Holiday Hotline (2023 Hallmark)
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Cast: Niall Matter, Emily Tennant
Director: Mark Jean
Writer: Duane Poole, Julie Sherman Wolfe
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Hallmark)
After leaving London, Abby connects with an anonymous caller while working at a cooking hotline. The caller is single dad “John” who Abby unknowingly has become smitten with in real life. Starring Emily Tennant and Niall Matter.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The holiday hotline is a cooking turkey helpline. Abby works for the service and was an underappreciated British chef. Her boyfriend/head chef took advantage of her by cheating on her and taking credit for her work. Abby’s parents sent her to Chicago for a change of pace for the holidays and to regroup.
Jack is a Chicago single dad raising his daughter Jessica. They order takeout often, and Jessica asks him about her favorite Christmas tradition. Christmas dinner. Jack decides to have Christmas dinner at his house. He tells his brother, Mike, about his plans. Then, they go to an old apartment complex they are remodeling. Mike and his fiance, Erica, live in the building. It’s the same building Abby moves into!
Margaret, a tenet in the building, trying her best at a Chicago accent, asks Abby to join the holiday hotline.
Jack calls the hotline and unknowingly talks to Abby, with whom he had a not-so-great meeting. Abby uses an alias, Peggy, and an American accent because callers don’t think British people can cook. Jack also uses an alias, John. He opens up about being a recent widow and the meaning of why he wants to cook the perfect turkey. He gets too emotional and has to hang up. His wife kept her illness a secret to her death was sudden and shocking for Jack and Jessica.
On Thanksgiving, Jack calls the hotline again and connects with Peggy again. He apologizes for hanging up before and asks for help. She tells him that Thanksgiving is the perfect practice for that Christmas turkey, and they will work out the kinks together. (Do you eat Turkey for Thanksgiving AND Christmas?)
These Daisy additions in the movie reduce the commercial significantly.
Jack calls the hotline again and apologizes for spilling his guts the last time they talked. Abby and him make lots of turkey puns. It is Abby’s turn to open up about her struggles with her past relationship and being taken advantage of.
IRL, Jack, and Abby are still in a contentious relationship. They argue about how to hang a Christmas wreath. Then, they shop together for a Christmas ornament and get along. Later, they hang their ornaments on the tree at the building’s Christmas party. Matt and Erica invite Abby to the Chriskindel Market. (Which is actually at Wrigley now, Hallmark.)
After visiting the market, Jack and Abby walk around, and he tells her about the architecture. Abby tells Jack that she is a chef, and he shares that he is making a turkey for Jessica for Christmas. He admits to talking to a helpful lady on the holiday hotline. Abby gets overwhelmed because she realizes Jack is John! Then she HAILS A CAB?!?!?! (This would never happen; cabs only live at the airport now.)
Jack and Abby talk on the hotline and daydream about slow dancing with him to NSYNC Christmas music. Jack hangs up with the hotline and calls Abby to taste the turkey with him and Jessica. Abby gets jealous of herself?
The turkey turns out good and Jessica is excited to have a proper Christmas dinner. Jack invites Abby to join them, and she agrees to come. They almost kiss, and Abby tries to explain that she works for the hotline but gets tongue-tied.
Abby returns to work at the hotline and dreads getting a call from Jack. He calls and thanks her for making a difference in his life and opened his heart again. Abby tries to tell him again, but he says it doesn’t matter who she really is, just as long as she knows she helped him.
Jack shows up at the hotline headquarters and is surprised to see Abby there. Abby sees him just as she accepts an award and races after him. She tries to explain, and he feels betrayed. He gives her a turkey ornament and uninvites her from his Christmas dinner because she is a stranger to him.
Abby books a flight home and apologizes to everyone for ruining Christmas. Abby’s boyfriend asks her to come back and work for him, and she realizes she doesn’t want to cook for him; she wants to cook for Jack, the man she loves! She makes some pudding puffs or something.
The Christmas turkey looks fantastic, and Jessica tells her dad to go after Abby. Abby brings the Yorkshire pudding to him and thanks him for helping her find herself again. She knows what she wants in her life because of him. They kiss, and he invites her in for Christmas dinner.
Note/Stray Thoughts
Was the dude with the “hockey stick” stuck in the turkey a DICK JOKE? Hallmark! You go!
Daisy cottage cheese ads all over this movie!
I liked the device of having the callers in the same room
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
🎄🎄🎄 (3 Christmas Trees)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine.)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked
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*Photo Credit: © 2023 Hallmark
