The Most Colorful Time of the Year

Name: The Most Colorful Time of the Year
Genre: Christmas, Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Cute Kid, Brief Acquaintances
Released: 2022-01-01
Duration: 1 h 24 min
Rating: 6.3
Cast: Katrina Bowden, Christopher Russell, Ava Weiss, Joanna Douglas, Holly Jade Balmer

6.3/10 · 1,207 ratings20221h 24mChristmasWeirdness 4/10Bingo card

The Most Colorful Time of the Year poster

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The premise

It follows Ryan, an elementary school teacher who learns that he is colorblind. Michelle, an optometrist and mother of one of his students, helps bring color into his life in time for the holidays.

Themes:Science vs. Magic Overcoming shame Second chances at love The power of perspective Honesty in relationships

How unusual is it?

Middle of the road, with a twist — an enemies-to-lovers arc keeps it from being totally by-the-book.

Who’s in it

Our Girl

Katrina Bowden

as Michelle

Our Guy

Christopher Russell

as Ryan

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Max McGuire

Written by

Wait, what?

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

The protagonist commits a significant medical ethics breach by applying for a clinical trial on behalf of a man she barely knows without his consent.
The 'Scrooge' trope is explained through the lens of colorblindness, suggesting that people only hate Christmas because they can't see the red and green decorations.
The teacher has a PhD but chooses to teach elementary school science, which is treated as a mysterious 'classified' background.

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 29 to find more movies that do the same thing.

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 story begins with Dr. Michelle Stevens, an optometrist, conducting eye exams at her daughter Bailey’s elementary school. There she meets Ryan Tanner, a brilliant but rigid science teacher who discourages Christmas decorations in his classroom, claiming they distract from learning. During a routine screening, Michelle realizes Ryan is colorblind when he fails to see specific lines on an eye chart and guesses the color of her shirt. Ryan reveals he has kept this a secret his entire life, even from his parents, out of shame and a desire not to be a burden. Michelle learns about a clinical trial for state-of-the-art color-corrective lenses and encourages Ryan to try them, but he refuses, having been disappointed by failed treatments in the past. Undeterred, Michelle submits an application on his behalf without his consent. When the glasses arrive, Bailey leaves them for Ryan with a heartfelt note. Ryan finally puts them on and is overwhelmed by the beauty of the world, seeing color for the first time. Michelle then takes him on a 'color tour' of the town, including a toy drive and the annual Christmas tree lighting, where Ryan finally understands the 'magic' of the season he previously dismissed. However, complications arise when Michelle’s persistent ex-boyfriend, Mark, appears at a school concert, and Michelle mistakenly believes Ryan is dating the school's basketball coach, Gabby, after witnessing a platonic cheek kiss. Through the help of Michelle's sister Heidi, the misunderstandings are cleared up. Ryan realizes he is 'smitten' with Michelle and surprises her by decorating his home—a first for him. The film concludes on Christmas morning with Ryan joining Michelle and Bailey, fulfilling Bailey's secret Christmas wish for her mother to find a partner as wonderful as her late father.

Beat by beat

Opening
Michelle conducts eye exams at the school and discovers Ryan is colorblind after he fails the Ishihara test and guesses her shirt color.
Inciting Incident
Michelle applies Ryan for a clinical trial for color-corrective lenses without his permission after he initially rejects her help.
Midpoint
Ryan tries on the glasses for the first time and is overwhelmed by the visual beauty of the world, leading to a 'color tour' with Michelle.
Rising Action
Ryan and Michelle attend the town's tree lighting together, where Ryan finally loses his 'Scrooge' persona and appreciates the holiday.
Climax
Misunderstandings peak at the school concert when Michelle sees Ryan with Gabby and Ryan sees Michelle with her ex, Mark.
Resolution
Ryan clarifies his feelings, surprises Michelle with a decorated tree, and they celebrate Christmas morning together as a new family.

29 tropes in one movie

We counted 29 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.

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

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog The Most Colorful Time of the Year belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

BINGOA clinical trial for corrective lensesA scenic spot becomes their meeting placeA handwritten note or letterSomeone fails a color vision testA teacher with a mysterious PhD backgroundA musical number or live performanceA cute dog or catA change of heart by the final actPlans get derailed by the weatherA relative plays matchmakerA misunderstanding nearly ruins everythingA walk-and-talk through town★An old keepsake or photograph turns upAn optometrist runs school eye examsA pep talk that changes everythingA character loses their memoryA cosy interior full of warm lightingColor seen for the very first timeSet in winterA quiet moment under string lightsA first impression that turns out completely wrongSomeone’s guard finally comes downThe leads kissSet in a charming small town

Hallmark Bingo

Your The Most Colorful Time of the Year 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.

“It's like... I've been living my whole life in the shadows and, suddenly, someone came along and flicked on a light.”
— Ryan TannerRyan describing the experience of seeing color for the first time.
“These glasses aren't magic; they are science, and you taught me that science should give us hope.”
— Bailey StevensThe note Bailey leaves for Ryan with the corrective lenses.
“So, this is Christmas. The most colorful time of year.”
— Ryan TannerRyan watching the Christmas tree lighting with his new glasses.

Meet the characters

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

Michelle Stevens
Lead
Optometrist
CaringPersistentProfessionalDevoted mother
Ryan Tanner
Love interest
Elementary Science Teacher
Love interest and daughter's teacher
IntelligentGuardedAnti-ChristmasSecretive
Mark
Antagonist
Stock Market Worker
Ex-boyfriend
ArrogantPersistentMaterialistic
Bailey Stevens
Supporting
Student
Daughter
BrightKindObservant
Heidi
Supporting
Florist
Sister
SupportiveIntuitiveFestive

Questions people ask about The Most Colorful Time of the Year

Where can I watch The Most Colorful Time of the Year?

The Most Colorful Time of the Year is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is The Most Colorful Time of the Year?

The Most Colorful Time of the Year runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2022.

Is The Most Colorful Time of the Year a Christmas movie?

Yes. The Most Colorful Time of the Year is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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