On October 18, 2024 and October 19, 2024, Hallmark Channel begins to unveil its newest class of holiday centric films starting with 'Holiday Crashers' (October 19th) and 'Twas the Date Before Christmas' (October 18th) for those not in favor of the Halloween fare on other stations. But what did the critics say?
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| Photo Courtesy of Hallmark Media/Photographer: Johann Wall |
Mandi Bierly of
TV Line was my personal favorite reviewer of the holiday themed films last season, so it came as no surprise to me that the reviewer once more is knocking it out of the park in 2024. In regards to 'Holiday Crashers', she writes, "So you’re not quite ready to lean into the sentimental side of the yuletide? This more irreverent flick, about two friends crashing holiday parties and the totally preventable mix-up that ensues, is for you. Longtime pals Toni (
Lyndsy Fonseca) and Bri (
Daniella Monet) are stuck in limbo: Harvard law grad Toni fears a future following in her personal-injury lawyer father’s footsteps and walked out of the bar exam; Bri lives in survival mode and hasn’t dreamed that she’s a born event planner. They work together at a card shop, and Bri suggests they raid the printed invitations shred stack and crash seasonal soirees, pretending to be different people (a doula, Olympic skier, medium). It’s harmless escapist fun until Toni meets dashing venture capitalist Justin (
Chris McNally) and, long story short, gets roped into being a consultant on his next acquisition — and fails to inform him that she’s not a licensed attorney. Lucky for her, Justin isn’t in the mood to work when he invites her and Bri to his company retreat at his Vermont lodge. Will you spend time debating your position on McNally’s longer hair and whether he’s pulling off Justin’s relaxed turtleneck-and-blazer combos? Yes. (The hair grows on you.) Mostly, however, you’ll be reminded how refreshing it is when Hallmark does a holiday movie in which the central relationship is between two friends whom we get to know equally well. And unlike in 2023’s Never Been Chris’d, these women don’t chase the same man. Bri has her own crush, in-demand valet Vinny (
Jag Bal), who’s harboring a teensy secret himself. Both ladies may find love, but, even more satisfying, each finds her way."
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| Photo by Hallmark Media/Photographer: Peter Stranks |
The reviewer was less excited over the latter, stating, "Last year, we crowned The Santa Summit scene-stealer
Amy Groening “Most Ready to be a Leading Lady.” So cheers to her headlining our runner-up pick, ‘Twas the Date Before Christmas (premieres Friday, Oct. 18 at 8 pm on Hallmark Channel), opposite
Robert Buckley, who can charm the tinsel off a tree. Inspired by the true story of a woman using an app to score a (first!) date to her family’s fun-filled Christmas dinner, this heartfelt rom-com has Groening’s Jessie logging in to arrange a blind date for Christmas Eve so that her mother won’t cancel their clan’s 23rd annual Christmas Olympics in a misguided attempt to show grieving Jessie that change can be good. Enter Buckley’s Bryan, who’s always wanted to experience a big family holiday and could use a break from debating whether to step up as CEO of his late father’s development company. The actors’ natural ease makes it believable that these strangers would be game for a full-day meet-cute, which Bryan doesn’t expect to involve a wrap battle, snowball dodgeball, and pretending to be Jessie’s boyfriend. One quibble: The Hallmark faithful will sniff out the inevitable conflict quicker than they can ID the scent of a Balsam Fir candle."
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