Catch Me If You Claus (2023 Hallmark)
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Cast: Luke Macfarlane, Italia Ricci
Director: Bradley Walsh
Writer: Nina Weinman
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
Avery Quinn’s shot at anchoring news clashes with a Santa-suited intruder, Chris, who insists he’s Santa’s son on a first Christmas mission. They unravel a career-making story together. Starring Italia Ricci and Luke Macfarlane.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The movie starts with an animated Santa caper running around the town.
Avery Quinn is a wannabe reporter for the TV news, but in reality, she is just a segment producer. Her mother was a reporter, and Avery hoped to get the weekend anchor spot but blew her audition.
A news story about a caper dressed up as Santa called The Santa Crook. When the lead anchor gets laryngitis, Avery skips time with her family to take on the 5am Christmas morning news spot. Avery heads home to get some beauty sleep before her big opportunity.
A winter storm rolls in, and as Avery was heading to bed (in her LED Light Mask, like me!) when she saw a burglar breaking into her house. She knocks him out and ties him up with Christmas lights. When he wakes up, the hot man tells her that he is Santa Claus, the son of Santa, Chris. Avery doesn’t believe him and tells him he could be a model, not Santa Claus.
Avery continues to test Chris, but his Santa skills are not so sharp. He just got his boot and is kind of a Himbo Santa. He delivers a package with Avery to her neighbor, Becca, with keys for each country. She is still unconvinced and tries to drag him to the police station. They are stopped by the neighborhood watch guy named Ricky, who is funny.
Chris doesn’t listen and starts the car; he drives away with Avery. Avery freaks out about not getting sleep as she hears a call on the police radio. The Santa Crook has struck across town. Proving Chris is innocent and probably just a crazy hot guy.
Cut to the ACTUAL Santa Crook. He is robbing the former mayor’s house. He is a corrupt politician.
Avery and Chris sneak away from the police and walk into a theatre production of A Christmas Carol wrap, partying and eating pizza. They have to audition to hang out, and Avery gives a dramatic monologue. They approve, and Avery is in the club. She gets access to the computer and phone. She gets information about the REAL Santa Crook and plans to track him down.
There is only one problem: a news story has broken with sketches of them as wanted suspects. Chris receives a disappointed call from his dad, who tells him that he will take over if Chris doesn’t start delivering gifts.
The crooks are also looking for the wanted couple and wait outside of the bar for them to come out. They come out in disguise and sneak out undetected with the theatre troupe. The actors drop them off at the news station. They are kidnapped by the mayor’s goons.
While tied up, Chris and Avery bond over living in their parent’s shadow. Chris gives her a lovely pep talk. Then, the real Santa Crooks are captured, brought in, and tied up. Everyone is confused. Avery and Chris untie themselves and play it cool until they can grab a flash drive and run.
Avery and Chris make out in a car to hide from their captors. They find a drunk in the back seat and use his phone to call the station and let them know they are on the way to break the story about the Mayor and the Santa Crook!
The REAL Santa comes to take over. He yells at his son for fraternizing with thespians. (Haha!) Chris cheers his dad up, which isn’t hard to do since he is Santa and Jolly AF.
The Mayor shows up, and he is on the naughty list. He is arrested for whatever was on the flash drive. (Who cares, really!) They rush to the news station on Santa’s sleigh, and Avery makes her news story air time. She delivers the story flawlessly, and Christmas is saved!
Chris picks up Avery after work and takes her for brunch in Bali after they make out! The perks of being Santa’s son, I guess!
Note/Stray Thoughts
Obviously for this one you need to suspend your disbelief right away to enjoy! You know Santa is real, so just chill!
The hot/crazy scale is a real thing.
Woah, Tiny Tim was hot!
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
🎄🎄🎄🎄 (4 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