Mr. & Mrs. Christmas, the new Hallmark Channel movie starring Pascale Hutton and Brendan Penny, premieres tonight, Sunday, October 18, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. This sweet family Christmas movie closes out the first weekend of Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas 2026. It follows a single dad who moves his two kids to the small town of Pineway and teams up with a practical accountant to bring back the town’s Christmas Market.
What it’s about: Penny stars as Taylor Lewis, a single dad and holiday display expert who moves to Pineway with his two children just weeks before Christmas. A new home and a new school would be enough of a challenge, but his teenage daughter also seems to be outgrowing the holiday traditions they have always shared. Taylor is determined to make the season magical anyway. When he takes charge of reviving the town’s Christmas Market, he finds himself partnered with Sophie Shaw, played by Hutton, an accountant hoping to prove she is ready for a new leadership role. Together, the unlikely pair bring fresh ideas, festive spirit and plenty of Christmas cheer to Pineway.
Taylor spends much of the movie trying to bring the Christmas magic back for his daughter, Jenna. Jenna just wants to make friends in her new town. Her younger brother, Arlo, has a different worry. He wants to know if Santa will be able to find him in his new home.
A dad every parent will recognize: Taylor is well intentioned but prone to mishaps, and Brendan Penny plays the loving, bumbling dad perfectly. He tugs at the heartstrings more than once. As a parent of now adult kids, I could relate to Taylor wanting to hold on to his kids being young, even as Jenna grows up right in front of him.
Penny has had a busy Christmas season already. He was in Carlinville, Illinois, this week when Hallmark named it the winner of its first Merriest Christmas Towns Contest.
Behind the camera: Mr. & Mrs. Christmas is directed by Peter Benson, a prolific Hallmark actor and director whose acting credits include the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries. He also directed Snow Globe Town, another Countdown to Christmas movie, starring Kimberley Sustad and Scott Michael Foster. It premieres Saturday, December 12.
Lighter on romance, big on heart: Mr. & Mrs. Christmas is lighter on the traditional Hallmark romance, but it delivers on the parental emotions. Any parent can relate to wanting to hold on to your kid a little longer and make the magic last. If you are watching with your own family tonight, keep the tissues close.
A When Calls the Heart Reunion for Hearties
Mr. & Mrs. Christmas is a Hearties reunion. Pascale Hutton is a longtime When Calls the Heart star, where she plays Rosemary Coulter. Alex MacIsaac, who plays Jenna, plays Gwendolyn, or Gwen, on the show. Sophie’s boss, Paul, is played by Erik Gow, who plays Edwin in Hope Valley. Spotting all three together is a treat for any WCTH fan.
How to Watch Mr. & Mrs. Christmas
Mr. & Mrs. Christmas premieres Sunday, October 18, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel. It streams on Hallmark+ starting Monday, October 19. You can also watch Hallmark Channel live on Philo, Sling TV, Frndly TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and Fubo.
Catch up on my reviews of ‘Tis the Season for Setups and Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, and follow every movie of the season in our Hallmark Channel guide.
