Christmas In Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing (2020 Hallmark)
Cast: Holly Robinson Peete, Rukiya Bernard, Antonio Cayonne, Barbara Niven
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
As Michelle’s wedding approaches, Hannah steps up to help complete the launch of the new Evergreen museum while questioning her relationship with Elliot and their future.
Thoughts
The movie starts with a storybook recap because who the heck remembers what happens in these? This is the fourth. It is Hannah’s turn to tell her story about Christmas in Evergreen. She runs the town store with her husband, Elliot. They kiss in the first scene, so that is out of the way.
Hannah meets with Evergreen all-stars Michelle (Holly Robinson Peete) and Carol Shaw (Barbara Nevin). I think they have been in every Evergreen movie. They discuss the town museum and inspire Hannah to be the manager and oversee the grand opening. Also back is Ezra. He has been in Boston and is now an out-and-proud gay man! (Zac Hug has stealthily worked in the LGBTQ+ character for a while at Hallmark. I thank him for that.) Zoe is also back from Paris.
I’m sorry I have to call her by her real name she is too iconic, mayor Holly Robinson Peete is planning a Christmas wedding. Her sister Sonya comes to town to help and is overwhelmed with the Christmasy town. She is almost a hater, well, as much of a hater as you could be in a Hallmark movie. She will come around to the town’s charm. Sonya has had a falling out with their father, and he might not come to the wedding.
Jeb Cooper arrives in town like a black cloud. He wants to stop the museum from being built. His twin sisters gave it to Hannah without consulting him. Mr. Cooper reviews the contract and insists that he does not consent to the sale. He wants to save the hat factory that will now become the museum. He eventually gets half of the admission sales.
A Nestle Toll House commercial happens in the movie, and I gotta say, those cookies look good.
A winter storm puts a wrench in everyone’s holiday plans. Holly Robinson Peete’s fiancé, Thomas, might not make it into town for the wedding. She turns things around and decides to throw a town party instead. HRP is amazing.
Elliot and Hannah are not on the same page. She wants to stay in town and create the museum, and he wants to move to the city. They decide to break up and figure out what is important to them. (You can’t break up at Christmas!!!!) A sad montage plays while “Noel” plays, showing clips of Elliot and Hannah.
Sonya plans an extravagant, non-wedding-day event with Thomas on a video call. Holly Robinson Peete is touched, and he gives her a preview of her wedding vows. They aren’t the only couple connecting again. Hannah and Elliot play the piano together and contemplate getting back together.
To win over Mr. Cooper, Hannah comes up with a plan to feature his old hats in the museum. It has the opposite effect, and Mr. Cooper is angry, feeling like she is rubbing his failure in his face. He closes down the whole thing. Hannah drives him to the airport, and they run into car trouble. Mr. Cooper returns to the museum, sees a touching video of his twin sisters, and has a change of heart. Also, Santa shows up!
Elliot and Hannah get back together, and she is a big success. She gets her happy ending, the only kind that happens in Evergreen. They kiss by a gazebo. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Side Note
Big fan of writer Zac Hug! He writes women well and is also ready with funny dialogue.
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Overall rating
🎄🎄🎄 (3 Christmas Trees)
🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine required.)
*Photo Credit: © 2020 Hallmark Crown Media
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Please … who plays the Cooper twins in the film Christmas in Evergreen-Bells are ringing???
Thanks
Hello Louise! Jacqueline and Joyce Robbins are the actors who play the twins. Happy holidays to you!
Are they, in real life, related to the actor that plays Mr Cooper? To me there seems to be a resemblance.
No relation, just good casting! The actor who plays Mr. Cooper is Jerry Wasserman. Happy holidays!