Christmas Town

6.9/10 · 2,420 ratings20191h 20mChristmasWeirdness 4/10Bingo card

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The premise

On her way to a new job as teacher, Lauren stops in Grandon Falls, where she meets and befriends single handyman Travis, his foster kid and many other locals in the weeks up to Christmas.

How unusual is it?

Middle of the road, with a twist — an actual miracle keeps it from being totally by-the-book.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

  • The town has a literal 'law' (Article 24, paragraph two) regarding the necessity of helping to decorate a Christmas tree if you helped cut it down.
  • A broken angel wing was kept in a random antique shop for 25 years waiting for the owner's daughter to show up.
  • The train conductor suggests a specific 'charming little inn' as if it's a standard railroad voucher procedure.

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 36 to find more movies that do the same thing.

Why we’d put this one on

A cozy found-family Christmas with Candace Cameron Bure firmly in her wheelhouse. She plays Lauren, a teacher on her way to a new job in Springfield who gets stranded in the festive village of Grandon Falls, where she befriends a single handyman, played by Tim Rozon, and his foster son. Stumbling on a photo of her late father in a local cafe pulls her into the town's history. It is warm, gentle, and big on the meaning of home. The fun small-town detail is a literal local ordinance, Article 24, paragraph two, requiring you to help decorate any Christmas tree you helped cut down. Easy, heartfelt comfort.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)
The film begins with a flashback of young Lauren and her father decorating their Christmas tree with a special angel. Her father accidentally falls, breaking the angel's wing, and promises to send it to Grandon Falls to be repaired. In the present day, Lauren is a substitute teacher in Boston who has finally landed a permanent position in Springfield. After a lukewarm breakup with her career-obsessed boyfriend Eric, she boards a train for her new life. However, an obstruction on the tracks forces an unscheduled stop in Grandon Falls. There, she meets Travis, a local handyman and architectural engineer, whom she initially mistakes for a cab driver. Because the local inn is full of families displaced by a fire in nearby Rocklin, Travis arranges for Lauren to stay in the attic of Rod Loomis, an antique shop owner. While visiting the 'Christmas Cafe,' Lauren is shocked to find a 25-year-old photo of her father on the wall. She learns he was a frequent visitor, and she begins to suspect that her father’s broken angel might still be in town. Lauren decides to stay for a few days, helping the cafe owner Betty and getting involved in the town's 'Twelve Days of Christmas' festivities. She forms a bond with Dylan, a young boy Travis is fostering, and discovers that she and Dylan share a common background in the foster care system. Inspired by Dylan's kindness, Lauren organizes the 'Rebuild Rocklin' charity drive to help the displaced families. As she and Travis spend time together cutting down a tree and decorating, a romance blossoms, though Travis is hesitant due to a past fiancée who left him because she hated the small-town life. The conflict intensifies when Lauren’s ex-boyfriend Eric arrives in Grandon Falls, hoping to win her back. He offers her the life she thought she wanted, but his lack of interest in children and his focus on city life highlight how much Lauren has changed. Meanwhile, Lauren makes a life-altering decision: she applies to adopt Dylan and interviews for a teaching position in Grandon Falls after learning the local teacher, Gloria, is retiring. In the climax, Lauren chooses to stay in Grandon Falls and rejects Eric. Her adoption application is fast-tracked and approved just in time for Christmas Eve. During the town's tree lighting ceremony, Travis surprises Lauren with the original Christmas angel her father had sent to town decades ago, which Travis has meticulously repaired. The film concludes with Lauren, Travis, and Dylan celebrating as a new family, finally finding the 'Christmas Town' her father loved.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Lauren's train is delayed by an obstruction, forcing her to stay in the holiday-obsessed town of Grandon Falls.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Lauren finds a vintage photo of her late father in the local cafe, revealing he had a secret history with the town.

  3. Midpoint

    Lauren decides to stay through Christmas to organize a charity drive for fire victims and bonds with Travis and his foster son, Dylan.

  4. Conflict

    Lauren's ex-boyfriend Eric arrives to win her back, forcing her to choose between her old ambitions and her new connections.

  5. Climax

    Lauren rejects Eric, applies to adopt Dylan, and accepts a local teaching job, committing to the town permanently.

  6. Resolution

    Travis presents Lauren with her father's repaired Christmas angel at the town tree lighting, and they celebrate as a family.

36 tropes in one movie

We counted 36 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Rating 6.9 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.9567

Higher-rated than 87% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Christmas Town belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

  • “Sometimes angels need a little help too.”
    — Lauren's FatherReferring to the broken Christmas angel wing.
  • “Grandon Falls has a way of making miracles happen!”
    — BettyEncouraging Lauren to look for her father's angel.
  • “With hope, there's always another door that can open.”
    — Lauren's Father (via letter)A letter Lauren reads to Dylan about the foster care experience.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

  • Lauren Gabriel

    Lead

    Teacher

    KindOrganizedSentimentalResilient
  • Travis Mabrey

    Love interest

    Architectural Engineer/Handyman

    Love interest and foster father to Dylan

    HandyProtectiveCommunity-mindedSincere
  • Eric Fitzgerald

    Antagonist

    Business Professional

    Ex-boyfriend

    AmbitiousCareer-focusedUrban-centric
  • Dylan

    Supporting

    Student

    Foster child Travis cares for; Lauren's future adopted son

    GenerousHopefulSelfless
  • Betty

    Supporting

    Cafe Owner

    Employer and friend in Grandon Falls

    WelcomingNurturingObservant

Questions people ask about Christmas Town

Where can I watch Christmas Town?

Christmas Town is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Christmas Town?

Christmas Town runs about 1 hour and 20 minutes, and was released in 2019.

Is Christmas Town a Christmas movie?

Yes. Christmas Town is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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Data and sources

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Sources:IMDbTMDB