Christmas in the Spotlight

As a sports enthusiast and closet rom-com lover, I will always gravitate to a movie that includes both (see Christmas in Nottingham Hill). This one is also hilariously influenced by the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce relationship, with copious subtle/not-so-subtle nods to each of them. I feared this would be really cheesy, but was actually endearing and funny. At the end of the day, it is hard to escape the classic and predictable rom-com plotline, and although a fun and appealing idea, the writing was lazy at times and would have benefitted a little more to have better small sport specific details. It would have been just another average holiday TV rom-com, but I think the casting director really saved the day. I don't know where they found the leads, but they really shined! Surprisingly enjoyable execution and believable chemistry. It seemed life they were actually enjoying themselves- sounds silly to say, but there are plenty of these movies where it seems like the leads don't like each other and can't hide it. As a lifetime movie, it allows for a little more PDA than Hallmark/GAFam, but was still very clean and appropriate for all audiences. I hope to see these actors in more films in this genre in the future. The supporting cast was also good. Highly recommend- Swifties around the world will enjoy this pseudo-homage. 9/10 within the Holiday Rom-Com genre specifically.

Match a very popular and beautiful singer-songwriter with a hot football player, it's fiction imitating life. The writers were no doubt inspired by the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce relationship that's all over the media. The script is good, the plot and dialog are much better than most holiday movies. Jessica Lord and Laith Wallschleger have chemistry together Laith Wallschleger showed more of a range in his acting and came across as more original. I assume it was filmed around Toronto which competes with Vancouver as the movie capitals of Canada.

I liked the supporting cast specifically Madeleine Cox, Stacey Bernstein, Dennis Andres and Carlisle Williams. Holiday films are either hit or miss, this film is very much a HIT.

I watched this in a bad mood and wanted to hate it, but I have this obsession that I have to watch every Christmas movie, so here I was. That changed almost immediately. It's funny. The niece is perfect setting up Bowyn and Drew to click. Bowyn is almost immediately likeable. She's not some stuck-up star and she does a few good musical numbers. Drew is a dumb jock, but kind of likeable too.

We start getting to know these two characters pretty quickly. Their first date has some sharing. And the chemistry between Jessica Lord and Laith Wallschleger is apparent right away. They are playful. A little steamy too. This movie is plain fun to watch. The story is about two celebrities trying to stay under the radar. It's hard not to compare it to Taylor and Kelcie.

There's almost no tension for a little more than half the movie. Very upbeat. But a good story needs it and it comes, in a couple of ways that makes it a good story. The ending may not be a surprise but it was so good.

I didn't know these actors, but I was pulled in by their performances. It's not Masterpiece Theatre, but it worked.

I really enjoyed this one. It was my first Lifetime Christmas movie and I didn't know Lifetime has a more liberal policy than Hallmark in terms of showing the male actors shirtless. As a direct consequence of that, I loved this movie.

The name lead, Laith Wallschleger, is insanely hot and had at least 2-3 scenes where he took his shirt off and we were able to lovingly gaze on his enormous muscles. One of these scenes was actually in a football team locker room, and that really did certain things for me.

I think there were some female characters in the movie too, but don't ask me anything about them.

Casting Laith was a really inspired choice. I will watch everything he ever appears in from here onto eternity.

6.2/10 (Recommend)

The only thing that drew me to this movie is the whole mock recreation of Taylor Swift's relationship with Travis Kelce, but in all honesty it turned out way better than I expected. It's definitely a cheesy romance film, but it actually has heart and passion. The chemistry amongst all the actors is superb. The family feels like a family, the players feel like a team, and the relationship feels like a genuine relationship. The story is good and kind of sort of lines up with a T-Swift story. Most people don't care about a famous persons love life, but trying to see the sense of having a normal life while balancing the craziness of the profession one chose can be kind of sweet. Honestly, I would recommend adding it to your Christmas watchlist this year. Yeah, it's a cheesy romance, but it's one that you'll be cheering for every yard of the way until the touchdown finally hits.

That's it for now. Thanks for taking time to read my review. Happy watching and enjoy the show!