A Family Christmas Gift (2019 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Cast: Holly Robinson Peete & Patti LaBelle
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
When Amber spends the holidays with her Aunt Dora and helps plan a fundraising Christmas Concert, it brings Amber closer to her aunt and new love into her life.
Thoughts
Last Christmas movie of the season! (Or at least the last one that we will be covering.) Thank you all for reading/watching along with us. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you are yours. XOXO!
Holly Robinson Peete is a working NYC lady who is somehow still working at a thriving magazine. At the work Christmas party, HRP’s boss announces that Charlie Towsend will be getting the promotion over HRP. She is disappointed and decides to take Christmas off to spend time with her famous aunt, who is a singer and just so happens to be Patti LaBelle. Her aunt owns a Christmas Inn, and a bit of home is just what the doctor ordered for a bitter HRP.
HRP thinks that the man picking her up at the airport, named Alan, is a driver/assistant for Patti LaBelle. They do not get along, and HRP is kind of rude to him. It turns out Alan is a friend of Patti LaBelle, who is also a talented musician. He gives her a hard time for being a New Yorker.
Patti LaBelle puts on a Christmas fundraiser every year, and she partners HRP and Alan to direct the music. Apparently, HRP used to play in the band and do theatre. Her friend Amy will be responsible for the decorations. Alan likes things the way they are, and he is offended when HRP tries to make changes to the event.
This doesn’t stop HRP from making changes. She adds a set, decorations, silent auction, changes the venue, catered apps, and gets her magazine to sponsor the whole thing in exchange for an interview with Patti Labelle.
Christmas tree shopping and decorating happen with an adorable child. (Alan’s daughter.) HRP looks around and realizes that Christmas at home might be better than Christmas in NYC. She interviews Patti LaBelle, who apologizes for being absent for so many years, and she too is happy to have the family all together for Chrismas. HRP’s boss well receives the interview. Also, Charlie is potched by another company, and the promotion is hers if she wants it.
HRP does the interview, and then she goes on a date with Alan. While being wined and dined, HRP tells Alan that she used to want to be a concert pianist. They have excellent chemistry, and it is a believable budding relationship.
The fundraiser happens, and kids perform, then Patti LaBelle has to show everyone up and blow the roof off the joint with HRP pretending to play the piano behind her. After the show, HRP tells Alan about her interview and job offer in New York. Alan is confused because why would she want to leave Silver Springs and the ones she loved. He got the wrong impression.
On her way out of town, Alan pleads with HRP to stay. She turns down the job to become a freelance journalist and decides to stay with her family and, more importantly, ALAN. They kiss, and the movie ends.
Side Note
Minority Report: HRP, Patti LaBelle, co-workers, Alan, Kenny.
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Overall rating
🎄🎄🎄(3 Christmas Trees)
🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine required)
*Photo Credit: © 2019 Crown Media United States, LLC
