User reviews

The best thing about this movie was the acting. Tamera Mowry-Housley plays a widowed mother of an adorable little girl. She is a rocket scientist and the team's supervisor. The manager of the company is Evan, played by Ronnie Rowe, Jr. Now Evan is a very interesting character. To say he is not a people person is putting it mildly. He is brilliant but cold and uncaring of his employees. He cannot seem to understand or have empathy towards others. He almost behaves as if he is "on the spectrum." 3 valuable employees have resigned, siting his management as the cause and because of that he is in trouble with the board of directors. They tell him not to be such a demanding task master and get a life, essentially. If one more employee quits, he will be fired. Yet right after that, due a deadline, he informs his employees that they will have to work Christmas Eve *and* possibly Christmas. He is just clueless and disconnected. It is too much for Tamera, and she tells him off and quits on the spot. But that day, she had to bring her daughter Grace to work for a few hours, and the little girl, nicely played by Isabel Birch, takes one look at her mother's hateful boss, and believes he is the "Christmas Prince" from a story passed down through her family. She believe this fantasy figure, who picks out one little girl or boy every Christmas to grant 12 wishes to, is real. Tamera knows what's up with her boss's bosses and tells him she will return to work if he poses as the Prince through Christmas. If she doesn't he will lose his job. And he is horrified and even a little frightened. Yes, she probably should have told her daughter the truth and not blackmailed her boss, but then we wouldn't have a movie, would we?

As Evan spends more time with Tamera and her little girl, he starts to open up and warm up. His communication skills improve as well. During their first dinner, for example, his conversation is like, "I see you eat carrots. Do you eat carrots often?" Scintillating! But soon they are opening up to each other, confiding, and empathizing. He learns she is a widow. Three years ago, when her husband died, he approved her bereavement leave but didn't even care enough to ask who died! When she reminds him of this, he is shocked. It causes him to see himself clearly and make an effort to change his ways. Besides his personal relationship developing with Tamera and Grace, By the end of the movie he becomes a great boss, and even gets promoted, instead of fired!

That Ronnie Rowe Jr. Makes his character sympathetic is little short of a miracle. His transformation is slow and subtly done, even changing his body language and way he stands. Fantastic Job. Mowry-Housley was so funny, warm and charming in this. The secondary characters are entertaining as well. She has a support group she started to help her cope with her husband's death. It includes Caitlin Stryker, a Hallmark veteran who is always good. I've never seen Nathanael Vass who plays Lorenzo, her "work husband" but he was a treat as well. I hope I see him again. The actual plot was cheesy as heck, but the writing was bright and amusing, and considerably elevated by the actors' talents.

I loved this movie. Tamera Mowry (Shelby) gave a great performance. As did Ronnie Rowe Jr who played her Boss (Evan). He reminded me of the Gretch, but unlike the Gretch, he wasn't heartless, just clueless about other people's feelings. However, as the movie went on we watch him come out of his Rocket Scientist Nerdy Shell and evolve into this sweet caring person. However, Evan being a rocket scientist was not the point of this movie, which is why they didn't focus on his occupation, but rather on his transformation. This is evident when Evan's boss explains that his work performance was not the problem, but it was his people skills that needed to improve.

Anyway, If you didn't see the plot of Gretch that stole Christmas in this movie, we weren't watching the same movie. At one point, during the Christmas party, I thought (Shelby) was going to say "his heart is growing" The ending was so sweet and so prince charming.

Lastly, I agree that Isabel Birch (Grace) wasn't the right fit for this part. She seemed to be a little kid trying to (act) like a little kid. It didn't seem natural.

Honestly one of the best original Christmas movies I have seen in years, it will definitely go down a Hallmark Classic. I've watched hundreds of Hallmark movies over the years and this one is at the top -it checked all the right boxes, it was authentic and genuine, a real feel-good movie, enchanting with a great story line, main characters were very engaging, tears of joy and happiness..... the movie was fantastic. I've already watched several times this season , it has quickly become one of my favorites. As this movie presents an element of innocence by showcasing the imagination of a child, I found myself drawn to the plight of a single parent motivated by her love and the strong bond she shares with her child and as a parent willing to indulge in the creation of the magic.

