Christmas Island
Are you ready for some holiday cheer? Girls Gone Hallmark is back with a brand new Hallmark movie review, and this time Megan and Wendy are chatting about “Christmas Island” starring Andrew Walker and Rachel Skarsten.
So grab some hot cocoa (or call downstairs for a coffee) and settle in for a hilarious and heartwarming discussion of “Christmas Island” on Girls Gone Hallmark.
Apple Podcast listeners: Use your phone’s podcast app -> find the Girls Gone Hallmark show -> scroll all the way down to the review section -> tap 5 stars and tell listeners why Girls Gone Hallmark is your favorite Hallmark podcast.
More Hallmark Talk? Join Our Girls Gone Hallmark Facebook Group
Join our Girls Gone Hallmark Facebook Group! Tons of great people – just like you – who love Hallmark movies. We’re talking new movies, favorite movies, actors, Hallmark gossip, and so much more. Free to join, so click the link below or search “Girls Gone Hallmark” in Facebook Groups.
Don’t miss out on: Girls Gone Hallmark – A Group for Hallmark Movie Fans
About “Christmas Island”
- Andrew Walker (Oliver MacLeod) – Andrew has 85 acting credits include the Curious Caterer series, last year’s smash hit Three Wise Men and a Baby, and an appearance as hot guy Mike on an episode of the Big Bang Theory.
- Rachel Skarsten (Kate Gabriel) – Rachel’s 44 acting credits include roles in last year’s The Royal Nanny as well as the character Beth Kane in the Batwoman series.
- Kate Drummond (Helen Sharpe) – Helen’s 68 acting credits are usually grittier fare. She had a role in Five Days at Memorial, the mini series about a New Orleans hospital during Hurricane Katrina. She’s also appeared in My Mom Made Me do it, Pretty Cheaters, and Deadly Lies.
Related Podcast Episode: Girls Gone Hallmark review “The Royal Nanny” starring Rachel Skarsten.
- Jefferson Brown (Thomas Sharpe) – Jefferson has 95 acting credits that include the series’ The Way Home, When Hope Calls and The Good Witch. We’re starting a campaign for Brown to star in a leading Hallmark role.
- Peter MacNeill (Jim MacLeod) – Peter has 208 credits and we recently saw him as the grandfather in Flipping For Christmas. His credits are vast, but he was also in The Good Witch series throughout its seven series run.
- Lauren Hammersley (Maggie Hughes) Lauren may only have 12 acting credits, but she makes an impression on screen. On Virgin River she’s the character Charmaine who you love to hate.
Related Podcast Episode: “The Way Home” Season 1, Episode 1 with Jefferson Brown as Colton Landry.
- Britt Loder (Cali Sharpe) – Loder has 4 acting credits – all small roles but made an impression in this one.
- Lincoln MacNeil (Finn Sharpe) – MacNeil is an up and comber also with just 4 acting credits!
- Directed by: David Weaver His 41 acting credits include a ton of Hallmark like Sweeter than Chocolate and Lights, Camera, Christmas. He’s also the director of the Hallmark series Holidazed that still hasn’t received a release date.
Related Podcast Episode: A Girls Gone Hallmark Favorite from 2022 – “Lights, Camera, Christmas!”
- Written by: Samantha Herman – Samanta has 15 writing credits including Our Italian Christmas Memories and Game of Love and…Mingle All the Way and A Fabled Holiday. AND Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday – a dark horse of a Jen Lilley movies.
- Filmed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in August. Christmas Island is a real place about 3.5 hours away from Halifax, but no filming was done there.
- Did you know: Adorned with colourful buoys, twinkling lights and evergreen boughs, towering Christmas trees fashioned out of carefully stacked lobster traps are becoming regular fixtures in fishing communities across Nova Scotia. The traps are then festooned with over 180 wooden and plastic buoys, each painted in a unique pattern pertaining to a local fishing boat and most inscribed with the names of fishermen lost at sea.
//www.instagram.com/embed.js
Our Thoughts on “Christmas Island”
This is a synopsis of the ideas we discuss in greater detail on “Girls Gone Hallmark,” and we invite you to become a listener of the show!
What We Liked
We truly enjoyed watching “Christmas Island” for several reasons. Firstly, it’s refreshing to see a strong, capable female protagonist like Kate. She doesn’t need anyone to hold her hand or bail her out of trouble. The only thing standing in her way is the weather, which both we and a lot of internet users had mixed feelings about given its portrayal. Rachel Skarsten, who plays Kate, was phenomenal.
We remember her from “The Royal Nanny,” and quite frankly, we want to see her in more movies. Her pairing with Andrew Walker, who plays Oliver MacLeod, was delightful. Andrew brought a goofy, silly, and fun energy to the character, and we especially loved his homage to Tyler Hynes with the candy cane.
Additionally, the supporting characters made the movie even more enjoyable. From Jefferson Brown as Thomas Sharp (seriously, why isn’t he a Hallmark leading man?) to Peter McNeil as Jim McCloud, everyone played their roles wonderfully. Even Finn, played by Lincoln McNeil, was adorable, especially in his exchange with Kate while making candy.
We were pleasantly surprised by the Stars Hollow-style town meeting at the beginning and the touching revelation about the real lobster trap Christmas trees in Nova Scotia. It was such a sweet way to weave local traditions into the storyline.
What We Wished For
We had high hopes for a young adult romance between Callie and Oliver’s nephew, but unfortunately, it didn’t go far enough. It felt like a missed opportunity to add more depth to the character arcs.
There were also moments when we felt the movie could handle certain plot points more delicately. The Santa conversation, for example, could’ve been approached differently, given that these are family movies likely watched with small children. Also, Kate’s co-pilot was unnecessarily rude to her at first, which didn’t seem to add much to the plot.
The portrayal of the weather was another sticking point. Despite numerous references to the storm, the scenes outside were often sunny. Given that weather was a major plot point, a bit more realism would’ve been appreciated.
Did You See That?
Throughout “Christmas Island,” there were moments that stood out to us. For instance, would you ever stay in someone’s home and call downstairs to ask for coffee? Kate’s co-pilot being left alone in the airport for days also struck us as odd. And then there was Oliver’s flip phone – a blast from the past!
Another funny continuity error was the luggage. The Sharps had tons of matching luggage when boarding the plane but left Christmas Island with mismatched carry-ons. Additionally, Kate serving hot cocoa on a transatlantic flight felt unrealistic, as such flights typically have a flight crew to handle those tasks.
Our Rating
While Wendy rated it a 4.75, Megan gave it 3 stars – highlighting that different aspects resonate with different viewers.
Thanks for reading! For more in-depth discussions and reviews, be sure to listen to our podcast “Girls Gone Hallmark.” We love hearing from you, so don’t hesitate to drop us a five-star rating and review. You can share your favorite Hallmark actor or your favorite movie of the season. See you next time!
What Christmas Movies Will Girls Gone Hallmark Review this Year
We’re Your New Hallmark Besties
Hey there! We’re Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan’s a longtime Hallmark movie fan, while Wendy – well, she used to be a Hallmark hater. Now, we’ve teamed up to share our (often very different!) takes on these films. Get ready for some lively, fun-filled conversations!
Check out the library of Hallmark movies we’ve reviewed!
Exclusively on the Girls Gone Hallmark podcast. Subscribe today!
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/magical-christmas
License code: DRK0GERQUKP3M4DT
