Christmas Under the Lights (2024 Hallmark Channel)
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Cast: Heather Hemmens, Marco Grazzini, Antonio Cayonne
Director: Lucie Guest
Writer(s): Russell Hainline, Beverley Wood
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Hallmark)
Emily (Hemmens) is always reluctant to return home to her family’s animal rescue ranch — but when her mother passes away, her brother Nick requests her help organizing the annual Christmas Carnival. When she arrives, she discovers Nick’s friend, Luke (Grazzini), staying at the ranch — and that Luke was once a successful artist who works with light. Though initially reluctant to collaborate, Emily and Luke work hard to pull off the best, most light-filled carnival the town has ever seen, a healing celebration of Emily’s mother’s legacy and the magic of Christmas — and along the way feel sparks of romance as radiant as the lights themselves.
Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below or @lifetimeuncorked
Recap/Wine Thoughts
In December 1999, the world was prepping for Y2K. Little Emily was only worried about partying like it was 1999.
Emily is a party planner and hangs out with social media influencers who push those light-up face masks. (Which I can vouch for!) She feels like her life is endless with glitzy parties and events.
Cut to a farm where our favorite Hallmark hunk, Antonio Cayonne. He is playing Nick. Nick is a hunk stuck running his family farm. He has to plan the Christmas carnival after his mother dies. His best friend and fellow hunk, Luke, has been helping around the farm. Luke suggests Nick call his sister Emily to help plan the annual event. (She IS an event planner, after all.)
Emily returns to town and runs into her old friend, Taylor, at the local coffee shop. The owner judges Emily for drinking Oat Milk; how do you milk an Oat?!? (This is the Hallmark I’ve been missing! Late to the trends as always.) Then she almost runs over Luke and shouts “Merry Christmas” at him instead of an explicit “F YOU!”
Nick is thrilled to have his sister on the farm and shows her to the animals. Emily is excited to see them and less excited to see Luke helping out on the farm. They bicker, and Nick is confused. Nick tells Emily that Luke is an artist. She is surprised because she didn’t expect such a big-time artist to be helping around the farm. Luke is recently divorced.
Emily asks Luke to help her with the Christmas Carnival. He reluctantly agrees to help. Luke needs inspiration, and Emily works to boost his creativity. They untangle Christmas lights and decorate the farm.
Gratuitous Shirtless Hunk Moment!!! Luke chops wood and wipes his face with his shirt. He catches Emily watching and makes fun of her for ogling him. (That’s about as horny as it gets on Hallmark!)
At the White Elephant party, Emily gets cornered by mean girls. They ask her why she isn’t married. They also question when she plans to have kids. Luke rescues Emily. She vents to him about being in a small town. She feels there are unfair expectations on her just because she is a woman. White Elephant does happen, and Luke is inspired by a pair of light-up antlers.
To get to work on the light art display quicker, Luke has to get through his farm chores first. Emily helps him, even though she never wanted to move to the farm in the first place. When her mother bought the farm, Emily felt like it was just a reaction to her dad dying.
To publicize the event and the farm, Emily calls all her LA influencer friends. They will encourage their millions of followers to come to town for the Christmas carnival.
Luke asks Emily to go with him into town to pick up more lights and to have a dinner date. (Nick is oblivious to his sister’s blossoming romance.) They wander the downtown area, and Luke dreams out loud about opening up a gallery, and Emily says she could open an event planning business. It turns out to be just talk, and they later decide to put the relationship on the back burner. Emily can’t leave LA. (She is offered a social media job and can’t pass up the opportunity.)
Emily and Luke come up with a plan for her to start her own company. She will spend some of her time in LA and some of her time on the farm. They make out, and the Christmas lights are there. Honestly, they weren’t that impressive after all the hype!
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
Antonio Cayonne is hot.
This movie has a lot of flashbacks that didn’t really add anything.
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
🎄🎄🎄 (3 Christmas Trees)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷 (2 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: © 2024 Hallmark