This movie had it all. The main three characters were excellently scripted, and played by Tamera Mowry-Howsley, Ronnie Rowe and the precious Ms. Birch. The plot was believable, with real life situations of single motherhood and the challenges and sacrifices of a professional life. The sets were impressive and as usual, the gorgeous Christmas decor by Balsam Hill did not disappoint! This was an inspiring story about being courageous enough to find love when it's been lost or never realized. I would recommend this movie to anyone. It was sweet, wholesome, without being corny or sappy. Don't stop beliving!

While the cast was good, (Tamera Mowry-Housley is great in many Hallmark movies) I didn't like the storyline at all.

There are so many great, feel-good Hallmark Christmas movies that leave you feel warm and fuzzy inside, this one just felt awkward and I could hardly finish it. I was annoyed by the lies and the storyline. There are a lot of single parents out there, a lot of little girls without a dad, should we all invent a prince to make the child feel better and then hire an "actor" to make it all come "true"? Aren't there better ways?

This movie wasn't for me at all and I wouldn't recommend it, or watch it again.

I don't normally watch movies on Hallmark, but my wife was watching and I was working within eye distance of the TV. I found myself looking up several times and then became captivated by the storyline and the message of hope. The demanding workload and the ability to juggle a work life balance was relatable. I found the actors to be extremely believable, contrary to some of the other films on Hallmark during Christmastime, especially Tamera Mowry Housley and Isabel Birch. I was entertained... there was comedy and drama and I appreciated the diversity in the cast. It was an overall great movie with a spectacular ending.

While some hallmark movies end up being cute gems, this movie unfortunately falls under the category of just painfully generic and lacking in any real intrigue or passion. The characters have NO chemistry, none, the lead is unlikable and just treats the guy terribly the whole time, and every single person acting in this doesn't seem to want to be acting in it and are phoning their roles in. While the premise has the potential for charm, it loses any of it due to wooden performances and an incredibly weak script, plus some absolutely baffling choices like to have the main character's job be a rocket scientist but that having no bearing on the plot. Disappointing, boring, hollow, no feeling of Christmas magic, just mild annoyance. The child actress was a decent casting choice though, but again weighed down by poor writing that didn't seem to fit the character's age.

This was not your typical Hallmark Christmas movie and that is precisely one of the reasons why I loved it! The diversity was refreshing. The acting was believable. And, the story line was relatable. Tamera Mowry Housley, bravo!!! She did an amazing job! Navigating grief looks different for everyone and her emotions were palpable ... believable. Having a story of hope and promise (the Christmas prince) to share with her daughter was, in my opinion, beautiful. Bonus that he actually turned out to be a 'Prince' for both of them. I loved that she was casted as a brilliant, beautiful and confident woman. We need more of that!!! Isabel (who played Shelby's daughter) is a shining star. Amazing job and I'm looking forward to seeing her more. Great job by everyone. I've already watched the movie twice and saw things I missed the first time. If you're looking for a feel good Christmas film with a 'not your typical Hallmark storyline', this movie is definitely for you!

First of all, I was highly disappointed that Caitlin Cromwell Stryker who played a major character received no Cast credit! She is a very talented, versatile actor who is always a treat to watch. As the best friend and confidant of the female lead it was confusing that she received no acknowledgement.

Several times I was tempted to stop this movie because the storyline is so fake and forced. Not even worthy of Fairytale status. Over-the-top acting by Mowbray, who I usually enjoy. Dead acting by the male lead who did not seem invested. I would like to see him in another movie for a second chance. The daughter was unevenly appealing, but again I would like to see her in something else. No problem deleting this one.

