If you’ve spent any time scrolling through the endless grid of holiday rom-coms lately, you know the drill. There’s a high-powered executive. She hates snow. She ends up in a small town where everyone wears flannel and drinks artisanal cocoa. Usually, there’s a magical reindeer or a guy named Nick who looks suspiciously like a younger Santa Claus. But honestly, Believe in Christmas, the 2024 release on Great American Family (GAF), tries to flip that script just enough to feel fresh. It doesn't throw away the tinsel, but it adds a layer of "wait, is this actually happening?" that makes it stand out in a crowded December schedule.
The movie stars Leah Thompson as Maya, a woman who is, quite frankly, a bit over the whole holiday spirit thing. She’s joined by Isaac, played by Jason Cermak, and their chemistry is what keeps this thing from drifting into the "too cheesy to function" territory. The plot centers on a "Christmas Coach" named Beatrice. Yeah, you heard that right. A coach. For Christmas.
What Believe in Christmas Gets Right About Modern Skepticism
Most holiday movies treat skepticism like a disease that needs to be cured by the first commercial break. Maya isn’t like that. She’s pragmatic. When she gets whisked away to a magical-looking retreat in the mountains, she doesn't immediately start singing carols. She questions the overhead costs. She looks at the logistics. It’s a vibe that a lot of us can relate to when the holidays feel more like a to-do list than a silent night.
The film explores the tension between wanting to believe in something "more" and the cold reality of adult life. It's a bit of a meta-commentary on the genre itself. We watch these movies because we want to believe, even if we know the snow is mostly soap suds and the town square is a backlot in British Columbia.
The Beatrice Factor and the "Christmas Coach" Trope
Beatrice is the engine of the movie. Played with a sort of mischievous twinkle that avoids being annoying, she represents the catalyst. In the world of Believe in Christmas, the coach isn't just teaching you how to wrap presents. She’s pushing the characters to confront why they stopped caring in the first place.
It's a clever narrative device.
Instead of a random magic spell, we get a character who acts as a therapist with a glitter gun. It’s actually a pretty smart way to handle character development without relying on a literal Christmas miracle. Maya’s journey isn't about finding a boyfriend—though, let’s be real, it’s a GAF movie, so Isaac is definitely in the picture—it’s about reclaiming a sense of wonder that life usually grinds out of you by age 30.
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Why the Great American Family Vibe Matters Here
We have to talk about the network. Great American Family has been positioning itself as the "traditional" alternative to Hallmark’s more evolving slate. Some people love that; some people find it a bit too sanitized. Believe in Christmas leans into the traditional values but manages to dodge the "preachy" bullet that sometimes hits these productions.
The production value is surprisingly crisp. The lighting isn't that blindingly bright "everything is a Sears catalog" look. There are shadows. There’s depth. It makes the mountain setting feel cozy rather than staged.
Honestly, the scenery is a character in itself.
If you aren't looking up flights to a mountain cabin by the forty-minute mark, you might be dead inside. The film utilizes its locations to sell the "belief" aspect. It’s hard not to feel something when the camera pans over a snow-dusted valley at sunset.
Does the Romance Actually Work?
Jason Cermak and Leah Thompson have a dynamic that feels... normal?
Usually, the male lead in these movies is either a grumpy lumberjack or a billionaire with a secret heart of gold. Isaac is just a guy. He’s supportive, he’s a little bit of a foil to Maya’s cynicism, and he doesn't try to "fix" her. They talk like people. They have disagreements that aren't based on a simple misunderstanding that could be cleared up with a five-second phone call.
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That’s a rarity in this genre.
The "Big Misunderstanding" usually happens at the 90-minute mark. You know the one—the lead sees the other lead hugging their sister and assumes it’s a secret fiancé. Believe in Christmas skips the most egregious of these tropes, opting instead for a conflict rooted in Maya’s internal struggle with her own expectations.
The Script and the Small Details
The dialogue in Believe in Christmas has a bit more snap than your average holiday fare.
- Maya’s dry wit is actually funny.
- The supporting cast doesn't just feel like background noise.
- The pacing doesn't drag in the second act.
There’s a scene involving a traditional Christmas feast that actually looks like food people would eat, rather than a plastic display. These small touches matter. They ground the fantasy. When the movie asks you to "believe," it’s easier to do so when the world feels lived-in.
Addressing the Skeptics
Look, if you hate holiday movies, this isn't going to turn you into a superfan. It’s still a movie about finding the spirit of Christmas. There are still montages. There is still a lot of red and green. But for the "casual" viewer who wants something heart-warming that won't insult their intelligence, it hits the mark.
One common criticism of these movies is that they are "cookie-cutter." And sure, the mold is there. But Believe in Christmas fills that mold with better ingredients. It’s like the difference between a store-bought ginger snap and one your grandma made with actual ginger and too much butter.
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The Science of Holiday Comfort Viewing
Why do we keep watching movies like Believe in Christmas?
There’s actually some psychology behind it. Dr. Pamela Rutledge, a media psychologist, has often pointed out that these films provide a "predictable emotional journey." In a world that feels increasingly chaotic—especially in the last few years—knowing exactly how a story will end is a form of self-care. It lowers cortisol. It triggers dopamine.
Believe in Christmas works because it delivers that safety while still giving us a protagonist who asks the questions we’re actually thinking. It bridges the gap between the "real world" and the "movie world."
Key Takeaways for Your Holiday Watchlist
If you're deciding whether to put this on while you wrap gifts or drink your third eggnog, here’s the reality. It’s a solid 8/10 for the genre. It won’t win an Oscar, but it will make you feel like maybe, just maybe, everything is going to be okay for an hour and a half.
- Watch for the leads: Thompson and Cermak have genuine chemistry that outshines the script.
- Don’t expect a revolution: It’s still a holiday movie. It knows its lane and stays in it.
- Pay attention to Beatrice: Her "coaching" moments are actually decent life advice disguised as holiday fluff.
- The "Belief" isn't just religious: While GAF is a faith-friendly network, the "belief" here is more about faith in humanity and yourself.
How to Get the Most Out of the Movie
To really enjoy Believe in Christmas, you have to lean into the sincerity. Turn off your "ironic viewing" brain for a second. The movie is earnest. If you fight the earnestness, you’ll hate it. If you accept that the world can be a little bit magical for 100 minutes, you’ll have a great time.
Stream it on the Great American Pure Flix app or catch it during the "Great American Christmas" marathon on the GAF channel. It’s best viewed with a heavy blanket and the lights dimmed so only the tree is glowing.
Next Steps for Holiday Movie Lovers:
Check your local listings for the next airing of Believe in Christmas or look for it on VOD platforms. If you enjoyed the chemistry between the leads, look into Leah Thompson’s previous work in The Christmas Setup or Jason Cermak’s roles in Evergreen Christmas. You can also compare this to the 2024 Hallmark slate to see how the "Christmas Coach" theme is handled differently across networks. For a deeper dive into the filming locations, many of these "mountain" retreats are actually filmed in towns like Squamish or Revelstoke, which are worth a Google if you’re planning a real-life holiday getaway.