Christmas with the Darlings

The film begins with Jessica Lew finishing her final days as the executive assistant to Charles Darlington, the chairman of the Darlington Corporation. Having recently passed the bar, Jessica is set to transition into the company's legal department in January. However, a family crisis arises: Charles and his younger brother Max must assume guardianship of their late brother’s three children—Emma, J. Henry, and Abby—who are returning to the U.S. after living in Australia for years. Because Charles is scheduled for a high-stakes business trip to Europe and Max is viewed as too flighty for parenting, Charles plans to send the children directly to a boarding school, Paden Academy, even though it is only two weeks before Christmas. Disturbed by the lack of holiday spirit for the grieving children, Jessica volunteers to stay at the Darlington estate and watch them until Christmas. Max, feeling a sense of duty to his late brother Jarrett, decides to cancel his annual ski trip to Whistler and join her. The children arrive feeling displaced and guarded, particularly the eldest, Emma, who feels she must protect her siblings. Jessica and Max implement a plan for a 'traditional New England Christmas,' which includes making bird-friendly outdoor ornaments, going on carriage rides, and working on a massive 2,000-piece puzzle that belonged to the children's father. As they spend time together, Jessica realizes that Max is far more substantial than his 'playboy' reputation suggests; she discovers he secretly volunteers at a pediatric ward and has a keen business mind. Meanwhile, Jessica is encouraged by Lena Thomas, a family law attorney, to consider a career helping children rather than corporate law. A major subplot involves the company's Christmas party. Charles needs to impress a potential partner, Mr. Lee, who values family. Jessica and Max convince Charles to move the party from a cold ballroom to the Darlington home, turning it into a family-oriented event. The party is a massive success, and Mr. Lee is so impressed by Max that he requests Max lead the company's new division in Taiwan. Conflict peaks when Charles tells Max he must leave for Taipei immediately, which would mean missing Christmas with the kids. Jessica, though heartbroken because she has fallen for Max, encourages him to take the opportunity. However, at the last minute, Jessica realizes she cannot leave the children and tells Charles she is quitting the corporation to work in family law and will stay to care for the nieces and nephew locally. Max, realizing he cannot leave Jessica or the kids, returns from the airport. He negotiates with Charles to stay through the holidays and manage the Taiwan deal from the U.S. initially. The film concludes with the group celebrating Christmas as a newly formed family unit, with Max and Jessica finally confessing their love for one another.