Forty-Eight Hours to Save Christmas

Read Time:5 Minute, 28 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Tangled Up in Christmas
–

Genre: Holiday, Comedy, Romance
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 32m
Director(s): Michael Joseph Nelson
Writer(s): Molly Flanagan, Michael Joseph Nelson
Cast: Molly Flanagan, Tess Rianne Sullivan, Michael Joseph Nelson, Jonathan Cahill, Joseph Callari, Susan Crawford
Where to Watch: available December 1, 2025, on UK digital

RAVING REVIEW: TANGLED UP IN CHRISTMAS leans straight into the familiar territory of holiday storytelling, but where it finds its footing is in the dynamic between two sisters who couldn’t be more opposite. At its core, this is a small-scale Christmas movie that blends family tension, personal growth, and a budding romance – all packed inside a frantic 48-hour timeframe. The result is a story that understands exactly what its audience wants: a slice of warmth, a dose of chaos, and a reminder that the holidays rarely go according to plan.

The film centers on Elizabeth, played by Molly Flanagan, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Elizabeth begins as the quintessential holiday cynic: someone who sees Christmas as something to get through rather than celebrate. When she returns home for the annual charity event, she’s immediately pushed into a situation she’d prefer to avoid – coordinating the gathering alongside her sister Sam. Their personalities couldn’t be more mismatched. Elizabeth is structured and cautious, while Sam, played by Tess Rianne Sullivan, is over-the-top, loud, and driven by joy. The film keeps this contrast at the center of nearly every scene, using their clashing approaches as both fuel and emotional tension.

The story ramps up quickly. With only two days to pull the charity event together, their constant disagreements put every task at risk. Decorations, scheduling, planning, and community outreach all become areas for misunderstanding. The film doesn’t try to reinvent the genre; instead, it highlights the pressure-cooker effect of the holidays, where small frustrations can turn into full-on meltdowns. These escalating mishaps give the movie its momentum, keeping the narrative moving toward either disaster or reconciliation.

The romantic thread comes through David, played by director Michael Joseph Nelson, who steps in as a single father with a charm that softens Elizabeth’s sharper edges. The romance is intentionally, thankfully, low-key. Rather than dominating the plot, it’s woven into Elizabeth’s transformation. Their connection grows through conversations, frustrations, and a shared desire to make the charity event meaningful. It isn’t a sweeping, cinematic love story. It’s the kind of relationship that feels grounded – two people navigating their own lives while finding enough comfort in each other to keep going.

As the chaos mounts, the film shifts its focus. What starts as a holiday comedy begins to lean more heavily into emotional reflection. Elizabeth and Sam’s strained relationship becomes the real arc of the story. Hidden resentments, long-running differences, and unspoken expectations rise to the surface. The film allows them to stumble, react, push each other away, and then slowly circle back. This approach gives their reconciliation a more thoughtful tone than usual for this type of film. It’s not simply the season that brings them together but the recognition that they’ve been drifting for years without acknowledging it.

Performances contribute heavily to the movie’s appeal. Flanagan plays Elizabeth with a balance of frustration and vulnerability, creating a character who is overwhelmed but not cold. Sullivan’s Sam acts as the emotional counterweight, allowing the film to pivot between humor and conflict. Michael Joseph Nelson keeps David understated, which helps maintain the film’s gentle tone. The supporting cast, including Jonathan Cahill and Susan Crawford, adds to the central relationships without overpowering them.

Some of the holiday mishaps feel manufactured, arriving more as plot devices than organic developments. A few comedic moments lean on clichés familiar to the genre: spilled drinks, miscommunications, and last-minute panic. But these expected moments aren’t missteps so much as markers. This is a movie firmly rooted in holiday convention and fully embraces the comfort it offers. The charm is less in the originality of each moment and more in the sincerity of the overall experience.

The core message arrives without sentimentality: the holidays bring pressure, expectations, and the weight of unresolved relationships. But they also offer a chance for connection, reflection, and forgiveness. TANGLED UP IN CHRISTMAS doesn’t push this message aggressively; it simply lets its characters collide, argue, break down, and eventually rediscover what matters. In that sense, the film positions itself not as a chaotic comedy or a sweeping romance but as a modest holiday story grounded in relatable emotion.

For viewers looking for something cozy, familiar, and uncomplicated, this delivers exactly the right mix. It’s not built to reinvent the genre or challenge expectations. Instead, it leans into its strengths: the sister dynamic, the ticking clock, the soft romance, and the promise that even the most disorganized holiday can find its way back to joy. Fits comfortably in the realm of seasonal viewing that’s pleasant, warm, and suited for a relaxed December evening. And as the press release itself puts it, the film is designed to wrap joy, family, and romance together — a straightforward but heartfelt reminder that even a disastrous Christmas can lead to something worth celebrating.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching for 'Overly Honest Reviews'.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please don't hesitate to say hello or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of MIRACLE MEDIA]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive complimentary items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl Records, Books, and more. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support as you navigate these links.