Here's My Christmas Tree Rating for Hallmark's "Noel Next Door"

Noel Next Door Plot Summary

A single mom gets into a war or words with a neighbor who she feels is ruining Christmas, only to find that this misunderstood grouch may just steal her heart.

Starring:  Natalie Hall & Corey Sevier

Image:  Crown Media

There Are Good Morals Shared in Noel Next Door

Noel Next Door is reminiscent of Hallmark movies of Christmases past because it contains virtuous messages hidden beneath the surface which give the story heart and soul without being preachy.  It's a welcome reprieve from the subpar fluff Hallmark has produced since Woke Wonya Lucas seized the reins as CEO.

The first moral embedded is about loving people based on their character, not their outward appearance.  When Jeremy (Sevier) reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date with Hailey, it's soon obvious she's embarrassed by him.  When he tries to remove his coat and struggles due to his stroke-affected arm, she's mortified.  To his credit, he has enough self-respect to sever the relationship immediately.  

Noelle, on the other hand, is attracted to Jeremy the moment she meets him.  She is oblivious to the inflexible arm at his side and his cane.  All she notices is the instant connection she feels with him. 

The second moral woven throughout the story is extending grace to people who don't appear to deserve it based on their words and actions--you never know what a person is wrestling with and how it's affecting them.  Jeremy is initially grumpy, hostile to Christmas, and impatient and rude with young children. He has all the trappings of a Grinch, and it would be easy to judge him and write him off as a jerk.  When we learn his stroke happened on Christmas morning, derailed his marriage, and forced him to abandon his career as a conductor and switch gears to composing, we see him through the eyes of compassion.

It's also very easy to judge Noelle's son, Henry, for acting like a lying brat.  While script writers could have perhaps had Henry acting out a little less disrespectfully, we realize his parents' divorce has sent him into an emotional tailspin.  He really is a good kid trying to navigate the new direction his life has taken.

Image:  Crown Media

We learn an apology can go a long way in mending broken relationships.

Based on the creep hitting on Noelle during her waitressing shift at the diner and being miffed that someone who is "just a waitress" isn't interested in him, we're reminded not to look down on others in vocations that don't require a college education.  People are valuable for who they are, not their economic status.

Noel Next Door is a movie with substance, something that has been lacking in many Hallmark movies of late.

Noel Next Door Is Based on a Book  

Many Hallmark fans have noted the lack of creativity in script writing.  Whether writers are focused on quantity over quality or too distracted trying to check boxes over weaving unique and well-plotted stories is anyone's guess.  

One reason Noel Next Door is such a great movie is because it is based on a book by Annabelle Costa.  Since the book market is saturated, authors have to work hard to stand out and be noticed over all the white noise.  The movie has depth because the book provides it.  

Hallmark movies based on novels are almost always better.

You can grab Costa's book How the Grinch Stole My Heart, here:

My Christmas Tree Rating

Many fans shared positive reviews of Noel Next Door on social media, while others found it boring and too slow moving.

I think the movie develops at a natural pace.  Most couples in Hallmark movies fall in love within 72 hours, which is totally unrealistic.  Noel Next Door depicts two people who make a connection, get to know each other over time, learn how to resolve their differences, and continue progressing in their relationship. A year later, we see them watching a symphony Jeremy composes looking very much in love.  This is what falling in love really looks like, and it's much sweeter than microwave romance.

It's nice to see a main character in an ordinary job.  Too many Hallmark movies feature powerful businesswomen at the top of their fields, which is fine sometimes, but it leaves out all the wonderful people in the world working common jobs.  It may be a stretch to imagine Noelle being able to afford such a nice condo when her ex isn't paying her anything yet (he claims their attorney is still sorting it out), but her character is more relatable.

This is Hall's best Hallmark role to date.  She typically over-acts in her movies, but as Noelle, she appears mature, compassionate, even-tempered, and endearing.

For those who've voiced the lack of chemistry in recent movies, Hall and Sevier don't disappoint.  They pull you into their romance when her warmth, charm, and kindness meet his soulful and courageous return to life after a physical trauma.  They melt into each other when they are together, and they deliver a final kiss that's better than some we've witnessed lately.

Hallmark has steered away from the fairytale of a damsel in distress needing to be rescued by Prince Charming--to their detriment--to pander to today's independent woman.  Noel Next Door includes a beautiful scene where Noelle is being hit on and insulted, and Jeremy chivalrously comes to her aid.  We need more of this!

Noel Next Door is also one of the increasingly rare family-friendly movies, which is very much appreciated by longtime Hallmark viewers.

Noel Next Door might not be the best Hallmark movie you will ever watch and it lacks a strong Christmas vibe, but it's still a must-see and one you'll happily watch many times through the years.

It earns four out of five Christmas trees in my book!  

Image:  Crown Media