I did enjoy “Mistletoe Over Manhattan” for its holiday spirit and the Christmas magic, to a degree.
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TITLE: Mistletoe Over Manhattan
FILM YEAR: 2011
DURATION: 88 Minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition
COMPANY: Vivendi Entertainment/Hallmark Channel
RATED: TV-G
RELEASE DATE: 2011
Directed by John Bradshaw
Written by Topher Payne
Executive Producer: Allison Bibicoff, Lewis Chesler, David Perlmutter, Dominique Telson, Robert Vaughn
Produced by Marek Posival
Co-Producer: Marci McCurlie
Music by Gary Koftinoff
Cinematography by Russ Goozee
Edited by Arcieri
Casting by Brian Levy
Production Design by Gavin Mitchell
Art Direction by Greg Chown
Set Decoration by James Banos
Costume Design by Candice Beuckx
Starring:
Tricia Helfer as Lucy Martel
Greg Bryk as Joe M Artel
Tedde Moore as Rebecca Claus
Ken Hall as Sparky Mistletoe
Mairtin O’Carrigan as Nick Claus
Olivia Scriben as Bailey Martel
Peter DaCunha as Travis Martel
Damon Runyan as Parker
Julian De Zotti as Michael
Rebecca, Mrs. Claus (Tedde Moore) is worried that her exhausted, workaholic husband (Mairtin O’Carrigan) has lost his holiday spirit. She believes she can help him recapture his bliss and secretly heads to the one place she knows the spirit of Christmas must still exist: New York City, where she first fell in love with Nick.
In a crowded New York diner, Rebecca befriends Joe (Greg Bryk), a caring cop who is worried about this kindly grandmother, who’s alone and low on funds. Joe reveals he and his wife Lucy (Tricia Helfer) are in the middle of a divorce. Sensing that Joe is still very much in love with his wife, Rebecca agrees to work temporarily as the family’s nanny until Christmas. To Rebecca’s delight, by healing Joe and Lucy’s family, she shows Santa that Christmas miracles are still possible and his job’s more important than ever!
I am now at day 19 of my holiday marathon, and this time I am checking out the 2011 Hallmark Channel telefilm “Mistletoe over Manhattan”.
Directed by John Bradshaw and written by Hilary Hinkle, Linda Engelsiepen and Rickie Castaneda. The film stars Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”, “Walk All Over Me”), Greg Bryk (“Saw V”, “Shoot ‘Em Up”, “A History of Violence”), Tedde Moore (“A Christmas Story”, “The Kennedys”), Ken Hall (“People of Earth”, “Polar”), Mairtin O’Carrigan (“The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day”), Olivia Scriven (“Degrassi: The Next Generation”, “Degrassi: Next Class”, “The Yard”), Peter DaCunha (“Remember”, “Mommy’s Little Boy”, “12 Monkeys”) and Damon Runyan (“Star Trek: Discovery”, “Degrassi: The Next Generation”).
“Mistletoe Over Mountain” begins with Rebecca Claus and Nick Claus on a date at the Empire State Building in Manhattan and shared a romantic kiss. Fastforward to the present time and Nick/Santa Claus is always busy with work and Rebecca worries about her husband’s well-being and wants to find that Christmas magic they both shared.
After talking to Santa’s chief elf, Sparky Mistletoe (portrayed by Ken Hall), she decides what best to find that Christmas magic, where they shared a kiss.
The film then switches over to another couple that is in the process of divorce.
Joe Martel (portrayed by Greg Bryk) is a police officer dedicated to his job but the job is creating friction with his wife Lucy (portrayed by Tricia Helfer). Eventually, the two couple who once vibrantly loved each other, are now separated.
Joe now lives in an apartment and splits time with Lucy taking care of their children, Bailey (portrayed by Olivia) and Travis (portrayed by Peter DaCunha). Their relationship is not well and they are awaiting paperwork to make the divorce final. And Lucy is now dating her boss, Parker (portrayed by Damon Runyan).
Meanwhile, back in Manhattan, Rebecca Claus is searching for Christmas magic to rekindle the romance that she and Nick once had. But while in Manhattan, she’s learning how much has changed and with luggage and not much money, she goes to rest at a diner which she can get something to eat cheaply.
While she is getting ready to sit, a boy steals her purse but he is caught by Joe. Sensing his kindness, Rebecca asks Joe to join her at the diner to eat. Not wanting to reveal who she really is, she comes up with the name Rebecca Klausburger Meanwhile, Joe receives a call that a co-worker’s wife has given birth and he promised him that he will cover his shift.
Problem is that Joe has the kids and because he has to cover his partner’s shift for the day, he comes up with an idea to ask Rebecca if she can babysit the kids, he’ll pay her and give her a place to stay. And Rebecca agrees.
When Joe brings Rebecca to meet Lucy and the kids, Lucy is against it until she interviews her and decides to give Rebecca a try.
While, Travis is open an excited to have Rebecca at the home, Joe’s eldest daughter Bailey is not. She feels that her father is busy with work again and finding a babysitter, so he can neglect his fatherly duties. Needless to say, Rebecca sees how dysfunctional things are at the Martel home and finds it necessary to bring Christmas magic to save this family.
But meanwhile at the North Pole, Santa Claus is unaware that his wife Rebecca left to New York and when Sparky Mistletoe finds out, he hopes he can bring Rebecca back to the North Pole before Santa finds out.
Will Rebecca Claus find that Christmas magic for her and Santa, but also the Martel family?
“Mistletoe Over Manhattan” was a film that made me question, “am I watching the right film?” because it focused on Rebecca and Nick Claus. Eventually, we start to learn that the film is about a troubled marriage, dysfunctional family that is in need of Christmas magic because the marriage is pretty much over.
I enjoyed the film because of its Christmas magic and seeing Rebecca Claus trying to save this family, while doing it without her husband knowing that she left the North Pole.
It was rather interesting that Lucy Martel (portrayed by Tricia Helfer) is already in a romantic relationship with her boss, before her divorce was finalized and knowing that her husband still cares for her and the family, so in a way, that was a bit troubling for me.
Also, troubling was the fact that she was upset for Joe being busy with his career, while she is doing the same thing, not being around her children, because she’s working a lot for her career and is seeing her boss.
If anything, it’s the poor kids that are suffering because of their parents. If anything, you have two parents who are fixated with their careers and sure, many Americans have parents that are working. But the first thing that came to mind is that these parents need to prioritize more and figure out a way to make their relationship work. To make their family work.
So, while we know what to expect from this holiday film and a positive happy ending is always a must, while I did love the Christmas magic that Rebecca and Nick Claus brought to the film, I just couldn’t help feel that this family needs major counseling, because there is only so magic to fix things. I know, no one wants to think about the negative, think about the positive but I think the fact that Lucy was in a romantic relationship with her boss before the marriage was over and these two parents prioritized career over family, made me enjoy this film much less. But then again, no family is perfect.
But I did enjoy “Mistletoe Over Manhattan” for its holiday spirit and the Christmas magic, to a degree.
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