If you’ve spent any time on Hallmark+ lately, you probably know that holiday movies aren't just about the tinsel anymore. They’re about the "universes." The Unwrapping Christmas collection is one of those cozy interconnected worlds, and the final installment, Olivia's Reunion, has been getting a lot of traction for one big reason: the chemistry between the leads. Honestly, finding the right actors for a "forced proximity" trope—especially the classic snowed-in-at-a-cabin scenario—is a make-or-break situation.
The cast of Unwrapping Christmas: Olivia's Reunion is led by two Hallmark heavyweights, Cindy Busby and Jake Epstein. They aren't exactly strangers to the genre. But in this specific 2024 film, they play exes who have to navigate a very awkward (and very chilly) weekend together.
The Core Duo: Cindy Busby and Jake Epstein
At the heart of the story is Olivia Matheson. Cindy Busby plays her with that specific blend of high-energy "girl boss" and vulnerable nostalgia that she’s perfected over the years. Olivia is the creative whiz at All Wrapped Up, the gift-wrapping shop that anchors all four movies in this series. If you’ve seen The Holiday Train or Marry Me in Yosemite, you know Busby can carry a movie. Here, she’s basically the glue of the group, but she’s also the one desperately trying to make it back for the town's Christmas Gala.
Then there’s Benjamin "Ben" Hall, played by Jake Epstein. For a certain generation, he’ll always be Craig Manning from Degrassi: The Next Generation. It’s kinda funny seeing a former teen idol become a Hallmark staple, but he brings a grounded, slightly weary energy to Ben that works perfectly against Busby’s Olivia. Ben is the guy who left for New York and, according to his mom, "broke the family's heart." When Olivia shows up at a remote cabin to deliver gifts and finds him behind the door, the tension is immediate.
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Supporting Players and the "All Wrapped Up" Crew
Since this is part of a four-movie arc, we get to see the rest of the shop owners too. It's a nice touch because it makes the town feel lived-in rather than just a cardboard backdrop.
- Kathryn Davis as Mia Parker: Mia is the bookkeeper of the group. She has her own movie in the series (Mia's Prince), but here she shows up to support Olivia.
- Ashley Newbrough as Lily Morgan: She handles the marketing side of the shop and stars in Lily's Destiny.
- Natalie Hall as Tina: The leader who runs the shop and the star of Tina's Miracle.
- Scott Gibson as Al Hall: Ben’s father. He’s the more level-headed one in the Hall family, often acting as a bridge between Ben and his more... opinionated mother.
- Susan Hamann as Candace Hall: Every good romance needs a little friction, and Candace provides it. She’s Ben’s mom, and she definitely has some unresolved feelings about Olivia and Ben’s past breakup.
- Zoë Barrett-Wood as Jen: A local store owner who Candace thinks would be a much better match for Ben. Interestingly, the movie avoids the "mean girl" trope here. Jen is actually quite nice, which makes the whole situation more mature and less like a soap opera.
Why the Casting Works for This Story
Directed by Max McGuire, the film leans heavily on the fact that these two actors can actually talk to each other. A lot of holiday movies rely on "near-miss" kisses and busy festivals to fill time. In Olivia's Reunion, they’re stuck. There’s no food in the fridge (literally just a banana, which is a weirdly specific detail that makes it feel more real), no ice skating, and no big town events for the middle hour of the movie.
It’s just Ben and Olivia in a basement looking for decorations. Because the cast of Unwrapping Christmas: Olivia's Reunion is so small, the performances have to be tight. Busby shows off Olivia’s "bow-making acumen" while Epstein plays the defensive-but-softening ex-boyfriend.
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The movie actually does something rare: Olivia eavesdrops on a conversation Ben is having with his mother, but instead of hearing something that causes a "big misunderstanding" (a trope we all love to hate), she hears him actually defending her. It's a refreshing change of pace for the genre.
Practical Details for Fans
If you’re trying to track this one down, it first hit Hallmark+ in November 2024. It eventually made its way to the main Hallmark Channel during the "Christmas in July" event in 2025. As of 2026, it’s a regular part of the holiday rotation.
The film was shot largely in Canada, which is standard for these productions, and it’s the fourth and final movie in the "Unwrapping Christmas" collection. You don't strictly have to watch the others to understand what's happening, but seeing the chemistry between the four women at the shop makes the ending of this one feel a lot more earned.
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How to Get the Most Out of the Series
If you're planning a marathon, watch them in order: Tina's Miracle, Mia's Prince, Lily's Destiny, and finally Olivia's Reunion. It’s the best way to see the progression of the All Wrapped Up shop and the evolving friendships. You can find the entire collection on Hallmark+ or look for the "Unwrapping Christmas" marathons that usually run on the Hallmark Channel on weekends throughout November and December.
Keep an eye out for Ivy, Olivia's dog in the movie. Fans have been vocal about the fact that the dog is basically a scene-stealer, even though he didn't get an official credit in the opening titles. Sometimes the best cast members are the four-legged ones.
Check your local listings for the next airing or head over to the Hallmark+ app to stream it on demand. Since it's a 2024 release, it's widely available across most cable providers and streaming platforms like Philo or FuboTV that carry Hallmark content.