A Biltmore Christmas (2023 Hallmark)
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Cast: Bethany Joy Lenz, Kristoffer Polaha
Director: John Putch
Writer: Marcy Holland
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Hallmark)
Lucy Hardgrove (Joy Lenz) is a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she’s hired to pen the script for a remake of the beloved holiday movie, His Merry Wife! First filmed in 1947 at beautiful, historic Biltmore House, it has long been considered a Christmas classic. When the head of the studio isn’t satisfied with the ending Lucy wrote because it deviates from the original’s feel-good conclusion, he sends Lucy to Biltmore Estate for research and inspiration. While there, she unwittingly discovers the ability to travel to the 1947 set of His Merry Wife! through the help of an hourglass. After shaking off the initial shock of this turn of events, Lucy embraces this as her chance to uncover the truth about the movie’s original ending. While on set, she and Jack Huston (Kristoffer Polaha), one of the film’s stars, spend time together and become close. But her sudden appearance has set off a chain of events that put the production in jeopardy. Before she can return to the present, Lucy must make things right or threaten to alter the future forever. Starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The movie begins with Kristoffer Polaha doing his best Jimmy Stweart impression again. He stars in an old-timey It’s A Wonderful Life knockoff, His Merry Wife. He plays the charming angel, Jack Huston, who helps a couple fall in love at Christmas. (Oh, wait, Jack Huston is the actor’s name. He died a year after filming before the film became a huge success.)
I am not the only one over this type of nostalgia; Bethany Joy Lenz, who plays Lucy Hardgrove, is also. She is a screenwriter who has been tasked with writing a Christmas movie. The CEO sends her to Biltmore to become inspired. Lucy is jaded by sappy movies no matter how much her sister Becca tries to get her on board. Becca is also quite a matchmaker and wants someone to sweep Lucy off her feet.
At Biltmore, Lucy is welcomed by the staff, and they fill her in on the history of the building because it was the filming location for His Merry Wife. Lucy is unimpressed in her camel turtle neck.
Lucy receives a call from the studio and gets a deadline push. An hourglass falls over, and Lucy picks it up. The call drops, and she is on a movie set when she leaves the study. Lucy runs right into Jack Huston, going over his lines. She freaks out, and then suddenly, the time returns to normal.
Lucy is ever curious and flips the hourglass again. She returns on set and is mistaken for an Extra as a Candy Cane Girl. On set, Lucy talks with Jack about the movie’s ending during a break. She is surprised to learn the romantic leads hate one another. Lucy lies and says her name is Sandra Bullock before rushing off as the hourglass ends. (Haha! Love it.)
A superfan follows Lucy around and thinks that she might be a ghost. Lucy tells the superfan about the whole going back to the movie set thing, and she wants in. Lucy lets the superfan help her. (for the sake of the remake script!)
Back on the movie set, Lucy lurks around, trying to figure out the original ending for the movie. Jack catches Lucy stealing a script and asks her who she really is. Lucy claims she is sent from the studio to keep an eye on production. The lead actor overhears the conversation and tries to win her over. Lucy is very accident-prone and knocks over the hourglass, stopping the sandflow. Then, she hits her head on a ladder and is ever more confused.
Lucy is stuck and has to wait for the props master to fix the hourglass. Jack offers to take her to lunch and later to a hot chocolate stand. Jack talks about his childhood and his love of movies. She agrees that the classics are great! THEN HE DOES A JIMMY STEWART IMPRESSION.
The superfan starts to worry when Lucy doesn’t return after an hour. She learns that the Smithsonian is taking the hourglass. The superfan tries to stall!
Without a room, Lucy drinks eggnog with the movie’s director at the hotel bar. (A dangerous place for an extra to be!) The lead actress sees them and suspects Lucy is up to no good. She becomes so upset she quits the film.
Meanwhile, Lucy and Jack sing “Jingle Bells” on the piano.
When word gets out about the lead actress leaving the movie, Jack and Lucy rush to stop her at the train station. She isn’t willing to return until she hears the actresses who will replace her.
With filming back on track, the cast and crew take a Christmas Eve Party break. Lucy is the belle of the ball, and everyone wants to talk to her. She finally gets to dance with Jack, and they fall in love and kiss! He gives her his watch so she will think of him the next time she runs late. Then he invites her to spend New Year with him. Lucy becomes overwhelmed and rushes off.
Jack rushes after her, and Lucy tries to leave like Cinderella. The police chase after her because they discover she is an imposter. Lucy decides to come clean and tell Jack she is from 8- years in the future. He promises to help her by causing a distraction so she can get away. It is a selfless act. Before she goes, Lucy tries to tell him he will die next Christmas but has to leave.
Lucy returns to the present day and is sad to learn that Jack still died too young.
One year later, Lucy is on set for the remake of the movie. (Rachel Boston and Wes Brown make cameos here.)
Some hourglass magic happens, and Lucy is surprised to see Jack in modern times. He used the hourglass on the day he died/disappeared. He asks if he wants him to say that he is willing to give up everything he’s even known because he loves her. (Ugh! That got me! Crying.) The kiss! The end!
Note/Stray Thoughts
Box Office Poison is such a rude term.
So many old Hollywood references. Too many to list.
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
🎄🎄🎄🎄 4 Christmas Trees)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 (5 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
Kristoffer was great in this movie. My wife and I fill he really has the look to play parts based on the 30’s and 40’s. We have already watch the movie twice. It’s now at the top of my Christmas movie list right along with Its a Wonderful Life. Bethany was outstanding playing her part. The movie had a great ending.
loved the movie have watched it over and over cant wait to be able to order it on dvd.krissoffer was absolutely amazing .loved Bethany was awesome as jonathan frakes and ak benninghofen will watch it every week love it love it, and love it because it is part of my state love asheville its my dad and mom hometown go 4 times a year to the biltmore estate never tired of it was their doing some of the filming.