"Noel Next Door" is great for several reasons, but a major one is that the storyline feels real and relatable. It's still a Hallmark movie, of course, so there's nothing too gritty about the plot, but it does focus on a single mom and waitress, Noelle (played by Natalie Hall), who wants to give her young son a good Christmas despite a difficult divorce, annoying neighbors, and other issues going on in life.

Not only is "Noel Next Door" a refreshingly real Hallmark Christmas movie, but there are also some twists and turns that may surprise you — no one can say the plot for this one is predictable. Additionally, the winter setting looks believable, with real snow and frosty air coming from the characters' mouths during outdoor conversations. These little details take Hallmark movies to the next level, as unrealistic settings can be distracting when you're trying to get in that holly-jolly Christmas headspace.

Overall, IMDb reviewers were very impressed with this one, with one person saying the movie has "an extremely well-written script with dialogue that is clever and true to life. ... This may be the best of Hallmark's 2022 Christmas crop."