I have never ever cry at a Hallmarks films. I mean they are beautiful and emotional it ones never gotten me actually to cry but this one got me. The story line, the wishlist, but the ending had me so emotional. The scenery at the end was already beautiful but they added that song and the ride with the beautiful Christmas lights. I'm not Afraid to admit i cried like a baby. This is definitely a film I gotta watch this one again. I know I say this all the time but seriously, Tamera Mowry Housley and Christmas films just go together. This is definitely her season to shine. Can't wait for her next Hallmark film. And again S/O for Tamera for representing Black Love and women in Stem!

All the heart eyes 😍 and feels-this movie was goood! Inventing the Christmas Prince had it all...Fun and fresh storyline, strong characters embracing new beginnings, the joy of a child believing in the holiday magic, romance AND a fairy tale ending with all of the warm and fuzzies that you want from a Christmas movie! Tamera Mowry and Ronnie Rowe had a great chemistry. The little star of the show (Isabel Birch) was adorable and added a nice heartwarming touch to all of her scenes. The mother/daughter scenes were great as well thawing out "Mr. Scrooge" in her scenes with Ronnie. Well done, Hallmark!

Hands down my FAVORITE Christmas movie from Tamera Mowry Housely. My family watches all of her movies, especially the Christmas ones, and this one is by far my favorite. Ronnie Rowe Jr who plays the Christmas Prince did an excellent job (I almost thought he was like that in real life lol) and Isabel Birch who played her daughter is downright delightful in this. You did that Tamera! If you're wondering whether to watch or not, you most definitely should! It is an adorable and sweet Christmas movie. Although the Hallmark Christmas season has just started, this is by far one of the best Christmas movies I've seen from the lineup this year.

Using magical Christmas myths can be expected in some Christmas movies. Unfortunately so can using actions by characters that are just as much the realm of fantasy. To make a long story short, Shelby blackmails her boss so that he will fulfill the myths that Shelby herself implanted in her daughter's mind.

Evan is too stupid to believe when he demands that Shelby and her co-workers come in on Christmas day after his boss has already told him that he has to improve morale. Shelby "quits". Somehow she knows that she has dirt on him and is not content just to get her job back. What makes the first half of this movie cringe worthy is that she continues to humiliate him, often publicly for almost the entire first half. And Evan is stupid enough to put up with it, and you guessed it, start to sympathize with her.

This is another Christmas movie where a cute kid works her magic on the man in her mother's life. She even decides her mother needs love so dating becomes one of the wishes.

Don't get me wrong. The writers and director do a good job of accomplishing what they set out to do. There are inevitably some funny moments. If you like this kind of story and comedy, it is well done. It is just that it was way too far out of my tolerance zone.

The second half of the movie comes back to earth and we get pretty much what we expect with a small surprise or two thrown in that don't really change the outcome.

This movie is a stand out on Hallmark. The diversity of the cast, and the chemistry between the Leads Shelby (Tamera Mowry Housley) and Evan (Ronnie Rowe) was excellent. How their relationship progressed was actually believable. The little girl, who played Shelby's daughter was absolutely adorable, and I loved her chemistry with both Tamera and Evan. The characters had real depth to their individual stories, I loved that it started off with a mother and daughter dealing with loss, and making the most of the Holiday. This movie allowed Tamera to show off her more dramatic acting chops and I'm here for it! I sincerely hope there's more of these movies to come!

The Prince's dialogue is terrible and the character is stiff and under developed. I'm not sure how much criticism to attribute to the acting. A good actor can only do so much to salvage a bad script. Hallmark is often campy and predictable, but still a cute movie. This was just bad.

Can we talk about the boss dating a direct report? Someone call HR. In 2022, this storyline is unacceptable. Bad judgement on the part of execs. They can do better, and viewers need to demand it.

It's rare that I can't make it through a Hallmark movie. I was ready to turn the channel after 5 minutes, but the husband wanted to see it through to the end. My first instincts were correct.

