Decorator Colbie (Susie Abromeit) is given a big assignment from her boss to design a grand house in her town. After arriving to meet her client, Colbie is surprised to find out that the house’s estate manager is Ben (Liam McIntyre), a man she had a meet-cute with at a store earlier in the day. Working together, Colbie and Ben have to get the house ready for an upcoming Christmas gala and they find themselves falling in love in the process.
‘Designing Christmas With You’ is a classic tale of two people being forced into a situation together that they weren’t expecting. Colbie is used to being able to lead her own design projects and is quickly frustrated when she realises that Ben wants to have input into the house decoration. Knowing that she has to get the project completed so she can host her family at Christmas, and with a promotion on the horizon if she does a good job, Colbie has to try and work with Ben despite not agreeing with the majority of his ideas.
From Ben’s perspective, he’s trying to steer Colbie in the direction he think the house’s owner will want and he’s nervous about how different Colbie’s designs are. The two lock horns about their vision for the house, fighting their own corners as they try to convince the other that their approach is the best. Colbie is confident that her design will be a huge success and bring donations to the house owner’s charity. Can they compromise with each other and work together to achieve success?
Great American Family viewers will no doubt have seen most, if not all, of the films on offer so far this year but with ‘Designing Christmas With You’, they might have found their favourite onscreen couple. Susie Abromeit and Liam McIntyre are actually adorable together and they spark from the minute Colbie accidentally pelts Ben with a snowball while trying to win a prize in a store competition. The path to true love isn’t smooth, of course, but the two actors have a winning chemistry. I hope we get to see them together again in more films in the future.
‘Designing Christmas With You’ is the best example of good old-fashioned wholesome festive romance with a bit of comedy added into the mix. The film is an easy watch but it’s incredibly comforting and heart-warming. The romance at the centre is one that viewers will definitely be rooting for, and thanks to the performances and the zippy script, ‘Designing Christmas With You’ is much better than it has any right to be.
Cast: Susie Abromeit, Liam McIntyre, Barbard Bingham, Kimberley Joseph Director: Jo-Anne Brechin Writer: Ansley Gordon Certificate: Unrated Duration: 75 mins Released by: Great American Familys Release date: 16th December 2023
Find out more about ‘Designing Christmas With You’ at https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/movie/designing-christmas-with-you/.
