The Holiday Junkie (2024 Lifetime)
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Cast: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Brian Hallisay
Director: Jennifer Love Hewitt
Writer(s): Jennifer Love Hewitt, Anna White
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
The Holiday Junkie follows the decorating and planning service company run by Andie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and her mother Mimi. After Mimi passes away, Andie is forced to face her first Christmas without her mother and carry The Holiday Junkie torch on her own. Despite the challenges, Andie may also find some love at Christmas along the way with the handsome house manager, Mason (Brian Hallisay), who has his own holiday secrets.
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Recap/Wine Thoughts
Jennifer Love Hewitt owns a business called “The Holiday Junkie,” where she decorates homes for the holiday. She also has bangs and red glasses, which makes her look like Linda Belcher from Bob’s Burgers. She wants to wow a venture capitalist client, the Parker family, for the holiday. It will be a good distraction for her as it is her first Christmas without her mother. (She is still calling and leaving bittersweet voicemails.)
The home is HUGE and secluded. Jennifer Love Hewitt arrives and is frightened by a hunky handyman repainting the house. She explains that she is there to decorate. He tells her that his name is Mason. He is the house manager. Mason thinks it is weird that people hire someone to decorate their houses. (So does everyone in this movie, and they all drag her for having a made-up job.) Jennifer Love Hewittt explains that she and her mother started the business, and when he asks where her mother is, Jennifer Love Hewit acts awkward and changes the subject.
The two work simultaneously but not together, well, until Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Christmas tree vendor cancels. They go out into town where Mason’s friend from High School DRAG HIM TO HELL. They make fun of him for peeing his pants, and let’s be honest, you never forget that kid! (Also, Greg Grunberg? Coming out of nowhere!) Speaking of coming out of nowhere, Jennifer Love Hewitt cries and tells Mason that her mom died. Then she runs off!
Jennifer Love Hewitt gets to decorating early the following day and wakes up a SHIRTLESS Mason. He helps secure some Christmas decorations before heading into town to work at a storefront. In the store is a wedding invitation for Mason and Claire Egan. (Who’s Claire!!??)
The Parker family extends their vacation, so Jennifer Love Hewitt asks her Lesbian friend Riley to help. Riley thinks Mason is hot and encourages her friend to go for it.
There is a town cookie swap, and Jennifer Love Hewitt signed up the family. Since they still aren’t back, she bakes like a madwoman, and Mason jumps in to help. She tells him about her plans to expand the business, and Mason admires some sketches. He tells her he wants kids. Although he hates Christmas for undisclosed reasons, he wants to dress up as Santa.
At a bar, everyone tells their worst Christmases ever to make each other. Greg Grunsburg’s house got robbed, Wendy ran over her grandmother, and Jennifer Loves Hewitts’ mother died of cancer. Then it was Mason’s turn; his fiance called off their Christmas wedding because they were too comfortable. Jennifer Love Hewitt wins and gets the last mozzarella stick. (This scene was SOOOOO WEIRD!)
A winter storm strands the Parker Family in the rocky mountains, and Jennifer Love Hewitt worries that Mr. Parker will never invest in her company if he doesn’t see the work she is doing.
With extra time on their hands, Mason and Jennifer Love Hewitt visit her city apartment. They decorate her house with her mother’s decorations. There is a present her mother was going to give her, and Jennifer Love Hewitt refuses to open it. Mason encourages her to open it because it might be the last physical gift. However, he reminds her there are many other intangible things. It is an ugly Christmas sweater. Then they make out and totally hook up. (It Grief is the one thing Christmas can’t fix.)
Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mason are having trouble figuring out the next steps in their relationship. They do not have clarification on the situation. They spend the day together and continue to make out.
The Holiday Hop, Jennifer Love Hewitt, was helping the town plan get canceled due to a water main break. Mason wants to make her feel better. He decorates her room with Christmas lights. Her mother used to do this for her when she was feeling down.
The next day, Jennifer Love Hewitt is inspired to keep the Holiday Hop alive. She wants to use Mason’s storefront for the party. Riley helps decorate and overshares about a past lesbian relationship. (This movie loves for everyone to have a traumatic background!)
The party comes together, and Jennifer Love Hewitt looks fabulous. Mason can’t even wear a tie!?! (WTF!) They slow dance and make out while townspeople cheer them on.
Back at The Parker family mansion, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mason discuss their future. Mason remains silent about his feelings. Jennifer Love Hewitt runs off and cries while her cover of “I Ain’t Miss You At All” plays.
Best friend talk time, complete with “you miss 100% of the shows you don’t take.” and eating junk food in bed.
The Parkers are very impressed with Jennifer Love Hewitt’s work and invest in The Holiday Junkie 2.0! Jennifer Love Hewitt calls her mother and leaves a voicemail on Christmas Eve. With Christmas magic, her mother comes BACK TO LIFE. (Just kidding, Mason calls.)
Mason wants to use his storefront for Jennifer Love Hewitt’s business. All she has to do is pay rent with baked goods. He loves Christmas now and loves her. They kiss as the movie flashes through scenes we just saw.
The end!
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
Jennifer Love Hewitt and Brian Hallisay are married in real life.
Jennifer Love Hewitt directed this movie and dedicated the film to her mother, Pat’s memory.
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: © 2024 lifetime
