To Have and To Holiday (2024 Hallmark Channel)
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Cast: Madeleine Arthur, Robert Bazzocchi, Eric Close, and Kate Drummond
Director: Stacey N. Harding
Writer(s): Grant Levy, Dominik Rothbard
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Hallmark)
When Celeste (Arthur) gets engaged to Jason (Bazzocchi) after just a few months of dating, her father and the couple’s would be officiant, Pastor Mark (Close), insists on putting them through a pre- wedding “bootcamp” filled with Christmas-themed challenges. As the couple grows stronger through the festive activities, Celeste considers following her dreams in the fashion industry. Meanwhile, Pastor Mark learns to trust his daughter’s choices, leading to a heartwarming holiday season for the whole family.
Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below or @lifetimeuncorked
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The movie starts with a fashion template title card. Celeste is the newest designer, a Glliaialli, IN HER DREAMS! She doesn’t even blip on her boss’s radar. She unceremoniously quits her job and comes home for a quick one-hour Christmas with her Gay Boyfriend, Jason. He asks Celeste if he can go home with her for Christmas and book a first-class flight. (He knows people, like all the male flight attendants.)
Pastor Mark, Celeste’s dad, puts together a Christmas festival with a hunk/ex-boyfriend named Pastor Dean. Pastor Mark is convinced that Celeste is coming home for good. Celeste’s mother is the Mayor of the town. They are not thrilled with the unexpected guest. Pastor Mark looks at Celeste and creepily envisions her as a little girl. He grills Jason and asks him where he will stay instead of inviting him to stay with them.
To make matters worse, Jason asks Celeste to get married in her father’s church. (After learning that the church will be remodeled in January.) They have less than one month to plan a Christmas a Christmas wedding. Celeste asks her dad to marry them. Then, Pastor Dean shows up with flowers.
At the town bar, Jason learns that he has to attend Christmas Boot Camp, and he makes a bet with Celeste’s BBF, Tracy’s husband, Tim. Whoever gets the Marriage Bootcamp high school has to make the other do something embarrassing.
Cue the military music and the first day of boot camp. They have to build a gingerbread house. The exercise starts to make Jason and Celeste argue, much to Pastor Mark’s delight. Then the couple turns it around, and he decides to take his sabotage to the next level.
Celeste works with arthritic Michele, the town seamstress, to make her WEDDING DRESS?!?!
The next part of boot camp includes driving a golf cart through many snowmen on the pathway. It doesn’t go great. Pastor Mark sits Jason down and tells him he won’t be just joining the family. He will have to honor the relationship in Celeste’s life and acknowledge she isn’t going to drop her family for him.
Jason is convinced that Celeste’s dad doesn’t like him. It is pretty obvious that Pastor Mark is having trouble letting his “little girl” go and disapproves.
More wedding planning happens. Blah, Blah, Blah.
More Bootcamp exercises also happen, including Celeste and Jason, who must dress up, and Mr. and Mrs. Clause.
Jason’s mom and dad show up and have a whirlwind romance. They are totally on board with the shotgun wedding.
The engaged couple and their parents play the newlywed game; Pastor Mark is a little too competitive. He gives them their final task: making Christmas Eve dinner.
While they are cooking dinner, Celeste gets a call from her old boss. Galivani loves Celete’s designs and wants to hire her. She tells Jason she wants to take the job if offered. They continue making dinner, and Pastor Mark plays the role of the disgruntled family member a bit too well. The Mayor yells at her husband for being such a jerk. Celeste tells her dad that she is going to make her own choices and not let him make everything about himself.
Celeste goes to the church and talks to pastor Dean. Jason chases after her, and he gets the wrong idea. (EYE ROLL!!!) He leaves town, just like that?!?!
Jason is on his way to town, and Tina goes into labor. The birth brings everyone together. They all makeup, but then the ceiling of the church caves in, and the wedding is off.
The family surprises Celeste and Jason on Christmas morning for an impromptu wedding. Even more impromptu than he first quickly planned the wedding. Pastor Mark planned the whole thing and did the ceremony, ending with, “You may now kiss my daughter.”
I’m done!
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
Even though I hated this movie. Kate Drummond is a KWEEN and can do no wrong.
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
None (0 Christmas Trees)
Enjoyment Level: None (0 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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