats, boots… everything appropriate for actual winter. Though most scenes occur on the farm limiting additional characters and wardrobe opportunities, what we see feels authentic.

Olivia Newton-John wears practical farm attire — jeans or leggings paired with a lovely oversized cardigan (presumably her late husband’s). That oversized cardigan-with-leggings combination creates a perfectly cozy, authentic look.

Gregory Harrison’s banker suits look sharp and appropriate for his character.

Big bad banker Brian arrives to evict poor, defenseless single mother Julia from her late husband’s century-old family home. He gets stranded by a snowstorm, she rescues him, he recuperates in her home and naturally falls in love. Classic enemies-to-lovers progression.

Feels somewhat contrived — they’re in the attic, she moves to leave with limited space, and he just sort of kisses her. She’s understandably taken aback and doesn’t really reciprocate, which makes sense given the circumstances.

Much better! Julia initiates this one, grabbing his coat lapels and pulling him in for a kiss that quickly heats up… until the girls interrupt with a snowball fight. But both actors demonstrate they know how to kiss properly, making the moment worthwhile.

Newton-John swears mildly (damn), but otherwise this remains completely family-friendly viewing. Well, except for Daisy the sheep’s death scene, which will absolutely wreck animal lovers.

Still a good movie after all these years. Deenie remains inexplicably bratty — I’m still not sure why she hates Brian on sight when she doesn’t even know he’s from the bank. But the core romance works, the farm setting provides authentic atmosphere, and the feel-good ending satisfies.

Watching this as an adult, I think it would be nice to own a small farm — chickens, a cow, a few sheep. Not for food, but for eggs, milk, and wool. There’s something appealing about that simple, productive lifestyle Julia maintains despite her struggles.

This movie represents those special mother-daughter viewing traditions I treasure. Even with its flaws and bratty Deenie, it created warm holiday memories that persist decades later.