And there is a good amount of holiday love, holiday decorations, holiday hope and a sizzling onscreen romance, easily making “Once Upon a Main Street”, one holiday film definitely worth watching! Recommended!
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TITLE: A Very Nutty Christmas
FILM YEAR: 2018
DURATION: 86 Minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition
COMPANY: Lifetime Television
RATED: TV-PG
RELEASE DATE: 2018
Directed by Colin Theys
Written by Keith Giglio, Juliet Giglio
Executive Producer: Leslie Gilliams, Melissa Joan Hart, Paula Hart
Produced by Andrew Gernhard, Erica Joseph Hunter
Associate Producer: Greg White, John Doolan
Music by Felix Bird
Cinematography by Branden James Maxham
Edited by Rob Pallatina
Casting by Valerie McCaffrey
Production Design by Robert Wise
Art Direction by Missy DiPiero
Set Decoration by Theo Blasko
Costume Design by Chantal Filson
Starring:
Melissa Joan Hart as Kate
Barry Watson as Chip
Marissa Jaret Winokur as Rosa
Rizwan Manji as Justin
Conchata Ferrell as Clara
Ryan Caltagirone as Mark
Joanna Howard as Ginger
Katie McCarty as Tiffany
John Mondin as Big Mousekowitz
Mike Sharits as Eric
Richard Riehle as Drosselmeyer
Hard-working bakery owner Kate Holiday (Melissa Joan Hart), has more cookie orders than she has time to fill this holiday season, and when her boyfriend suddenly breaks up with her, any shred of Christmas joy she was hanging onto, immediately disappears. After Kate hangs the last ornament on the tree and goes to bed, she awakens the next morning to a little bit of Christmas magic. She gets the surprise of her life when Chip (Barry Watson), a handsome soldier who may or may not be the Nutcracker Prince from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, appears in her living room. “A Very Nutty Christmas” is produced by Hartbreak Films. Paula Hart and Melissa Joan Hart executive produce. Colin Theys serves as director with a script written by Juliet and Keith Giglio.
Having watched a good number of holiday telefilms from the two channels known for delivery holiday content, there is one thing I’ve learned and that is anything produced by Melissa Joan Hart and longtime producer/mother, Paula Hart or a holiday film starring Melissa Joan Hart (both own their film production company, Hartbreak Films), it’s definitely one of the major quality holiday films you’ll watch.
This comes to production design, storyline, character development, for years, the two have worked in holiday films and they know how to attract audiences, thanks to their modern view, may it be showcasing people of different color and cultures, interracial relationships, people of different financial standing but most of all, trying to feature as much holiday spirit onscreen and entertaining audiences.
And the latest telefilm that I am reviewing is “A Very Nutty Christmas” which aired on Lifetime Television back in 2018.
The film revolves around hardworking baker, Kate (portrayed by Melissa Joan Hart) who is often busy with work, overworked along with her employees/friends Rosa (portrayed by Marissa Jaret Winokur) and Justin (portrayed by Rizwan Manji).
And while the holidays are extremely busy for the small baking company, Kate is hit with bad news from her boyfriend, an actor named Mark (portrayed by Ryan Caltagirone), who is trying out to be this year’s Santa in town and has started a relationship with another actress. And dumps Kate during the holidays.
All Christmas joy which Kate has had, is now gone.
While going to a Christmas shop, the owner Drosselmeyer (portrayed by Richard Riehle) gives Kate a nutcracker soldier toy to put under her Christmas tree.
While expecting someone to stay at her home (as part of a home share), she sees a man named Chip dressed up in a nutcracker uniform and assumes its the man coming as part of her home share.
But the man is quite odd, Kate feels that he must be a method actor and talks about defeating the mouse king. In truth, Chip is actually the nutcracker soldier come to life thanks to the spirit of the holidays to help Kate, for a brief time.
But while spending time with Chip, he manages to show her the magic of the holiday season, helps her with her Christmas baking and the two grow closer together. How long can this last, as Chip is only around for a short time?
For the most part, “A Very Nutty Christmas” is another entertaining Hartbreak Film holiday film for Lifetime.
A dash of Cinderella, a glamorous holiday dance ball, holiday magic and for the most part, quite a bit of fun. But this one is a bit different in the aspect that where a lot of holiday films are about two people who gradually spend time with each other and end up falling for each other and romance develops.
In the cast of “A Very Nutty Christmas”, its established earlier on that Chip can’t stay that long. So, part of you are wondering how is this romance going to develop and how is this holiday film going to play out?
So, it’s a bit different from other holiday films, but different is a good thing as holiday films tend to be banal. But I feel that for those searching for a film with romance, the holiday spirit and just love Christmas, “A Very Nutty Christmas” is worth checking out!
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