The One about Day 20 of my Holiday Film Marathon for 2023: Check Inn to Christmas (2019)

“Check Inn to Christmas” is no doubt a film that showcases Christmas decorations and that beautiful Christmas atmosphere.  Recommended!

Click here to watch “Check Inn to Christmas” on Amazon


TITLE: Check Inn to Christmas

FILM YEAR: 2019

DURATION: 84 Minutes

COMPANY: Hallmark


Directed by Sam Irvin

Written by Anna White

Co-Producer: Barry Barnholtz, Brian Nolan, Peter Sullivan

Executive Producers: Rachel Boston, Wes Brown, Jeffrey Schenck

Co Executive Producer: Gene George

Co-Producer: Barry Barnholtz, Brian Nolan, Peter Sullivan

Music by Nick Soole

Cinematography: Theo Angell

Edited by Randy Carter

Casting by Jennifer Buster, Dean E. Fronk, Elizabeth Mortensen, Donald Paul Pemrick

Production Design by Bill Voorhees

Art Direction: Caitlin Sheek

Costume Design by Nancy Cannon


Starring:

Rachel Boston as Julia Crawley

Wes Brown as Ryan Mason

Richard Karn as Tim Crawley

Christopher Cousins as Bill Mason

Emiliano Diez as Eddy

Tim Reid as Blake

Anna Daines as Lexi Crawley

Charla Bocchicchio as Sandra Crawley


A Hallmark Channel original movie. Julia Crawley (Rachel Boston) and Ryan Mason (Wes Brown) must unite their families during Crestridge’s Centennial Christmas celebration in order to save their family inns from a chain resort.


I have to admit that when it comes to holiday films, one actress who has consecutively made holiday films for Hallmark is actress Rachel Boston.

She was no doubt a Hallmark Holiday Princess to watch on television and with Candace Cameron Bure no longer with Hallmark (and now with Great American Family), Rachel Boston (best known for her role as Ingrid Beauchamp in “Witches of East End”) probably is the Holiday Queen for Hallmark in terms of longevity and consistency of holiday films.

In this film, directed by Sam Irvin and written by Anna White, “Check to Inn” is about Julia Crawley (portrayed by Rachel Boston), who is awaiting to find out if she or her co-worker will be made partner at her law firm, she goes back home to Crestridge to celebrate Christmas with her family.

But returning back home, she has to prepare for the ongoing family rivalry between the Crawleys and the Masons that have existed for nearly a century.  While the family’s have a deep competitive rivalry, Julia and Ryan are friends who are not too hardcore when it comes to their rivalry.  But during the holidays, these two families are often competitive.

According to the Crawley’s, Julia’s great grandfather worked hard on the railroad to save enough money to open his own inn in his favorite town.  And when he was about to buy property by the railroad, Samuel Mason bought the property from under him and opened his own inn which began the rivalry.

According to the Mason’s, Samuel Crawley, Ryan’s great grandfather, bid for the property fair and square and the Crawley family couldn’t take it, got jealous and opened up a rival inn to run the Mason family out of business.

But Julia believes that somewhere in the middle between both family lores lies the truth.  But both families are aiming to have a family member become the first Crestridge Christmas grand marshal.

And now there is another rival, Edgestone Resorts that wants to buy both family inns which causes both Julia and Ryan concern.

But with Julia and Ryan growing closer by working together and the two begin to fall for each other, will Julia want to stay in Crestwood and bypass the career she worked long for love?

For the most part, holiday films starring Julia Boston tend to have a higher budget.  Holiday films starring her, tend to get the best storylines, a wonderful production and she is an actress that has established herself as a Hallmark holiday queen since 2015’s “Ice Sculpture Christmas”.

As for surprises, it was great to see Richard Karn (who played Al Borland from the popular ’90s TV series “Home Improvement”) on this holiday telefilm playing Julia’s father.

“Check Inn to Christmas” is no doubt a film that showcases Christmas decorations and that beautiful Christmas atmosphere.  Recommended!


Click here to watch “Check Inn to Christmas” on Amazon