Christmas at the Golden Dragon (2022 Hallmark)
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Cast: Kara Wang, Osric Chau, Antonio Cupo, Sara Canning, Barbara Niven
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
When Romy and Rick’s parents surprise them with the news that they will be closing the Chinese restaurant they have owned and operated for decades, the siblings each find themselves re-evaluating their futures. Also impacted by the news are the landmark restaurant’s loyal patrons and staff, who have all come to depend on the restaurant over the holidays.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The movie starts with a sales pitch about the true meaning of Christmas. Harlow Furnishings is a decorating company, and Romy nails the pitch. She hasn’t known a typical Christmas because her family owns a Chinese restaurant in Wichita. Romy dates a handsome man named Blake, he asks Romy to join him for Christmas but she has to help with the restaurant.
Flash to the restaurant where a blond woman named Jane cries into her tea. Jane is struggling to enjoy the holidays because her husband died recently. Jane sees a man named Nate with his two young daughters and helps occupy the girls while he takes a work call. He is also looking to have the best holiday ever, even though he is recently widowed.
Miguel, who is looking at colleges, delivers food orders and drops the food off for an overworked CFO, probably a single woman named Veronica. She is trying to have a baby, but the invitro isn’t taking.
C storyline is Rick, he works at the family restaurant and wants to be a chef, but he hasn’t told his dad. Rick has a crush on a local Jewish girl named Sadie. They were high school prom dates, and he blew her off, which is rude.
When Romy calls to hell her parents about Blake’s offer, they decide to let her go and enjoy the holiday without the restaurant. Her parents have decided to close the restaurant the day before Christmas. They didn’t tell their kids because they wanted them to move on. Rick doesn’t take it well and insists he likes working at the restaurant and want to be a chef.
Meanwhile, Romy heads to Vermont with Blake and is surprised when her Christmas fantasy bubble is popped. They have a fake Christmas, hate poinsettias, and snowballs hurt when you get pegged with one.
Veronica and Nate run into one another in the lobby of her building. Nate invites her to a Christmas village with his daughter. They are co-workers, I think? Miguel interviews for a scholarship with Veronica, and she tells him that he isn’t a good fit. (He was late because he was helping Jane fit a light bulb.)
Romy shares memories of the holidays at The Golden Dragon, and Nate can see how much it means to her. Romy busts out a gingerbread-making kit and realizes it is difficult and annoying. Rick calls to hell Romy that their parents are selling the restaurant, and Romy is overcome with emotion. Then she doubles down on Christmas and makes everyone dress up as Christmas carols. People laugh in their faces and are genuinely put off. Then they open gifts on Christmas Eve morning. Nothing is like Romy has seen in the movie.
Jane throws a Christmas party every year but cancels at the last minute because she misses her husband. Veronica tries to talk some sense into her mother and explain that her father isn’t perfect, but Jane isn’t hearing it. Veronica goes home and opens up to her neighbor about wanting to have a kid and having trouble conceiving. She remembers that Nate has kids and goes to see them in a Christmas play.
Rick is supposed to meet Sadie, but he stands her up again because he is working at the restaurant.
Speaking of restaurants, Blake’s family takes her to their local Chinese restaurant to make her feel better since her family restaurant is closing. Romy realizes that it means more to her than she thought. She stands up and says she has to go home right away. The family is very supportive, and Blake is even going to go with her!
Jane and Victora make come to an understanding. This is good because everyone in the movie now needs to band together to re-open the restaurant.
Romy and Rick assign everyone jobs, and then we get a cooking montage with a touch of a food fight.
Rick takes a break to make things up to Sadie with a Christmas gift; oh wait, no it’s a prom corsage. He asks her to come to the dinner IN HER PROM DRESS. Shel tells him that one big gesture isn’t fixing everything, but she agrees to meet. (The prom dress is basic, and she doesn’t even wear a coat!)
Nate asks Romy to marry him in the restaurant with a gold string. It isn’t the perfect proposal, but it is her perfect Christmas.
The parents show up and see the restaurant is up and running without them. They are bewildered. Rick seats them, and they are very impressed with his cooking and Romy’s surprise visit/engagement.
After a successful last service, the crew takes an ornament from the tree and says why it is special to them. The community tree holds so many memories and will always be with the Chen family.
Side Note
When my hometown’s Chinese Restaurant closed, my family was devastated and still haven’t found anywhere that they like to replace it.
There is a Check commercial in the middle of the movie courtesy of Walmark.
Minority Report: Miguel, Beth, Mr. Driver, Jen.
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Christmas Trees represent the Christmas vibes.
I will use the following tags for those who want to know if they should watch or skip: Pour it Up (Would Recommend) or Put A Cork In It (Would Not Recommend).
Overall rating
Christmas Feels
🎄🎄🎄 (3 Christmas Trees)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine.)
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*Photo Credit: © 2022 Hallmark Crown Media
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