Tamera Mowry-Housley and Ronnie Rowe have always given stellar, believable performances with ease and class.

Tamera is one of my favorite actresses. She is real, super enjoyable to watch, credible, strong yet humble, super down to earth, warm, heartfelt, smart, and beautiful.

Ronnie is intense, but believable, engaging, and real as well. He has proven himself many times over in all of his roles.

What a unique plot within the gamut of Christmas movies! They kept me engaged and wanting to know what would come next. If you saw "all" the movie, you'd appreciate all its colors, themes, and perspectives.

There are many universal themes; we can all relate to the love of family, finding true love, grieve, shared values that make us closer, traditions, to fighting for your dreams, etc. However, the role of a professional who happens to be a single mom, and a widower is displayed in a very elegant and beautiful way. Also, and especially in today's world, the importance of having empathy is showcased successfully.

These universal themes, human experiences and values, and happy endings are the reason people look forward to see these movies every season, and year. However, unique story lines allow us to escape into other people's lifestyles and experiences. This movie had both familiarity and uniqueness, which is rare to achieve or see these days, along with a sparkle of Christmas fantasy.

It's a shame some people are so biased, they cannot bring themselves to rate films with minority leads or cast fairly, and they even dare to leave back handed compliments that do nothing, but show their biases very clearly.

Oh, and then there's the plain old haters who seem to leave an untrue or mean spirited comment, just to do damage. Not cool! We see you too, and that's wrong!

I invite open minded people, who see everyone as "human beings" first and foremost, to give themselves the opportunity to watch this and other hallmark movies with minority leads and cast, and rate them in a fair, objective, and unbiased way, as it should be.

I'm very pleased with this beautiful movie, and others done since 2020, which have shown classy, and culturally diverse stories that celebrate family and love in all its forms.

Please have Tamera and Ronnie back in many more films! We need actors who portray real people, not fake-corny leads who have been done exhaustively, and no longer capture the times we live in.

Bravo to Hallmark for making a commitment to be a network that employs diverse casts, diverse stories, and champions inclusion! Please continue to do so always, and continue making beautiful movies! Lord knows our nation needs to see our stories, our children need to see themselves represented in people who look like them, and our actors need the platform and the opportunities.

I celebrate and support them all! Bravo!

#representationmatters.

Ronnie Rowe leaves the Starship Discovery to wow me in this super cute movie. Ronny ironically plays a rocket sciientist who is a rayed as a bad manager because he cant bond with his staff. But when a staffer's precious daughter mistakes him for the Christmas Prince of her favorite bedtime stories, he's forced into the penultimate bond...a little girl and her Christmas hero.

I enjoyed the way Ronnie played an introvert struggling to be more extroverted. My only question is...why should HE have the change for everyone else? Why couldn't some people cut HIM some slack. But that's another movie. I absolutely loved the ending, even if it was completely over the top.

Oh, kudos to hair and make up. This is the first Hallmark movie where the black women hair styles were on point.

No spoilers. This is a great movie! Good characters, good acting, the little girl is precious, and a cute storyline. I loved it!

It's family friendly. Has a strong lead female character who is smart and has a job that isn't usually found in a Hallmark movie. She's also kind and funny and trying to raise her daughter to be the same way. Doesn't have the over used "I misunderstood stood a partly overheard conversation" or other regular plot twists either. The male lead was a good choice as well and I like how his character develops.

I will definitely watch this one again and hope to see more like it in the future.

Good storyline, actors and actresses did well especially the little girl. The lead male actor, the Spock, did well in the transformation of his character. The lead actress, single mom, was a good example of someone who was strong yet showed that she was human in revealing her weaknesses as well. The little girl, the princess, was really natural in her acting. Good development of characters, real life situations, and love the funny parts as well. All around good lessons to be learned about being polite, thoughtful, caring, believing, and loving again!

Thank you for making a good quality film that everyone in the family can watch. More of this please!