Hallmark For All Seasons

“Christmas at Castle Hart,” starring Lacey Chabert and Stuart Townsend, premiered on November 27 during 2021’s Countdown to Christmas on Hallmark Channel. This movie was filmed entirely in Ireland, specifically in County Clare. The main castle used in the movie is actually a castle-turned-hotel, the Dromoland Castle & Hotel.

The screenplay was written by Rick Garman, but I noticed in the credits that Paul Campbell was also listed as a screenwriter.  AGAIN!  That makes THREE movies he’s had a hand in writing for Hallmark: Christmas By Starlight, An Unexpected Christmas, and this one. Stefan Scaini, who has directed several “Good Witch” movies, directed this one.

This movie poster is so full of Christmas cheer and castles!  This is definitely standard Hallmark content, but I appreciate the fact that Townsend and Chabert are holding hands while walking, versus doing a prom pose.

In a nutshell

Maybe it was because the movie I watched right before this one was the Bethany Joy Lenz/Tyler Hynes movie, but I was a bit disappointed with “Christmas Castle Hart.” To be honest, I found it a bit boring.

The Plot of “Christmas at Castle Hart”

Brooke Bennett goes to Ireland for Christmas to search for her Irish roots. While there, she meets charming Aiden Hart, Earl of Glaslough. Mistaken for an elite event planner, she’s hired to host his castle’s epic Christmas party. 

Actors & Chemistry

We all know that Lacey Chabert is a great actress and always does a stellar job in her movies.  And Stuart Townsend is a solid actor whose been in the business for many years and done some great projects. On paper, this pairing should work. And to a certain extent it does.  Lacey does her Hallmark thing, and Stuart dives into the Hallmark thing.  But other than them getting to know each other (sort of, since he didn’t know who she really was), the movie just kind of meandered along with little to care about.

And yes, the scene in the church when Brooke and Aiden talked about family was a GOOD scene, and Lacey did a great job when she was outed as NOT being Page the event planner, but for the most part, I just wasn’t feeling any real chemistry between any characters.  No wait, I take that back.  I loved the chemistry between the wacky sister, Margot, and the Duchess of Abercorn. They were both weirdos who bonded, which I appreciated. *lol*

Tropes

It took a while for the tropes to get started, but once they did we had plenty.  The movie started with CGI snow, and royals. This had a character returning home for the holidays, and the “family business” was in trouble.  We had a tree lighting and a small snowball fight.  Then we had tree shopping and decorating.  A few empty coffee cups popped up here and there, and we eventually had a baking scene.  Lastly, we had a big Christmas gala complete with gowns and up ‘dos.

Did I Hear/See That Right?

I hated the CGI trees, stars and wreaths that they put on and around the castle.  And the fake snow. So, so bad.  Most folks may not know that Ireland doesn’t get a lot of snow.  Does it snow there?  Yes, but not typically the amount showed in the movie.  And there was one scene where there was no snow and then the next scene they drove somewhere and it was a winter wonderland.

I also couldn’t quite get behind the notion that a quick Google search of the name “Page Monaghan” wouldn’t have come up with pictures of the ACTUAL Page Monaghan, thus negating Brooke’s ability to lie about who she was.

Why does Hallmark think that royals only drive very old-fashioned fancy cars?

Feelgoods

While I don’t think Paul Campbell made a ton of contributions to the script, my guess (and it’s just a guess) is that the jokes that landed were his (“You throw like an earl,” for example).

Re-watchability of “Christmas at Castle Hart”

Not likely.  There wasn’t enough there to keep me entertained the first time, so I don’t envision watching it a second time.

The Ranking

“Christmas at Castle Hart” managed to snag a spot in the upper half for the year.

