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Matchmaker Santa

6.3/10 · 2,750 ratings20121h 15mChristmasWeirdness 8/10Bingo card
Matchmaker Santa poster
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The premise

A young baker discovers the magic of Christmas and love.

Themes:Authenticity over ambitionThe magic of ChristmasChildhood wishes coming trueFinding the right 'fit' in a partner

How unusual is it?

Very. Magic, santa is real, Santa himself and an actual miracle all turn up in one movie — the strangest 7% of everything we've logged.

Who’s in it

Lacey Chabert headshot

Our Girl

Lacey Chabert

as Melanie

Adam Mayfield headshot

Our Guy

Adam Mayfield

as Dean Ford

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

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Written by

Wait, what?

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

  • Santa Claus is a literal hitchhiker who sabotages a car's alternator to force a breakup.
  • The 'Bear Problem' subplot where the sheriff refuses to help because he thinks the protagonist is a 'fruitcake' seeing imaginary bears.
  • The road worker who gives intentionally confusing directions to ensure the characters stay lost.
  • The 'Skeeter' nickname given to Melanie by a local woman for no apparent reason.

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 31 to find more movies that do the same thing.

Setting2

🏘️Small Town🧁Bakery

Time & season3

❄️Winter🎄Christmas🗓️Contemporary

Premise4

🪄Magic/Wishes🎅Santa is Real✨Supernatural🤗Reunion

Characters3

🧁Lead: Baker/Pastry Chef👥Love interest: Woodworker/Craftsman👶Cute kid

Conflict5

⚡Other🫀Personal stakes💔Love triangle😠Disapproving parent💔An ex returns

Romance5

💕Start as brief acquaintances💕First kiss: late (final third)♻️Second chance🔥Slow burn💗Love confession

Tone & quirks5

🎬Light/Heartwarming🎵Musical element👨‍🍳Cooking scenes🧶Crafting scenes🎄Tree decorating

How it ends4

🎅Santa appears⭐A miracle💋Ends with a kiss🔄Career change

Why we’d put this one on

This is one I keep recommending to people who think they have seen every Hallmark trick. Lacey Chabert plays a baker road-tripping to a lake house with her CEO boyfriend when a hitchhiking Santa named Chris climbs in and starts arranging things. By arranging, I mean he sabotages the car's alternator to strand her in a charming town with the boyfriend's best friend. At a weirdness of 8 the details are pure chaos: a sheriff who thinks she is a fruitcake imagining bears, a road worker giving deliberately confusing directions, and a real, meddling Santa pulling the strings. Florence Henderson and John Ratzenberger co-star. Rated 6.6 and a blast.

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 to a young Melanie writing a letter to Santa, wishing to one day meet her 'Prince Charming.' Years later, Melanie is a successful but stressed bakery owner in a relationship with Justin, a high-powered CEO who often prioritizes work over her. Justin invites Melanie to his family's lake house for Christmas to meet his mother, Katherine, but he is too busy to pick her up from the airport and sends his assistant/best friend, Dean, instead. On her flight, Melanie sits next to a mysterious man named Chris who looks exactly like Santa Claus and claims to be heading to Buford Falls to work. When the rental car breaks down near Buford Falls, Melanie, Dean, and Chris are forced to stay at a local inn run by the eccentric Peggy. Meanwhile, at the lake house, Justin is stranded with Blaire, his high school sweetheart and current business associate, due to a reported 'bear' outside the house and a logging truck accident blocking the road. As Melanie and Dean spend time in Buford Falls, they discover they share a love for woodworking and traditional Christmas values. Melanie helps the local women bake cookies for charity using her secret family ingredient, while Dean carves a wooden ornament for her. Chris, who is heavily implied to be the real Santa, subtly manipulates events to keep the couples apart until they realize they are with the wrong people. Justin and Blaire realize their corporate ambitions and history make them a perfect match, while Melanie recognizes that Dean is the 'Prince Charming' she actually wished for as a child. The film culminates at the Buford Falls tree lighting ceremony where Melanie and Dean admit their feelings. When they finally reach the lake house, Justin and Melanie mutually confess they've found love with others, resulting in a happy ending for both couples.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    A young Melanie writes a letter to Santa wishing for her own Prince Charming.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Melanie's car breaks down in Buford Falls while traveling with Dean and a hitchhiking Santa named Chris.

  3. Midpoint

    Melanie and Dean bond over baking and woodworking in Buford Falls while Justin is 'trapped' at the lake house by a bear.

  4. Climax

    Melanie and Dean realize they are in love during the town's Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

  5. Resolution

    Melanie and Justin break up amicably, realizing they have both found their true matches in Dean and Blaire respectively.

Did you know?

A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.

  • At a weirdness score of 8, it lands among the strangest 7% of Hallmark movies we've scored.

Top 7% weirdest

Out of every Hallmark movie we've scored, this one lands among the strangest 7%.

How it stacks up

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

Rating 6.3 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.3567

Higher-rated than 37% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

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

Hallmark Bingo

Your Matchmaker Santa card is dealt.

Twenty-four squares pulled from this movie’s own quirks — the cosy classics, a few only-in-this-one curveballs, and a couple of decoys. Mark them as you watch.

Open your card

Lines worth quoting

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

  • “If this is the right fellow for you, you're not gonna put him out, and he'll wait there for you.”
    — ChrisGiving Melanie relationship advice on the plane.
  • “I'm pretty sure it's the alternator... mechanical energy from the crankshaft into electricity through induction.”
    — George the MechanicExplaining why they are stranded in Buford Falls.
  • “I'm giving the company my two-weeks notice after Christmas. Starting the new year fresh.”
    — DeanTelling Melanie he is quitting his job to follow his woodworking passion.

Meet the characters

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

  • Melanie Hogan

    Lead

    Bakery Owner

    KindHardworkingTraditionalSentimental

  • Dean Ford

    Love interest

    Executive Assistant / Woodworker

    Boyfriend's best friend and assistant

    LoyalArtisticSincereUnderappreciated

  • Justin Green

    Supporting

    CEO

    Initial boyfriend

    AmbitiousWorkaholicForgetfulStatus-conscious

  • Chris (Santa)

    Supporting

    Santa Claus

    Travel companion and magical matchmaker

    MysteriousJovialManipulative (benevolent)All-knowing

  • Blaire Tisdale

    Supporting

    VP of Operations

    Justin's ex-girlfriend and business associate

    EfficientAmbitiousNostalgic

Questions people ask about Matchmaker Santa

Where can I watch Matchmaker Santa?

Matchmaker Santa is available via UP Faith & Family Apple TV channel, UP Faith & Family Amazon Channel, and Xumo Play. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Matchmaker Santa?

Matchmaker Santa runs about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and was released in 2012.

Is Matchmaker Santa a Christmas movie?

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

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Data and sources

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Sources:IMDbTMDB