Movie Review: Trivia at St. Nicks—All the wrong answers

Five stars: Nope. Background noise only

When students go home for Christmas break at a university in Vermont, those sad souls left behind (or just live there), participate in a 45-year tradition of Christmas trivia at Nick’s Bar. Celeste (Tammin Sursok) is obsessed with winning the trivia tournament, but is thrown when her ringer bails and she’s stuck with Max, a football coach (Brant Daugherty) as their sixth and required member of the trivia team.

Trivia is fun, but this movie was absurd and not in a funny, laugh at yourself way. There are some funny one-liners, but it’s certainly not enough to carry the contrived story line that somehow tries to be funny and sincere, but fails at both.

One liners
-I’m a football coach, not a wheel magician!” When he can’t change a tire.

-“If you’d like, I’d be happy to share my syllabus…” Professor, keep your pants on. Really a dick joke?

-After asking a nun to be on the trivia team, the nun replies, “I will pray for you. Hard.” Wow, the nun thinks you’re silly.

-“Belay! You gotta Belay!” Best rock-climbing advice ever.

Goofy notes

  • A whole week of trivia nights is a bit much, even for die hard trivia buffs.

  • This movie was filmed on location in Connecticut. Why was it placed in Vermont?

  • Shouting your trivia answers in a crowded bar is a great way to lose to other people who can hear you.

  • Everyone drinks different colorful holiday beverages – no one has any ice.

  • The Stan trophy had to be worth at least $7, but no more.

  • And who was Stan in the photo? They show him like an inside joke. Help us out.

  • When they eat cookies, the sound department didn’t add the ever-present crunch, like every other Hallmark movie. This is the right decision.

Measuring Christmas Magic: None, except the super meta final trivia category – Hallmark Christmas movies! Nice work there.

Cast Kudos: Brian McCarthy who plays Nick the Quiz Master. Nick dons a different holiday outfit each night, which helps show the different events, and is a nice running joke. Give Nick a movie.

Alternative Titles: The Greatest Trivia Tournament Ever; Trivia for the Lonely; Just go home for the Christmas holiday.

Aired on Hallmark on Nov 8, watched Nov. 9.