1. An Unexpected Christmas (air date: Nov 26) – 736 pts – weighted score: 123 (86.3%)
2. The Santa Stakeout (air date: Oct 24) – 730 pts – weighted score: 122.3 (85.8%)
3. A Christmas Family Tree (air date: Nov 14) – 730 pts – weighted score: 121.9 (85.5%)
4. You, Me and The Christmas Trees (air date: Oct 22) – 716 pts – weighted score: 121.3 (85.1%)
5. Crashing Through The Snow (air date: July 10) – 705 pts – weighted score: 118.1 (82.8%)
6. The Nine Kittens of Christmas (air date: Nov 25) – 690 pts – weighted score: 116.5 (81.8%)
7. One December Night (air date: Nov 13) – 695 pts – weighted score: 116.3 (81.6%)
8. A Mrs. Miracle Christmas (air date: Nov 6) – 688 pts – weighted score: 116.2 (81.5%)
9. Boyfriends of Christmas Past (air date: Oct 23) – 673 pts – weighted score: 116.1 (81.5%)
10. Next Stop, Christmas (air date: Nov 6) – 682 pts – weighted score: 114.7 (80.5%)
11. It Was Always You (air date: Feb 27) – 668 pts – weighted score: 114.2 (80.1%)
12. The Christmas Promise (air date: Oct 30) – 675 pts – weighted score: 114.1 (80.0%)
13. Gingerbread Miracle (air date: Nov 5) – 671 pts – weighted score: 114.0 (80.0%)
14. Christmas In My Heart (air date: Oct 23) – 675 pts – weighted score: 113.9 (79.9%)
15. A Kiss Before Christmas (air date: Nov 21) – 671 pts – weighted score: 111.9 (78.5%)
16. Open at Christmas (air date: Nov 12) – 658 pts – weighted score: 111.6 (78.3%)
17. You Had Me At Aloha (air date: June 5) – 675 pts – weighted score: 111.4 (78.1%)
18. A Christmas Together With You (air date: Nov 20) – 645 pts – weighed score: 110.9 (77.8%)
19. Five More Minutes (air date: Nov 21) – 645 pts – weighted score: 110.8 (77.7%)
20. Sweet Carolina (air date: May 15) – 648 pts – weighted score: 110.1 (77.2%)
21. Taking a Shot at Love (air date: Jan 2) – 641 pts – weighted score: 108.9 (76.4%)
22. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (air date: Mar 27) – 636 pts – weighted score: 108.5 (76.1%)
23. Christmas at Castle Hart (air date: Nov 27) – 639 pts – weighted score: 108.0 (75.8%)
24. Right in Front of Me (air date: Apr 18) – 637 pts – weighted score: 108.0 (75.8%)
25. As Luck Would Have It (air date: Apr 10) – 638 pts – weighted score: 107.7 (75.5%)
26. Her Pen Pal (air date: June 19) – 636 pts – weighted score: 107.1 (75.1%)
27. The Baker’s Son (air date: June 13) – 637 pts – weighted score: 106.3 (74.6%)
28. South Beach Love (air date: Oct 9) – 615 pts – weighted score: 105.8 (74.2%)
29. Love Strikes Twice (air date: Oct 2) – 608 pts – weighted score: 105.2 (73.8%)
30. A Holiday in Harlem (air date: Nov 7) – 628 pts – weighted score: 105.1 (73.7%)
31. Christmas Sail (air date: Oct 31) – 606 pts – weighted score: 105.1 (73.7%)
32. Christmas in Harmony (air date: Oct 29) – 605 pts – weighted score: 104.8 (73.5%)
33. A Christmas Treasure (air date: Nov 7) – 625 pts – weighted score: 104.6 (73.4%)
34. A Winter Getaway (air date: Jan 23) – 620 pts – weighted score: 104.4 (73.3%)
35. Coyote Creek Christmas (air date: Oct 30) – 614 pts – weighted score: 104.3 (73.2%)
36. Love, For Real (air date: July 31) – 607 pts – weighted score: 103.6 (72.7%)
37. Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone (air date: Oct 1) – 595 pts – weighted score: 103.0 (72.2%)
38. Mix Up in the Mediterranean (air date: Feb 20) – 590 pts – weighted score: 102.5 (71.9%)
39. Advice to Love By (air date: Oct 16) – 599 pts – weighted score: 102.2 (71.7)
40. Two For The Win (air date: Jan 16) – 603 pts – weighted score: 101.8 (71.4%)
41. Taking the Reins (air date: Sept 28) – 574 pts – weighted score: 101.2 (71.0%)
42. Raise a Glass to Love (air date: Sept 18) – 590 pts – weighted score: 100.7 (70.7%)
43. Nantucket Noel (air date: Nov 18) – 585 pts – weighted score: 100.3 (70.4%)
44. Chasing Waterfalls (air date: Mar 20) – 570 pts – weighted score: 100.3 (70.4%)
45. Roadhouse Romance (air date: Sept 11) – 571 pts – weighted score: 100.2 (70.3%)
46. Sweet Pecan Summer (air date: ) – 576 pts – weighted score: 97.3 (68.3%)
47. Sand Dollar Cove (air date: June 26) – 557 pts – weighted score: 96.8 (67.9%)
48. Hearts Down Under (air date: Apr 24) – 547 pts – weighted score: 95.2 (66.8%)
49. Fit for a Prince (air date: Mar 6) – 546 pts – weighted score: 94.6 (66.4%)
50. A New Year’s Resolution (air date: Jan 9) – 516 pts – weighted score: 90.5 (63.5%)
51. Finding Love in Mountain View (air date: ) – 504 pts – weighted score: 89.5 (62.8%)
52. A Little Daytime Drama (air date: Aug 21) – 511 pts – weighted score: 87.7 (61.5%)
53. Baby, It’s Cold Inside (air date: May 8) – 495 pts – weighted score: 85.6 (60.0%)
54. Playing Cupid (air date: Feb 13) – 466 pts – weighted score: 82.6 (58.0%)
55. Beverly Hills Wedding (air date: Feb 6) – 431 pts – weighted score: 80.6 (56.5%)
56. Journey of my Heart (air date: ) – 450 pts – weighted score: 76.0 (53.3%)
57. Snowkissed (air date: Jan 31) – 402 pts – weighted score: 76.0 (53.3%)

To see where this movie lands in my overall rankings of Hallmark movies, visit my Hallmark Movie Rankings page!

What did you think of “Christmas at Castle Hart”?  Comment below and let me know!