Holly’s Holiday (2023 Lifetime)
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Cast: Claire Coffee, Ryan McPartlin, Gabrielle Dennis, Jeff Ward
Director: Jim Fall
Writer: Justine Cogan Gunn, Andrea Janakas
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
NYC ad exec Holly Maddux dreams of the perfect life, the perfect job, and of course, the perfect man to sweep her off her feet. When she wakes up one day to find the “perfect man” awaiting her, who is nothing more than a mannequin come to life, she must decide if “perfect” is the perfect fit for her.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
Holly Maddux is a New York girlie in the early 2010s. (We can tell by the styling and hair and makeup! Hello v-necks!)
Holly works at a department store (remember those?) and is upset that no snow has fallen yet! Holly works on the weekends and has an assistant named Meg. Her best friend, Dee, isn’t interested in work and more interested in Holly’s dating life!
A last min project for Chelsea’s Diamonds lands on Holly’s desk, and she is partnered with Office Photographer Hunk Milo. Since it is the holidays and the photo spread is due by Christmas, they are picked because they don’t have any family and are both single.
Holly has “the perfect life.” She walks the NYC streets with Dee, bumping into people and yelling at them. They stop and admire a mannequin. Holly jokes that he would be the perfect man for her.
Milo is an edgy photographer and wants to shoot REAL people, not perfection. Holly argues that people look to Ads to see fantasy and the ideal life. After working till 10pm, Holly gets dressed up to go to DA CLUB!
Dee’s boyfriend tries to set Holly up with his friends, but it doesn’t work out. Holly does notice Marcos flirting with other women. (Dee isn’t concerned.) Milo shows up at DA CLUB and is annoyed to be there. Holly and Milo take a picture together. But the camera falls, and it is just a photo of their hands touching. Milo walks her home, and she asks him to trust her about the campaign. When they reach her door, ANOTHER couple is making out, so they awkwardly say goodbye.
The next morning, Holly talks on the phone to Milo about the campaign. While body-checking pedestrians and running through traffic, Holly trips and falls outside of the department store window. When she comes to, a handsome man stands over her and helps her up. He warms her hands up and walks her to her office. (The mannequin in the window is GONE!)
Holly (Deshevled from the fall) excitedly recaps the story of meeting the handsome man, Bo, and they scream like dolphins. Bo calls Holly to check her feelings and makes a date. Then they dolphin scream again, and they acknowledge the resemblance.
On their date, Bo talks about seeing many shoppers fall on the ice because it can be dangerous. When Bo finds out that Holly works in advertising, he shows her all the poses he has done working on various advertisements.
Bo shows Holly his apartment, which is across from the department store, and it is decorated like a holiday display. Holly tells Bo that if he is gay, it is okay. (Not straight man would be so put together. Or maybe he is metrosexual!) They kiss, and Bo says they fit perfectly.
Dee is excited about her friend’s new relationship, but her romantic life is falling apart. Dee discovers that Marcos cheated on her and hesitates to break up with him because she doesn’t want to be single around the holidays. Holly tells her to ditch Marcos, but Dee wants to wait till after New years.
Milo seems jealous of the new relationship and is upset that he can’t get work done because Holly is spending time with Bo instead of working on the campaign.
Holly realizes that she has been slacking at work, and Bo takes care of her. He makes Tofurkey.
Cue a working montage! Holly and Milo spend hours together working on the ad campaign, and he gets Holly a clicking view thing with all her previous ads for inspiration.
Bo tells Holly he has a surprise for her and shows up with his parents at her apartment. Bo’s mom makes dinner while Bo and his father move Holly’s furniture around to be more aesthetically pleasing. Over dinner, Bo’s parents talk about when they met and how they were in high demand. Then they show Holly their poses. Holly goes to the bathroom and overhears Bo talking to his parents about his plan to have three kids and a golden retriever. It’s a “perfect life,” but Holly feels things might be moving too fast.
It’s the night before the photo shoot, and when Holly and Milo arrive to set up, they are shocked to learn that Bo called and canceled the reservation for the venue.
Holly confronts Bo, and he says he is just trying to help! Then he tells her that he hired Dex Dearborn to do the shoot.
Dex takes photos while shouting, “That’s Christmas in America!” and screaming and belittling the models. The photoshoot isn’t going well, and Dex has Bo and Holly fill in for the models instead.
Another mannequin comes to life and storms into the photo shoot. She throws ornaments and ruins the set. Bo explains that the woman is his ex-girlfriend, Brandi.
Milo learns about the photo shoot and is upset with Holly. He tells her that she is changing herself for Bo and prefers her “authentic self.” He mocks up a campaign to make sure they both still have a job.
At the work holiday party, Bo and Milo finally meet. Bo asks him to take a photo of him and Holly. Then Bo tells Holly that he booked tickets to Vermont for skiing. Holly tells him that he should have consulted her first because she doesn’t even like to ski.
Marcos also shows up with Brandi. Brandi talks to the department store owner and tries to get Holly fired. Dee interrupts and gets Brandi kicked out of the party. She also kicks Marco out for good measure. Then she bumps into an Austrian man, and they fall in love.
Bo stops arguing to give Holly the perfect kiss. He dips her, and she isn’t into it. Holly doesn’t want to be perfect. Bo says he can fix her and is confused about why she doesn’t want him.
Seeing the kiss, Milo runs out upset. Holly chases after him and trips again. She is splayed out on the street like a chalk body. When she wakes up, she is in a hospital room with Milo standing over her.
Milo tells Holly that she has been in a coma and sleeping. Holly is perplexed but wants to get the campaign done. She has the IT guy set her up with a laptop in the hospital and uses Milo’s artistic picture. The one from DA CLUB!
Merry Christmas!?
Side Note
Minority Report: Freddie, Dee, Marcos, Frankie
They eat so much bread in this movie!
Uhh, this movie said, “Slut!”
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Christmas Trees represent Christmas vibes.
*** I’ve updated the rating system. Wine is overall enjoyment (NOT a value judgment) on a 1-5 scale.
Overall rating
Christmas Feels🎄🎄 (2 Christmas Trees)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷 (2 glasses of wine.)
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Pour it up! (Give it a shot)
Put a Cork in It (Skip It)
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