The Christmas Quest (2024)
What National Treasure is to Indiana Jones, The Christmas Quest is to National Treasure
As in, a knockoff, watered-down imitation of its inspiration. But hey, Lacey Chabert and Kristoffer Polaha need to meet those contractual obligations to Hallmark with their annual service in the Countdown to Christmas.
From Hallmark:
An archeologist and her ex-husband, an expert in ancient Norse languages, are sent to Iceland at Christmastime to search for the legendary treasure of the Yule Lads. When others join in the hunt, the pair find themselves swept into a thrilling adventure as they race to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.
Apparently the legend of the Yule Lads is a real thing in Iceland, though this movie doesn’t go too deep into the more creepy parts of the folklore… Instead, we get Hallmark’s version of the adventurer archaeologist, replete with:
Strained relationships between parent and child who pursue the same path
Renewed love when forced to work together in pursuit of treasure
Shady benefactors financing the quest
Ultimately walking away empty-handed (in this case, the “treasure” is a room full of random tchotchkes that are supposed to be centuries old but look like they may as well still have the Dollarama stickers on them)
Although watchable and relatively entertaining, as a Christmas movie this doesn’t really cut it. Yes, technically it revolves around a Christmas tale, but there isn’t much else to feel festive about. I suspect there was some kind of tax break or other financial incentive to film multiple movies in Iceland in 2024, and Hallstars Polaha and Chabert got to take advantage of going beyond their usual holiday haunts.
Speaking of haunts… Lacey Chabert’s 2025 entry was early, with Haul out the Halloween as a sneaky end(?) to her trilogy with Wes Brown. Check out the review here!
You’ll like this if…
You enjoy the Hallstars who make it look easy. But I’d recommend the Haul out the Holly movies or A Biltmore Christmas if you want to see these two do their thing.
