The Noel Diary - A Netflix Movie Review

Life is all about the chase. Time to chase after your dreams.

The Noel Diary is a 2022 Netflix film. In the midst of settling his estranged mother’s estate, Jake meets Rachel. She is in search of her biological mother. Discovering a diary, the pair take an adventure to find the owner of this journal.

I got a couple of suggestions to watch The Noel Diary on Netflix. I immediately fell in love with this endearing film. Dialogue is one of its best elements. The Noel Diary advocates for viewers to seek their goals.

Justin Hartley and Barrett Doss established a genuine bond. It was fun watching it grow. Having an assortment of conversations, the duo bore excellent character development.

Fans of This is Us will recognize Hartley. Jake has experienced turmoils in life that have cut off communication with his family. Hartley did a good job developing his character. Enjoying life as a successful author, something is missing.

I have never seen Doss in a movie before. She is a great actress and I cannot wait to see her in more films. Rachel is determined, but also hesitant to locate her biological mother.

A furry friend is along for the adventure. Ava is Jake’s best friend. A dog’s love is the best gift. Other than being a companion, Ava doesn’t hold much purpose in the story. She just follows everyone around.

Supporting characters had fun sequences. My favorite of the supporting characters was Ellie (Bonnie Bedelia). She has a small part as a neighbor. That’s not her only job, Ellie is given a little romantic subplot of her own. With Jake’s help, she sets up her own dating profile and immediately gets a response.

There’s not just one story in The Noel Diary. Each character is missing something. They’re all given depth. James Remar and Essence Atkins are both great in their roles. A noteworthy ensemble plays various characters in the towns.

The Noel Diary concentrated highly on dialogue. Conversations between Jake and Rachel were done well. I could tell that writers were hard at work on what stories they’d tell each other. At one point they talked about Stephen King. That was one of my favorites. A conversation can transpire about anything.

Talking is important. Charles Shyer sought how essential talking is. You can’t escape from your problems by ignoring them. You don’t realize how they eat away at you until finally confront the dilemma.

I have stated how much I like road travel films. Not only can you attain a conversation but it is also the best time to sightsee. Trees covered in snow, a small festive town, and cozy rooms, interior decoration plays an enormous role in characters. For example, we never meet Jake’s mother. From all the items she hoards, you can assume she had problems of her own.

If you’re worried that The Noel Diary is a sappy predictable romance film, I’m here to put your worries to an end. In no way is this film predictable. It keeps you guessing. I was laughing at Jake’s rom-com line in the hotel scene.

However, it did lag at the end. The story could have ended sooner. There were some unrealistic aspects of the story. For example, how is it safe to sleep in a car when it is freezing overnight? And someone can read a 300-page book in one evening?

The Noel Diary is a sweet love story. It’s a movie I’d watch again, especially during the holidays. Find The Noel Diary and watch it during the Christmas season.