Christmas in Mississippi (2017 Lifetime)

Christmas in Mississippi

Synopsis (via Lifetime)

Photographer Holly returns to her hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi for Christmas. The town is resurrecting their traditional holiday light show for the first time since a terrible hurricane struck five years earlier. Holly volunteers to pitch in, but soon has second thoughts when she discovers the festival is run by her high school sweetheart, Mike. Now Holly must spend the next few days with the man who broke her heart. With the help of Caroline (Faith Ford, her match-making mother and Mr. Kriss, the kind man who will play Santa in the town’s celebration, Holly begins to fall in love with her hometown, and Mike, all over again.

Thoughts

Holly is home for the holidays! It is just her and her Mom this year, since her father died? It isn’t clear really. Anyway while running errands and snapping photographs around town Holly runs into Her ex-boyfriend, Mike, who is running the Christmas festival (The first since the hurricane, 5 years ago) and she is not happy to see him. Apparently he broke her heart back in the day. (We even get a flashback!)

Since the festival is the first in 5 years, it is bigger and better than ever. Holly agrees to help Mike and is tasked with building a concession stand. When a little know it all kid helps her, she is amused. She asks him how he learned all about building and he says his Dad taught him. She then sees him go running over to Mike, could Mike be his Dad? She then sees Mike spinning around Betty at the festival, could she be his girlfriend?

Holly makes a lot of assumptions and and totally misreads the situation. She thinks Mike has a wife and child. She also thinks he is would be the type of guy to ask her on a date despite those things. She realizes her mistake when Betty tells her that the kid is Mike’s nephew and Mike is as single as the come. (This all could have been solved with some light social media stalking, Holly!)

There is a B storyline with the Mom and Mr. McGuire (Al from Home Improvement). Holly gives her approval for her Mom to date again, if she want to.

There is a C storyline with Betty and Benny who are getting married and have hired Holly to do the wedding photos.

Mike asks Holly on a date, but it turns out to be just hanging out with his nephew at his house. We find out that Jack’s Dad isn’t coming home from base in time for Christmas. Holly and Mike keep Jack entertained with trips to the city and wishing upon a star.

Later on a proper date, Mike and Holly get all dressed up and go out on the town. They stroll around town and drink milkshakes and even dance together to some country music. They almost end the date with a kiss, but are interrupted by Mom.

In the end, the festival is a hit. It is a very special moment because the town came together and face adversity to celebrate Christmas together! Then we get a light show! (Which is never as cool as in person…) Holly tells Mike she turned down her job offer (what job tho? IDK) and she will be staying in Gulfport with Mike! They almost kiss but are interrupted by Santa. (Who turns out to be Jack’s Dad back from war, all arranged by THE REAL SANTA!!!) Then, they kiss.

Side Note

My friend, Karen Murphy’s Mom was an extra in this movie.

This movie was low key America, not in your face patriotic like Hallmark’s Christmas Homecoming. The difference is this movie deals with an American town ravished by a hurricane and rebuilt by its citizens. There is also the whole fighting for our country angel that we see with Jack’s Dad. AND the fact that this film was filmed in the good old USA. (Gulfport, Mississippi.)

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Overall rating

🎄🎄🎄 (3 Christmas Trees)

🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine required)