Belle Carter (Ash Tsai) runs non-profit Bedford House and devotes her life to giving to those in need at Christmas. With the holiday season fast approaching, Belle is worried that donations are down and she’s not happy when consultant Clara James (Julie Reilly) is brought in to help her. Concerned that she’s about to be replaced, Belle doubles down her efforts and finds support from Marine Sgt. Will Mattinson (Marshall Williams), who returns home from military service. As she tries to get the non-profit back on its feet, Belle finds herself falling for Will as they grow closer.
‘Christmas of Giving’ has a very sweet story at its core; reminding viewers that the festive season is one of goodwill and charity, not being showered in dozens of expensive gifts. It’s a message that’s been lost over the years with Christmas becoming more and more commercialised. The film opens with a young Belle working in the non-profit and giving out gifts to those in need, before the action moves to the present day. Belle is once again gearing up for the holidays but she’s frustrated that the donations this year aren’t as forthcoming as previous years.
The arrival of Clara brings bit of friction with Belle resentful at having a consultant brought in to help her. She thinks of it as an insult rather than much-needed help, but as she gets to know Clara she understands that her new colleague is there to help her maintain the tradition she’s been leading the charge of for a number of years. Belle also gets plenty of attention from Will, and sparks fly the minute the two see one another again. The storyline may be predictable and you don’t really doubt that Belle will pull everything together, but that doesn’t really matter as it’s part for the course with these films.
The cast does a perfectly fine job in their roles. Ash Tsai, who was very good in last year’s ‘Tails of Christmas’, makes for an endearing lead. She has a very sweet nature about her and she’s believable as a young woman who prioritises the well-being of others over herself. Marshall Williams, best-known for ‘Glee’, gives a solid performance but he doesn’t have too much material to work with. Julia Reilly is a scene-stealer as the perky Clara, and there’s a nice twist with her character that hits all the right marks.
‘Christmas of Giving’ is a pleasant movie but there’s nothing particularly memorable about it. This may be one that’ll entertain smaller children but adults might not find much to sink their teeth into. It’s light and fluffy, with an important message baked in, but it doesn’t have quite the impact that some of the other films have this season. It’s not a bad film, it’s just not as good as it could have been.
Cast: Ash Tsai, Marshall Williams, Julia Reilly Director: Oliver Friedman Writer: Summer Isreal Johnson Certificate: Unrated Duration: 88 mins Released by: Great American Media
‘Christmas of Giving’ premiered on 9th November 2025 at 8/7c on Great American Family. Find out more at https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/movie/a-belle-christmas/
