Release Date: Dec. 3, 2021, 8/7c
Movie: Jingle Bell Princess
Network: GAC Family
Starring: Merritt Patterson and Trevor Donovan
Synopsis: Mechanical issues temporarily ground Princess Amelia’s (Patterson) royal jet. With the crew distracted attending to the repair, Amelia deplanes to walk through a magical Christmas tree lot on the airport’s perimeter. Soon she is chatting away with jovial owner, Harley, and his adorable dog, Storm. Amelia looks at her watch, quickly realizing how much time has passed. Rushing to the runway, Amelia learns her jet departed believing she was onboard. A massive snowstorm moves in, grounding all air traffic in and out of Tucker, Maine. Amelia is devastated she may miss Christmas in her father’s kingdom. What looks like a royal catastrophe turns into an unforgettable holiday as Amelia is taken in by airline employee, Annie Cutler, and her son, Sam (Donovan). He’s a commoner and she’s a royal, but this is Christmas, and Sam and Amelia’s shared attraction may cause this uncommon romance to take flight.
Rating: ⭐⭐1/4
⚠🛑 Disclaimer: This review may contain spoilers
Review:
So I watched Jingle Bell Princess the other night on GAC Family. I am a sucker for a "Royal" themed movie but this one was just so-so for me. The plot of the movie didn't revolve around her being a royal, but more of her spending time with a commoner family while keeping her "royal" status secret.
Princess Amelia (Patterson) is on a private jet on a the tarmac when she hears some jingle bells. Even though she was told they were leaving shortly, she exits the plane and goes to find out what they are. They leave without her...not sure why they wouldn't make sure that the royal was on plane. And why was she left on the plane to begin with? She's royalty. Shouldn't she have 24/7 security? Anyway, she stays at an airport workers house and meets Sam (Donovan) and his daughter. Sam is a widower who can't seem to bring himself to remodel the family home he had with his wife. Throughout the movie he finds the motivation to finish the house and fall in love with the mysterious women. At a party the King arrives and ruins Princess Amelia's cover. She leaves only to return in like two seconds. I'm not sure what happens except a bunch of confusion and a cliffhanger for a possible second movie. Something about she can make this work while still being a princess in a faraway land. Oh and she will fly them to her New Years Eve party. End movie.
This is the second Christmas movie for both Patterson and Donovan this season as they also each starred in their own Hallmark movie. Patterson was great in "Gingerbread Miracle" and Donovan was dismal in "Nantucket Noel." I genuinely like Merritt Patterson and she is usually solid in most roles. This one...she was ok. Trevor Donovan on the other hand, there is something about him that just doesn't work for me in most of his movies and this one was no exception. Sorry for those who love this guy!! I find his work mediocre and it lacks any real charm. In this role it was more of the same. Awkward, no emotion and just blah. Yes he had like one moment when he was half decent as a father, but other than that nothing.
Chemistry just wasn't there and their story just didn't do it for me. There was a nice moment in the house where he did the lean in. The lean in always reminds me of "While You Were Sleeping". I smiled at that as it reminded me of a great movie and then I quickly remembered what I was watching as the scene ended.
Once Princess Amelia was found out the movie just flew by a bit too quickly and didn't make any sense to me. She leaves, only to return, say she wants to still be a princess, and still be with Sam. It's a lead in to a possible movie that I won't probably watch.
I say pass on this one.
Did you watch this movie? Tell me your thoughts in the comments.