Jingle Bell Bride (2020 Hallmark)
Cast: Pietra Castro, Julie Gonzalo, Donna Benedicto
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
Wedding planner Jessica Perez travels to a remote town in Alaska to find a rare flower for a celebrity client and is charmed by the small town during Christmas, as well as the handsome local helping her.
Thoughts
Jessica is a busy, busy wedding planner with a color-coded paper planner. She is planning an event for her sister Carla. (They speak Spanish to one another! Is Julie Gonzalo finally playing a LatinX character? Love that for her.) and also a high maintenance pop star bride, Rene. Rene doesn’t want roses from Ecuador; she wants s flower called “Jingle Bell.” That flower doesn’t exist. Jessica heads to Tapeesa Alaska (Population 112) to find the flower, leaving her family behind during the holidays. She is actually sad about it!
In Alaska, Jessica is shocked to see how small the town is. She is picked up by a handsome florist named Matt; he shows her his inventory and bargains with Jessica. (He wants cookies.) They pack up the flowers but hit car trouble on the way back to the airport, and Jessica misses her flight and will have to spend the night in town. Lucky for Jessica, it is the Jingle Bell Flower Festival.
At the festival, Jessica is given an itinerary for the event. There will be a Christmas tree lighting, Christmas marketplace, dance with a crowing of the Christmas Princess. (Jessica is unwillingly entered and is totally going to win!) Matt and Aunt Mary offer to let Jessica stay with them in an overly decorated guest room. They don’t have a phone charger, but they have lots of LED lights and garland.
Jessica’s stay is extended due to a snowstorm AND the plane needing some repairs for good measure. Some funny stuff her with Matt lugging around the flowers. Ronnie Rowe is perfectly cast as a rom-com leading man. (Emphasis on the comedy!)
At. the Christmas market, Matt and Jessica get to know each other better. To her horror, Jessica is crowned Jingle Bell Princess and is forces to wear a tiara. Next, she meets Amanda, Matt’s cousin, who thinks they are dating. Amanda tells Jessica that Matt uprooted his life to help his Aunt Mary when her husband passed away.
Snowman building, decorating, and Christmas tree lighting happen. Jessica gets wrapped up in the holiday spirit but then realizes that she hasn’t heard from the bridezilla, Rene. That is because Rebecca (Jessica’s co-worker) is trying to poach her client.
Matt takes Jessica to see the Northern lights; he tells her life is too precious to rush through and advises her to take time to appreciate what is around her. Jessica revalues her priorities in life. Then she makes snow angels, because, CHRISTMAS! The romance is sparking between her and Matt with every passing moment. Matt even invites her to the Christmas dance. His Aunt and Cousin doll her up for the event.
At the dance, Matt and Jessica almost kiss while dancing to a banjo rendition of “Silent Night” (Romantic?) They are interrupted by a phone call from Jessica’s boss. Rebecca is replacing her as Rene’s wedding planner. She cries and is frustrated. She is unfairly taking her anger out on Matt. Jessica takes her flowers a boards the first and only plane out of Alaska. Before she goes, Matt gives her a Christmas ornament, and she tells him to look her up if he is ever in town.
Jessica shows up at Rene’s wedding and makes the impossible possible. She beings Rene’s flowers to the wedding and turns down the promotion to be closer to her family. The sisters are reunited, and it is a Feliz Navidad for everyone! Well, not everyone. Back in Alaska, Aunt Mary encourages Matt to move back to New York to be with Jessica.
Oh good! We get to see Rene’s wedding, which is a little basic for such a high profile celebrity. Rene gives Jessica her bouquet for good luck, and it works immediately. Matt shows up and has taken a teaching position at a local university. He wants to open himself up for love again and stop hiding in Alaska. They kiss and live a New York City life. The End!
Side Note
Minority Report: Jessica, Kaylee, Rene and her parents, Isa, Landon, Amanda,
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Overall rating
🎄🎄🎄 (3 Christmas Trees)
🍷🍷 (2 glasses of wine required.)
*Photo Credit: © 2020 Hallmark Crown Media
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