Five stars: Nope. Background noise only
Two women who work at an “invitation store” (apparently that’s a thing) decide to steal leftover invitations and crash extremely elaborate holiday parties a few times because they think their lives are going nowhere. The party crashing isn’t even a main theme in the film. It just happens to be a thing they do. I am not recommending this movie, therefore this review contains spoilers.
Lyndsy Fonseca plays Toni, a law school grad, who had a panic attack when taking the Bar Exam and did not become a lawyer (yet). She lives with her invitation store co-worker and bestie Bri, played to perfection by Daniella Monet. Bri likes to organize and give advice–I guess that’s her talent..
Toni meets up with Justin (Chris McNally), who is the CEO of an investment company which apparently only has just one lawyer, one office and five or so actual employees. Toni and Justin, despite being model worthy folks, have absolutely no chemistry. Why do they like each other? What thing in Toni makes Justin a better man? What thing that Justin has, makes Toni change her ways. No growth. No good. I could go on about this storyline, but I just didn’t buy it. She’s a fake lawyer and it’s the end of the world for a while.
The secondary love story is way better. Bri meets a valet named Vinny (Jag Bal)who actually shows an interest in her and looks like he actually likes her. Our first couple should take note. They do some flirting and the big reveal is that he’s not a valet, he owns the company which may or may not be a big company. They never really say. But for fantasy sake, I’ll say he’s loaded. This couple actually gets married at the end of the movie. They are of Indian decent and Bri’s wedding dress is a chic Indian gown that was really great. I’d like to see this culture explored more in these movies. They do celebrate Christmas in India. Let’s look into that.
It feels like Hallmark had two OK movies and they decided to blend them together and make one janky movie. Bri and Vinny deserved to be the headline couple of this movie. Justice for Bri and Vinny!!
This movie was also not a Christmas movie. It takes place in the winter and people go to holiday parties, but it is not at all about Christmas. This movie fails the substitution test that tells us that if the holiday of Christmas featured in the movie could be swapped out for another holiday without material changes in the plot of said movie, then it’s not a Christmas movie. Adding snow, or mountains is not enough. Christmas doesn’t even occur in this movie. Huh?
There are no children in Holiday Crashers, despite having multiple pregnant women. Christmas joy is best seen through the eyes of children. Pretty single people don’t exude Christmas cheer like a kid.
The lawyer's TV advertisements were very funny. They played Sia’s song “Snowman,” which is one of the best Christmas songs ever made.
At one point in the film someone says, “Well, she did save us $2 billion.” This is not a normal thing to say, or a reasonable excuse for a lie.
This is the second year that Hallmark put Lyndsy Fonseca in a terrible movie. “Where Are You Christmas? (2023) was dreadful. But she starred in the wonderful “Next Stop, Christmas” (2022), so I’ll keep rooting for her. Come on Hallmark, help a girl out.
Cast Kudos: Credit to Jag Bal who plays Vinny. I need more Vinny. Genuine fella who you could bring home to the parents.
Alternative titles: Everyone Got a Sitter and Went to a Party; Fake Lawyer for Winter; I lied about being a lawyer, but I’ll save you $2 billion anyway; No Kids Christmas.
Aired on HallMark Channel: Oct. 19, 2024; watched Oct. 20, 2024