“A Christmas Switch” is delightfully entertaining and a holiday film worth watching!
PURCHASE THIS FILM ON AMAZON PRIME
TITLE: A Christmas Switch
FILM YEAR: 2018
DURATION: 86 Minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition
COMPANY: MarVista Entertainment
RATED: TV-PG
RELEASE DATE: 2018
Directed by Brian Herzlinger
Written by Paula Rahn
Executive Producer: Marguerite Henry, Hannah Pillemer
Produced by Tolu Awosika, Jake Deptula, Olumide Odebunmi
Production Associate: Michelle Reece
Music by MJ Mynarski
Cinematography by Pete Villani
Edited by Daniel Duncan
Casting by Thomas Sullivan
Production Design by Jere Sallee
Set Decoration by Megan Balthazor
Costume Design by Dominique V. Richardson
Starring:
Jackie Seiden as Audrey Turner
Ashley Wood as Julia Samson
Houston Rhines as Paul Turner
John Patrick Jordan as Alex Samson
Oana Gregory as Laurel Samson
Cleary Herzlinger as Kelly Turner
Annie Abbott as Mrs. Nick
Lou Beatty Jr. as Stan
Brendan Robinson as Tyler
Taj Speights as Gaving Vaughn
Christmas works its magic in this body-switching holiday tale about two very different moms who find that help is where you least expect it, and most need it. When struggling singer Audrey and wealthy record executive Julia collide at the mall, they wake up in each other’s lives the next morning. Audrey finds that, though Julia’s life is full of luxury, she’s missing the chance to connect with her family in any real way while Julia finds that, though she gets plenty of family time, Audrey can’t say no to anyone giving her no time for herself. As Christmas looms closer, the two women rush to figure out how to both help each other and switch back before they miss Christmas morning with their own families!
For my latest holiday telefilm, which is day 15 of my holiday film marathon, I am checking out a film that is not from Hallmark and not from Lifetime Television, and it’s the 2018 holiday film “A Christmas Switch” which appeared on UP TV.
UP TV is a basic cable channel which originally was founded to showcase gospel music but now has grown showcases original content such as “Bringing Up Bates”, “dramas like “Heartland” and classic series such as the “Gilmore Girls”, “Reba” and “Little House on the Prairie” and is a network committed to positive entertainment for passionate and diverse audiences.
As a family friendly network, UP TV has now joined the in showcasing a Christmas movie every Saturday and Sunday for the month of November and December.
“A Christmas Switch” is directed by Brian Herzlijnger (“My Date with Drew”, “Meet My Valentine”, “Twinkle All the Way”) and written by Paula Rahn (“A Snow White Christmas”, “Rock and Roll Christmas”) and stars Jackie Seiden (“Single Parents”, “Modern Family”, “The Big Leap”), Ashley Wood (“Shameless, “Party of Five”, “Hollywood), Houston Rhines, John Patrick Jordan, Oana Gregory (“Crash & Bernstein”, “Kickin’ It”), Cleary Herzlinger, Annie Abbott and Lou Beatty Jr.
The film revolves around two people with two completely different lives.
Audrey Turner (portrayed by Jackie Seiden) is a mother, devoted to her husband Paul (portrayed by Houston Rhines) and her young daughter Kelly (portrayed by Cleary Herzlinger). She is also a talented singer, but because she’s not had much opportunity, she is busy working as a waitress at restaurant owned by Stan (portrayed by Lou Beatty Jr.), where she can show off her beautiful voice to patrons.
Julia Samson (portrayed by Ashley Wood) is the owner of a music label, always busy and has no time for anyone but work, and doesn’t spend much time with husband Alex (portrayed by John Patrick Jordan) and teenage daughter Laurel (portrayed by Oana Gregory). She is not very nice and everything in her life must be according to her schedule.
One day, Julia stops by the restaurant where Audrey works and sees Audrey singing. While she acknowledges that she can sing, Julia is more concerned of not bringing in new artists but taking established artists from other labels. But at the moment, trying to keep her artist Gavin Vaughn (portrayed by Taj Speights) in staying with her label.
One day the two go Christmas shopping at the same Christmas shop which is open for a temporary time.
Audrey loves Christmas and looks at the beautiful toys but she can’t afford them for her daughter and Mrs. Nick (portrayed by Annie Abbott), the store owner, gives her a candy cane.
Meanwhile, Julia is there to pick up a painting and demands for the store to give it to her, because she prepaid and doesn’t feel she needs to stand in line. Meanwhile, she finds out about a Christmas ornament, which she wants and when she goes to get it, Audrey is looking at the same ornament and when both go out to reach it, Julia said its hers, while Audrey says she got there first and next thing you know, the ornament glows and both are knocked out.
When Julia wakes up, she’s in Audrey’s home and Audrey’s body. While Audrey wakes up, in Julia’s body and both are not sure how this happened.
Their husbands know they hit their head and that’s why their mind is foggy but both ladies know something is wrong.
The two contact each other and decide that they must for now, live each other’s lives, while trying to figure out how they can switch back to their own bodies.
So, now Audrey who is in Julia’s body, needs to go to meetings and work at a label, but because she is nicer and is a family person, she decides to devote more towards Julia’s family and spend time with them.
While Julia, in Audrey’s body, is not a family person, but because she must take care of Kelly’s young daughter, she’ll do what she can. Also, do what she can in working at the restaurant, even though she’s not a kind person.
Will these two individuals grow from the experience and will they be able to get back their bodies before the holiday season ends (and the Christmas store closes)?
For the most part, I really enjoyed “A Christmas Switch” and watching both actresses, Jackie Seiden and Ashley Wood, trade places. They both did an excellent job.
Because both of their character’s lives are much different, in a way, both are able to show their families something different and grow from their experience.
The holiday magic is quite evident throughout the film, but the holiday spirit, for this film is about two women who trade bodies, and need to grow to help their own family but most of all, learn from each other’s lives and grow. And become better people.
Audrey is a kind person, but she is unable to take risks, because she worries about family, the family’s finances and while she is a family person, always there for her husband and child, she has to learn how to give herself time to do the things she wants, instead of doing everything for her family and employer. She wants to sing, and always passed up opportunities, so this new experience, gives her an outlook on life that she has never saw before. But can she change?
Meanwhile, Julia is all work, no time for anyone but herself. And through the experience, she’s learned how keeping distance from her family has affected them. And with Audrey now in her body, how this change has made them happy. But can she change?
Brian Herzlinger, director of the entertaining holiday film “Twinkle All the Way” does a great job with these romance films. And his daughter, Cleary, who plays Kelly Turner, has become one of the sweetest holiday film actresses that knows how to make the scenes entertaining (which is difficult to find in a young child actor). So, I hope to see more holiday films with father and daughter again, whichever network it may be.
But both actresses, Jackie Seiden and Ashley Wood do a magnificent job in this holiday telefilm and I can only hope to see them in more holiday films (or films) in general!
“A Christmas Switch” is delightfully entertaining and a holiday film worth watching!
PURCHASE THIS FILM ON AMAZON PRIME
