The Christmas Cup (2025 Hallmark)
📺. Stream/Watch the Movie (Ad): Subscribe to the Lifetime Movie Club
Cast: Rhiannon Fish, Ben Rosenbaum
Director: Robin Dunne
Writer(s): Stewart Gold, Mark Haapala, Jason-Shane Scott, Emily Moss Wilson
➡️ Check out our Youtube Channel: Lifetime Uncorked: Lifetime Movie Reviews
🎧 Listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast: Listen Now
🍷 Support the show with a $5 tip: https://ko-fi.com/patrickserrano
It's A Wonderful Lifetime Preview, Brandy Norwood, Vivica A. Fox, and Airplane Movies? – Lifetime Uncorked
- It's A Wonderful Lifetime Preview, Brandy Norwood, Vivica A. Fox, and Airplane Movies?
- If I Run Lifetime Movie, Kat Graham, and Prayer Requests?
- Ice Road Killer Lifetime Movie, Christmas Thrillers, and Truckers
- You Better Watch Out, Christmas in July, and Bramblefest?
- The Nanny Sees All 2025 Lifetime Movie, Child Actor of the Year, and Golden Madison?
- I'm Your Biggest Fan Lifetime Movie, Hailey Duff Directs, and Beverley Mitchell?
- Abducted in the Everglades Lifetime Movie, Tori Spelling, and Tank Tops?
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Hallmark Channel)
After a knee injury threatens to cut her career short, Staff Sergeant Kelly Brandt (Fish) returns home in low spirits for the holidays. Her family tries to help by encouraging her to lead her hometown team in the annual Christmas Cup against the rival town. It takes a lot of work, but Kelly organizes her team and gets them as competition-ready as she can with the help of Fire Captain Quinn Stokley (Rosenbaum). Sparks begin to fly with Quinn, and through the whole process, Kelly is reminded of how much she loves to lead, but her heart still hopes she will be cleared to return to serve. Kelly ultimately receives the call she has been waiting for; however, it’s not what she expects. With the Marines needing her to report to the Hawaiian base on the day of the competition, Kelly soon realizes there is more than one way to serve a community. Starring Rhiannon Fish and Ben Rosenbaum.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
It is the 50th Annual Christmas Cup. (Whatever that means!)
Aunt Kelly is back in town with a bum knee, and she wants to reenlist as a Marine; her family throws her a surprise party. She meets a Captain who is a hunk and has a slutty girlfriend, Mary. There is talk about Bridgeport and Longleaf, which are towns. I’m less than 10 mins into this movie and I HATE THIS.
Kelly reluctantly gets roped into being the coach for The Christmas Cup, which I gather involves baking. Kelly will represent Longleaf, and Mary will represent Bridgeport. Or vice versa? The Christmas Cup lives at the fire station where the hunk from the party works. Kelly asks him to help her, but he doesn’t want to play favorites. His fire station serves both towns (of course, he allows).
Kelly and the yet-to-be-given-a-first-name firefighter bond over their time in the service.
To get ready for the Christmas cup, the townfolk taste ginger, chug eggnog, untangle lights, and sing terribly. Kelly coaches them to sing from the heart. (Which isn’t really how vocal coaches do it, but what does Kelly know about singing? She was in the air force.)
Kelly gets the call, and she has to go back to the Air Force, which is what she wanted, but now she suddenly doesn’t want to leave town. The firefighter invites Kelly to see him on Christmas Eve, playing Santa. (Is that a turn on? I don’t think so.) Kelly gives him a Christmas sweater as a thank-you for helping with the Christmas Cup. Kelly keeps calling the Firefighter Santa, so I guess that is his name?????
The deployment has been moved up to Christmas Day, so Kelly will need to leave earlier than she thought. Like TOMORROW! She will miss the Christmas Cup!!! The firefighter overhears her breaking the news to her BFF. We learn his name is QUINN. Finally, the man is named, and Kelly considers him a friend. Which breaks his heart.
Kelly breaks the news to her team, and her niece cries, “ON CHRISTMAS!” The melodrama is high, and I’m still unclear what a Christmas Cup even is.
Kelly cuts in line to see Santa/Quinn and tells him how she really feels. Quinn says he already knows because he overheard her conversation. Kelly tries to explain, but he tells her that she thinks with her head, not with her heart.
There is a random reporter who finds love with a man for no apparent reason, except to rub it in Quinn’s face that he is single.
Kelly decides to stay and is the Captain for The Christmas Cup. Which is military themed? What is going on? Mary’s team is dressed up like red Barbies. The games begin. So hopefully I will know what they are now?
Nope, Quinn and Kelly talk backstage instead.
Christmas Cup goes as follows:
1 Coin toss
2 Singing contest
3 Egg Nog Chug
4 Untangling Lights
5 Christmas Trivia, no town trivia
6 Blind tasting
7 And finally, a snowball fight
The Christmas Cup ends in a tie, and everyone is happy about that. Then the niece’s bully says that Longleaf should win. The towns celebrate at the afterparty, leaving Kelly and Quinn to make up and make out.
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
The acting, writing, and directing are awful in this.
This style of Hallmark movie can be put out to pasture.
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
🎄 (1 Christmas Tree)
Enjoyment Level: (No glasses of wine.)
What did you think of this movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked
📺. Stream/Watch the Movie (Ad): Watch with Amazon Prime
➡️ Check out our YouTube Channel: Lifetime Uncorked: Lifetime Movie Reviews
🎧 Listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast: Listen Here
🍷 Support the show/blog with a $5 tip: https://ko-fi.com/patrickserrano
Inquiries | podcast@lifetimeuncorked.com
🍾 Your Support is appreciated. Donate today to keep the website going! Thank you.
*Photo Credit: © 2025 Hallmark
Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below or @lifetimeuncorked
