Kimberley Sustad and Benjamin Ayres Give the Romance Its Spark
The biggest reason the movie works is the pairing of Kimberley Sustad and Benjamin Ayres. Their characters are not simply strangers who happen to meet during the holidays. Kate and Dan have history, contrasting personalities, and enough competitive energy to make their interactions feel naturally lively.
Sustad brings warmth and emotional grounding to Kate. She plays a woman caught between responsibility and uncertainty, someone who has inherited more than a business problem. The Santa school represents family history, expectations, and a future she is not entirely sure she wants. That makes Kate’s journey more relatable than the deliberately whimsical premise might initially suggest.
Sustad is also a familiar presence in the Hallmark holiday world, with previous roles in films including Christmas by Starlight, The Nine Lives of Christmas, The Nine Kittens of Christmas, Wedding Every Weekend, and Lights, Camera, Christmas! Her experience with holiday romance gives her performance an easy confidence, but Kate still feels like a distinct character rather than a repeat of earlier roles.
Ayres brings a different kind of energy. Dan is confident, enthusiastic, and clearly passionate about the Santa business, but there is also vulnerability underneath his polished exterior. That combination allows Ayres to lean into the comedy without turning Dan into a cartoon.
In an interview about the movie, Ayres described the comedic approach to Dan as having “big Golden Retriever energy,” an apt description for a character whose enthusiasm becomes part of his charm. He also spoke about how much he enjoyed playing a more purely comedic role, which helps explain why Dan feels so comfortable in the movie’s intentionally exaggerated world.
The chemistry between the leads is what keeps the romantic side from feeling predictable. Their banter gives the relationship movement. There is tension, teasing, uncertainty, and attraction, allowing the romance to develop through interaction rather than simply through the script telling viewers that these two belong together.
That chemistry has also been singled out by reviewers. One review praised the movie’s banter and engaging romance, while another specifically highlighted Sustad and Ayres as a major reason the unusual premise works.
It is the kind of pairing that makes viewers want more scenes together. Even when the movie is busy with Santa training and holiday complications, the relationship between Kate and Dan remains one of its most compelling threads.
