The 2023 Christmas in July movie left fans with mixed feelings
Written 12th July 2023 | Subscribe to our Christmas newsletter
Hallmark's official Christmas in July lineup for 2023 has been unveiled on the network, but the initial film of the annual event sparked intriguing discussions among fans.
On July 8, the popular television channel premiered A Royal Christmas Crush, starring Katie Cassidy and Stephen Huszar. The movie revolves around Ava (played by Katie), a woman who unexpectedly finds herself employed at the exclusive Royal Ice Hotel. Little did she know that she would encounter Prince Henry (portrayed by Stephen), the most significant guest of all. As their relationship unfolds, they stumble along the way but eventually fall in love, leading to a happily ever after.
Before the movie's debut, Hallmark shared a brief video on their official Facebook page to promote the movie:
Following the airing of A Royal Christmas Crush on Saturday night, Hallmark fans took to social media to express their opinions about the film. While some embraced the concept of the romantic movie, others had different feelings.
"This was disappointing ?" said one fan... "We've already seen similar films set in this ice castle," they commented, referring to other Hallmark movies with comparable settings. Another person remarked, "Not the best Christmas movie! It didn't resonate with me, and the characters were bland ?." A different follower added, "There was no Christmas spirit in this Christmas in July movie."
Though A Royal Christmas Crush received mixed reviews from long-time viewers, Katie shared her thoughts on certain aspects of the film. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she expressed her appreciation for the supportive dynamic between her character and Stephen's.
"I believe there's a lot of curiosity on Ava's part. She encounters someone who is extremely sheltered and has everything taken care of for him," she explained. "She, on the other hand, is very genuine and down to earth. I think they uplift each other and make each other better people overall."
What did you think?
