'Christmas in the Spotlight,' 'Holiday Touchdown' review: Taylor, Travis inspire corny holiday movies
You might have heard about dueling Christmas TV movies inspired by the real-life romance between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, but while Lifetime’s “Christmas in the Spotlight” is indeed an artificial-tree homage to the Swift/Kelce story, the Hallmark movie “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” is NOT a football player/pop star love story, even though the latter film was is set squarely in Chiefs Nation and even features a cameo by Mama Donna Kelce.
It’s kind of a lot to unwrap. Let’s get to it.
It’s only fitting that Hallmark presents “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” given the company is based in Kansas City, Missouri. In the prologue, Hunter King’s Alana Higman explains that her family has had Chiefs season tickets since 1967, and they are the ultimate superfans; why, they even run a Chiefs memorabilia store called KC Corner. Alana is a strong, smart, independent, sweet, beautiful woman, but because she doesn’t have a man, everyone in her family clucks and worries about her as if it’s 1952. Maybe true love will walk in the door one day!
Enter Derrick Taylor (Tyler Hynes), who is the “Director of Fan Engagement” for the Chiefs, and it’s a miracle Derrick got the job, given he’s unfamiliar with Kansas City and even (gasps) likes soccer. “I didn’t become a big football fan until I started working for the team,” says Derrick. (Huh?)
At the urging of his colleagues, Derrick finally tries some Kansas City barbecue, and that’s our cue for Donna Kelce (wearing a signed Travis Kelce jersey) to pop in as the manager of a BBQ joint in Independence. When Derrick meets and becomes close with Alana and her family, he doesn’t tell them what he does for a living (he wants people to like him for him, not his Chiefs connection), but the truth comes to light when the Higmans are finalists for Fan of the Year.
The wonderful Ed Begley is a warm presence as Alana’s grandfather, who was given a Chiefs hat by a local Santa Claus back in 1969 — a hat the family believes has magical powers come playoff time. A handful of former and current Chiefs make brief cameos. When Andy Reid makes a late appearance, the scene is filmed in a way that has us wondering if he was even with the actors that day, or just recited a couple of lines separately. If you’re a Chiefs fan, you’ll probably get a kick of out the whole thing. Not sure how well it’s going to play in Raider Nation.
“Christmas in the Spotlight” opens with the newly single, Taylor-esque pop megastar Bowyn Sykes (Jessica Lord) recording a video where she sings:
“I’ll be alone for Christmas. ... I don’t need your mistletoe. ... I’m the star on my own tree, I’ve never ever felt so free, Merry Christmas to me!”
Alas, the songs are more on the level of Lara Trump than Taylor Swift in this corny romance between Bowyn and Laith Wallschleger’s pro football star, one Drew “Gonzo” Gonville, and yep, that’s the same Laith Wallschleger who became a bit of a viral sensation for his bonkers appearance as Rob Gronkowski in FX’s “American Sports Story.”
“Christmas in the Spotlight” takes place outside the NFL’s sidelines, as Drew plays for a fictional team known as the Bombers. Shortly after Bowyn and Drew have an awkward, backstage meet-cute, Bowyn’s manager Mira (Jeannie Mai) informs Bowyn that Drew isn’t just some random guy, he’s “only the best wide receiver in the world. Nine-time MVP, he holds the longest record for yards received.”
“I don’t speak football,” replies Bowyn.
Based on that description from Mira, neither does the screenwriter.
Adding to the silliness: Bowyn’s ex, a movie star named Hudson (David Pinard), is just the worst, at one point saying to Bowyn about his new film: “I am brilliant in it. Oscars are a-buzzin’.” Are they, Hudson? Are they buzzin’?
Still, even with Hudson buzzin’ around, trying to win back Bowyn, and the tabloids speculating that the whole Bowyn and Drew is a manufactured publicity stunt, there’s a chance, just a chance, that the pop star and the football player will have the best Christmas ever, ever, ever, ever, out of the spotlight. After all, we don’t want to see teardrops on Bowyn’s guitar.