WFG RATING: A-

New Era Entertainment presents an EMRJ Productions film. Directed by Sam P. Green. Produced and edited by Rebecca J. Matthews. Written by Sophie Osbourne. Cinematography by Raffaele Nocerino.

Stars Arabella Steadman, Sian Altman, Jack Forsyth-Noble, Akil Largie, Kunahan Thampi, and Rebecca J. Matthews. 

From the producer of some great modern indie British horror comes something very different: a Christmas movie full of love and change for two people. 

Since getting divorced, Jack has primarily focused on work while his young daughter Harper had always gone to California to spend Christmas with her mother. However, this year, Jack has Harper for the holiday when her mother has re-married. In charge of a major project, Jack had been forced to bring Harper to work. When his assistant Maureen comes up with the idea of hiring a live-in nanny, little does Jack realize how things will change. 

After unsuccessfully finding a nanny, in walks Mary, a New Yorker who moved to the UK six months ago after the loss of her mother. In search of something new, Mary gets hired for the job. Instantly, she and Harper bond. With Jack focusing on work, Mary starts to bring Harper’s Christmas spirit back in full swing and Jack soon realizes how good of a person Mary is. So much that he too begins to realize how much it will mean to him spending more time with Harper and possibly, finding something he never expected in the process in a long time.

Back a few years ago, when you saw the name “Rebecca J. Matthews” aka Becca Hirani in the credits, it was always synonymous with some of the indie British horror films where she teamed up with Scott Chambers as producer and sometimes director. Deciding to do something completely out of the box, Matthews produces this heartwarming holiday film that, from the title, has shades of perhaps Mary Poppins but is nothing like it. 

In the titular role of Mary is a WFG favorite in Sian Altman. Showing a range of versatility in the films she had appeared in, this is perhaps one of her best films yet. Using an American accent, Altman is wonders as Mary. She comes in to help young Harper, played wonderfully by Arabella Steadman, regain her lost Christmas spirit back in full force. Their chemistry is so much fun as we see them shop for a Christmas tree and ornaments. Both can relate to losing their mom, but in different forms with Harper’s mom re-marrying and spending the holidays with her in-laws while Mary’s mom has passed away. 

Jack Forsyth-Noble’s Jack is the workaholic dad who seems to have lost his Christmas spirit as well as he always had spent the holiday alone until now. Oblivious to the fact that he chose work over his daughter, which isn’t entirely his fault in terms of Christmas, he soon learns Mary has become the key to bringing the two of them together again and in the process, discovers something he hasn’t felt in a long time. There are shades of it, but soon grows and it’s clear Mary slowly begins to feel that as well. The finale is a bit predictable but still works well thanks to the performances of the three leads. 

Mary Christmas is heartwarming and a fun Christmas film that doesn’t specifically go into romantic comedy until more than halfway in. However, Sian Altman and Arabella Steadman have such great chemistry in showing how somewhat lost souls find each other and help one’s father once again find the meaning of holiday cheer.