The Noel Diary (2022) Review

When Jake Turner a now successful author returns home at Christmas to settle his estranged mother’s estate, he is about to find a diary with secrets to his own past.

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This diary links Jake with Rachel Campbell, as they embark on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, forcing them to evaluate all aspects of their own lives and come to terms with their past choices. Their journey not only reveals their individual strengths and weaknesses but also sheds light on the complex dynamics of family relationships and personal aspirations. Having not been home for almost 20 years, it was always going to be difficult for him to reconnect with the memories of his childhood. His mother, who had been grappling with mental illness, had kicked him out of the house when he was only 16 years old, an event that left deep scars on his psyche. As the memories flood back, Jake finds himself confronting both the pain and the lessons learned from his turbulent upbringing, while Rachel serves as a crucial support system, encouraging him to navigate the emotional terrain that lies ahead. Together, they learn that facing one’s past can be a pathway to healing and self-acceptance, opening doors to a brighter future.

Settling the estate was not going to be as easy as he may have thought; the journey of discovery that comes with this daunting process would undoubtedly make for an interesting story worth telling. As he navigated through the mountains of paperwork and the emotional burden left behind, he realized that how people actually deal, or don’t really deal, with grief became a significant theme imbedded throughout this film. The various reactions of family and friends revealed the complexity of loss, showcasing moments of confrontation, avoidance, and unexpected solace. Each character’s response intertwined with the overall narrative, illustrating that grief is not a linear path but rather a tangled web of emotions and memories that can profoundly shape one’s life and relationships.

It didn’t go too heavy on the Christmas theme either which was actually one of the good points to it, set at Christmas but not actually being too cheesy and over the top with it all. I have been quite obsessed with Justin Hartley in the TV Series Tracker so that certainly influenced me watching this film.