A Keller Christmas Vacation: Movie Review

Europe without any of the adventure.

A Keller Christmas Vacation doesn’t quite fit any of the typical Hallmark modes. It has a simplistic premise, but does not have a simplistic setting, which kind of makes for an odd mix. A family with three adult siblings are spending Christmas on a river cruise on the Danube. Filmed on location in Christmas markets across Germany and Austria, Hallmark usually saves their more expensive and elaborate productions for a grander story.		2025 Directed by: Maclain Nelson Screenplay by: Maclain Nelson Starring: Jonathan Bennett, Brandon Routh, Eden Sher
The three siblings each arrive with their own drama: Cal (Brandon Routh) is single after recent heartbreak, Dylan (Jonathan Bennett) is on a fresh separation from his neurosurgeon boyfriend who turned down his proposal, and Emory (Eden Sher) an aspiring photographer who just lost her day job. The characters are fine but a little bland. Their predicaments aren’t all that interesting since their resolutions are already provided as soon as they arrive for the cruise. Therefore most of the plot just becomes spending time together as a family. Which is such a minimal story for the beautiful settings. I love foreign-filmed movies and almost always result in “yes, I want to go there”. However, that reaction is minimized here, maybe it’s spending very little time in each location, or the bland story playing out in between generic cruise ship rooms and actual historical locations, or that they found the least cinematic Christmas markets that don’t necessarily seem worth it for an expensive trip to Germany. The problems with A Keller Christmas Vacation start early. The dialogue is awkward, and none of the actors (each accomplished in their own right) can elevate it into something entertaining. When it’s supposed to be funny, it’s not; and when it’s supposed to be emotional, it’s not. An attempt to completely change the dramatic narrative in the final act is a tear-jerker that lands with a thud. What’s left is a bland story with bland characters on a cruise down the Danube.

Want a different Christmas movie or just more holiday-themed movies? Holiday Movies