Undercover Holiday (2022 Hallmark)
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Cast: Noemi Gonzalez, Stephen Huszar
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
When returning home for the holidays, newly minted pop star Jaylen tells her protective family that Matt is her new beau, when in reality, he’s her overzealous security guard.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Jaylen is a pop star who loves autotune; she became famous by winning a singing competition, Popstar USA. Her handlers include a Joe Pesci impersonator named Benny and blonde BFF/assistant Margot. They are helping Jaylen become a crossover artist, like a new Selena! Jaylen is mobbed by fans, and her rental home is broken into. She could have a Christmas Stalker!?!?
Locking in her home for her safety, Jaylen sings Christmas songs in Spanish. When she hears a crash outside, Jaylen grabs a rolling pin to defend herself and is grabbed from behind by a hunk of a man. He is her new bodyguard, Matt. (She is a lucky woman, he is built like a house!)
Jaylen is nervous that her family has a lot of Christmas plans because they have literally no chill. (They call her a Cobya, Spanish for Guinea Pig.) Jaylen gets made fun of by her family, and she freaks out and tells them that Matt is her BOYFRIEND under pressure. For safety, they all head to her hometown of Squarell Hallow.
Matt is not excited about lying because he was in the Navy before becoming a security officer. The family is thrilled that Jaylen has a boyfriend. He is more concerned about the safety of the house and researching people in the town. (Jaylen has a town rival named Lorelai, who was the town star and is envious of Jaylen’s success.) Matt agrees to go with it as long as everything is SAFE.
They immediately go to a bar for karaoke. Where Lorelai and Jaylen have a sing-off Christmas medley. A glass shatters, and Matt dives to save Jaylen. she yells at him for overreacting because she just wants a normal Christmas with her family. Matt suggests they call the agency and send a replacement. The argument is interrupted by Jaylen’s ex-boyfriend Eddie. He is surprised that Jaylen is dating and wants to get back together. He says he made a mistake.
After a talk, Matt and Jaylen decide to continue the rouse. She wants to keep up the lie, and he doesn’t want to look bad in his new job. Also, he has no family.
Throughout the movie, someone leaves love notes. It could be the stalker! Hector, Jaylen’s brother, and Matt work together to figure out who is sending them.
The label sends Jaylen songs that are generic, and she is disappointed that they won’t let her be her authentic self like she is with her family and now Matt. He tells her to not let other people handle what is most important to her. Plot, plan, and execute.
Tamelada happens, where the whole family assembles hundreds of tamales. They look pretty good. We get a cooking montage here with lots of dancing set to the only Spanish language Christmas song, apparently, “Felize Navidad.”
Jaylen sings at the piano with her Abuela, and let’s just say… they need that autotune! They have a talk about Matt, and Abuela wants her to go for him because he will jump in front of a train for her.
They kiss while walking down the street and maybe have a romance brewing. They light of luminarias, and Matt makes a wish quickly. Could it be for LOVE? (I thought he was vibing with the assistant am I way off base here?)
The town has a Christmas tree lighting, and Jaylen is set to push the button. She asks her old frienemy Lorelai to join her on stage for the lighting. Then she kicks her off the stage and performs We Wish You a Merry Christmas. It is a vibe, and the autotune is back, thank God! Eddie approaches the stage to congratulate her and give her a love poem. Matt thinks he has a gun and tackles him.
When Matt shows Hector the love letters and Jaylen walks in on them talking. She yells at them for keeping secrets for her, because no one thinks she can take care of herself. Her family tells Jaylen to be nice to her boyfriend, and she admits to lying.
Lorelai finds Jaylen and apologizes for being jealous. They make amends and even plan for Lorelai even plans to come to LA and record some demos,
Matt and Hector make an apology, and Matt dresses up as three wise men and promises to love her forever.
Side Note
Minority Report: Jaylen, Tyler, Mom, Dad, Sister-in-law
This was a bit trite with the same latine references, but it had heart so that was nice.
I really thought the leads were not going to get together n this one!
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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: 🍷🍷🍷 (3glasses of wine.)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked
*Photo Credit: © 2022 Hallmark Crown Media
Live tweet along with @LifetimeUncork using the hashtag #UndercoverHoliday
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I agree with you. I didn’t see the leads being together. It seemed very forced. I would have preferred that she forgive the ex boyfriend and they become a couple
and she put in a good word for the undercover at the record label. Maybe to end it off with a happy ending would be the best friend/manager, the new formed couple, and the entire family just singing christmas song at the end with perhaps a eye connection between him and the best friend.
I think hallmark could make happy endings in movies without having the leads be romantically connected…a nice friendship connection is good especially if there is clearly no romantic chemistry.
Well said!!!
Thank you Patrick for your honesty! I thought I was the only one who could hear that she sounded off key, especially when she was having solo sessions at the piano. As for Matt, I just wished he showed his emotions better because the whole romantic relationship between Jaylen and him is giving forced. Also, if Eddie (the ex) was the stalker the whole time, why didn’t he leave his name on the first note that he dropped off at her house before Matt came into the picture??? Lastly, I really did not see the whole “my family doesn’t allow me to be my true self” concept that they kept repeatedly trying to portray. It just seemed like a very loving family who misses her and wants her to return home. Overall, I enjoyed the movie.