The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Name: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Genre: Christmas, Big City, Pet, Cute Kid, Complete Strangers
Released: 2008-01-01
Duration: 1 h 28 min
Rating: 7.1
Cast: Brooke Burns, Henry Winkler, Warren Christie, Connor Christopher Levins, Woody Jeffreys

7.1/10 · 5,343 ratings20081h 28mChristmasWeirdness 3/10Bingo card

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year poster

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The premise

Jen, a corporate analyst and single mom, tackles Christmas with a business-like approach until her uncle arrives with a handsome stranger in tow.

Themes:Spontaneity vs. Planning The true meaning of Christmas Family meddling Believing in the impossible Breaking free from corporate rigidity

How unusual is it?

Honestly? Not very — and that's the charm. It plays the hits, which is exactly the point for a cozy night in.

Who’s in it

Our Girl

Brooke Burns

as Jennifer Cullen

Our Guy

Warren Christie

as Morgan Derby

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Michael M. Scott

Written by

Bruce Graham

Wait, what?

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

The uncle essentially kidnaps a drifter to force his niece to date him
The uncle threatens to 'crush the windpipe' of a criminal in the opening scene
The 'Garage Bandit' subplot where Morgan 'smells' a criminal
Ralph stealing a government-issued passport to manipulate a romance
The protagonist and love interest engaging in a physical altercation with a toy store owner in an alley

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.

Why we’d put this one on

Henry Winkler is the reason to watch, and he is having a ball. He plays a retired-cop uncle who basically brings home a charming drifter from the airport to set up his high-strung niece, played by Brooke Burns. It is a warm corporate-mom-learns-to-relax Christmas romance, but the uncle's methods are gloriously meddlesome. With a 7.3 rating the comfort beats land, and Winkler's gruff matchmaking gives it real charm. If you like a Christmas movie where the family schemer steals every scene, this one is for you.

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)

Jennifer Cullen is a stressed corporate analyst who manages her life and her son Brian's Christmas through meticulous lists. Her uncle Ralph, a retired police officer, meets Morgan Derby at the airport when flights to Denver are grounded by snow. Ralph, who dislikes Jennifer's dull boyfriend Richard, decides Morgan is a better match and brings him home to stay. Jennifer is initially hostile toward the 'vagrant' in her house, but Morgan wins over Brian by validating his belief in Santa Claus and helping him with a 'Rocketwheel' bike quest. Morgan, a world-traveling chef, begins to dismantle Jennifer's rigid traditions, replacing her artificial silver tree with a real one and offering to cook the Christmas turkey. The conflict intensifies as Richard, a jeweler who organizes his shirts by color, becomes jealous of Morgan's presence. In a notable scene, Morgan and Jennifer confront a toy store owner to get a bike, which involves Morgan physically intimidating the man. To prevent Morgan from leaving, Ralph secretly steals Morgan's passport, forcing him to stay another night. On Christmas Eve, Richard proposes to Jennifer in front of his parents in a cold, business-like manner. Jennifer realizes she is bored and unhappy, leading her to break up with Richard and kick his family out. After discovering Ralph's 'passport' ruse, Jennifer realizes Morgan is her true love. She rushes to the airport on Christmas Day, delivering a tearful confession to a security guard about how Morgan 'knows how to do Christmas.' Morgan, who hadn't yet boarded, overhears her. The film concludes with Morgan returning to the Cullen home to join the family for a real Christmas dinner, finally finding a place to put down roots.

Beat by beat

Opening
Uncle Ralph meets Morgan at the airport and uses a fake injury scam to get them both upgraded to first class.
Inciting Incident
Ralph brings Morgan home to Jennifer's house, much to her chagrin, claiming Morgan is a 'turkey expert' who can help with dinner.
Midpoint
Morgan and Jennifer 'break into' a closed toy store to secure a Rocketwheel bike for Brian, leading to a physical confrontation in an alley.
Complication
Ralph steals Morgan's passport to prevent him from flying to Denver, while Richard's jealousy of Morgan grows.
Climax
Richard proposes to Jennifer in front of his parents; Jennifer rejects him, realizing her life with him is 'boring' and 'solid like a bookcase.'
Resolution
Jennifer chases Morgan to the airport and gives a heartfelt speech to security; Morgan stays and they celebrate Christmas together.

Did you know?

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

Among everything Hallmark put out in 2008, this is the highest rated on the site — 7.1 out of 10.

29 tropes in one movie

We counted 29 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

The backstory

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a 2008 American made-for-television Christmas film directed by Michael Scott. The film premiered on Hallmark Channel on December 13, 2008.

From Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

How it stacks up

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

Higher-rated than 95% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

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

BINGOA retired cop relives his old beatSomeone’s guard finally comes downA boy's belief in Santa gets defendedA wise elder dispenses adviceAn artificial silver tree swapped for a real oneA class or family reunionSet in winterA big public romantic gestureA charming local cafe or dinerPlans get derailed by the weatherThe lead works as a executiveA cup of cocoa, coffee or cider★An old keepsake or photograph turns upSomeone apologises and means itThe leads laugh at the same momentA prince, princess or royal appearsA widow or widowerA classic Hallmark meet-cuteA drifter is brought home from the airportA second chance worth takingA scene-stealing cute kidA first class upgrade scam at the gateSomeone decorates a Christmas treeA calendar reminder raises the stakes

Hallmark Bingo

Your The Most Wonderful 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.

“You make one move and I will crush your windpipe, all right?”
— Uncle RalphRalph apprehending a mugger outside a bar.
“I sat on your nutcracker.”
— Morgan DerbyMorgan sitting on the sofa after a long day of Christmas prep.
“He sounds like a bookcase.”
— Uncle RalphRalph describing Jennifer's boring boyfriend, Richard.
“Organisation saves time.”
— Brian CullenJennifer's young son explaining his room's cleanliness.

Meet the characters

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

Jennifer Cullen
Lead
Corporate Analyst
StressedOrganizedCynicalProtective
Morgan Derby
Love interest
Chef / Drifter
Houseguest and romantic interest
Free-spiritedCharismaticHandyAdventurous
Richard
Antagonist
Jeweler
Boyfriend / Fiancé
BoringControllingMaterialisticArrogant
Uncle Ralph
Supporting
Retired Police Officer
Uncle
MeddlingToughLoyalEccentric

Questions people ask about The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

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

The Most Wonderful 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 Wonderful Time of the Year?

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year runs about 1 hour and 28 minutes, and was released in 2008.

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

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

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