Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hallmark rom-com struggles to capture the holiday magic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
She's Making a List
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SHE'S MAKING A LIST, Isabel (Lacey Chabert) works to assess whether children make it on to Santa's naughty or nice list. She's been successful at her job for years and has her system fine-tuned—that is until she falls for the widowed father (Andrew W. Walker) of Charlie (Cadence Compton), a young girl whose position on the naughty list is under review.
Is It Any Good?
While the premise is quite novel for a Hallmark holiday rom-com—focusing as much on Isabel's job as it does the romantic element—it's not quite enough to check the right box here. In She's Making a List, Chabert is as reliable and likable as ever in the lead role of Isabel, whose job is assessing which kids should go on Santa's naughty or nice list. But some of the requisite cheesy moments feel awkward rather than romantic, and her breaking the fourth wall to talk directly to the camera never quite settles into the flow. There are playful elements, like Chabert dressing in various job uniforms while she acts as a (fairly terrible) spy; a surveillance room filled with screens to watch kids all over the globe that adds a tech-savvy edge; and the mention of an algorithm to help assess the children more quickly, which is a timely concern. But even with an appearance from Santa himself, the movie never quite musters much of a feeling of holiday magic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the idea of kids being labelled naughty or nice in She's Making a List. What did the movie say about judging behavior without showing empathy and understanding? Do you think it's fair that kids get labelled naughty or nice in other situations—like school or within a family?
How did Isabel change during the movie? What did you think she learned? What character strengths did she show?
The movie has a strong festive theme. What elements make it a Christmas movie? How did it compare to other Christmas movies you've seen? Are there certain things you think a movie needs to include to be categorized as a Christmas movie?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 6, 2025
- Cast : Lacey Chabert , Andrew W. Walker , Cadence Compton
- Director : Stacey N. Harding
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Hallmark Channel
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Holidays ( Christmas )
- Character Strengths : Empathy
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 31, 2026
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