But for the most part, these “Sister Swap” holiday telefilms feature two different stories… and as mentioned, “Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday” focuses on Jennifer Swift, “Sister Swap: Christmas in the City” focuses on Meg Swift. Both are romantic holiday films, both are very different but at the same time, both are enjoyable. I definitely applaud everyone involved in the making of the two films and trying something different for the holidays! Recommended!
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TITLE: Sister Swap: Christmas in the City
FILM YEAR: 2021
DURATION: 84 Minutes
COMPANY: Hallmark Channel
Directed by Sean McNamara
Written by Erik Patterson, Jessica Scott, Claire Boyles, Zac Hug
Producer: David M. Wulf
Executive Producer: Neal Dodson, Ashley Williams, Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Music by Alec Puro, Irving Victoria
Cinematography by Jeremy Prusso
Edited by Kristi Shimek
Casting by Jennifer Buster, Penny Perry
Production Design by Scott Hinckley
Set Decoration by Rocky Jackson
Costume Design by Anna K. Findlay
Starring:
Ashley Williams as Meg Swift
Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Jennifer Swift
Keith D. Robinson as Joe
Mark Deklin as Eric Baker
Susan Yeagley as Barb Hutter
Kevin Nealon as Uncle Dave
Jacob Buster as Simon
Anna Holbrook as Debbie
Jim Byrnes as Luke
Lila Clark as Madzie
For holiday telefilm #57, I am watching “Sister Swap: Christmas in the City”!
And for this review, I am reviewing one of the coolest and original Hallmark holiday films (experiment?) to be made. Definitely in order to try something new and that is to create two films based on two sisters during the holidays, with the story taking place around the same time but with each film focusing on one of the two sisters.
There have been “sister swap” holiday films, but this one is different as it’s two films featuring two sisters, but a storyline dedicate for each sister.
So, the first of these films that I am going to review is “Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday” and tomorrow, “Sister Swap: Christmas in the City” directed by Sean McNamara (“Chesapeake Shores”, “Aliens Stole My Body”) and written by Erik Patterson, Jessica Scott, Claire Boyles and Zac Hug.
The film is executive produced and stars real life sisters Kimberly Williams-Paisley (“We Are Marshall”, “According to Jim”, “Father of the Bride”) and Ashley Williams (“How I Met Your Mother”, “The Jim Gaffigan Show”).
The film also stars Mark Deklin (“Designated Survivor”, “Hawaii Five-0”), Susan Yeagley (“Almost Famous”, “Coyote Ugly”), Kevin Nealon (“Saturday Night Live”, “Weeds”, “Happy Gilmore”, “The Wedding Singer”), Keith D. Robinson (“Dreamgirls”, “Blade: Trinity”, “Fat Albert”), Jacob Buster (“Colony”, “Let the Right One In”), Anna Holbrook (“Another World”, “Law & Order”), Jim Byrnes (“Highlander”, “Beast Wars: Transformers”) and more.
The film revolves around two sisters who are mourning the death of their Uncle Dave (portrayed by Kevin Nealon). Jennifer Swift (portrayed by Kimberly Williams-Paisley) is a restaurant owner, widow and single mom raising her son Simon (portrayed by Jacob Buster) who is preparing for college.
Jennifer is planning to head home in Hazelwood to visit her family and to take care of some loose ends as her uncle owned a theater “The Madison” in town. While her restaurant has been recognized in the city and is preparing to enter a competition with the winner getting money to be donated to charity, Jennifer decides to leave it in the hands of her sister Meg (portrayed by Ashley Swift) and restaurant manager Joe (portrayed by Keith D. Robertson) to run the restaurant and prepare for the competition.
As Jennifer heads back home and one can see what she has planned for saving the family theater in town (owned by her deceased Uncle Dave) and doing one last Christmas show.
As for Meg, she was planning to fly to Paris and assist Joe with running the restaurant and coming up with a concept that would win the judges and winning that charity money (but also making sure to give the restaurant positive media coverage.
Meg, like her sister is driven and once she starts helping out Joe, she has so many thoughts and both must work together in order win the restaurant competition and decides, she wants to stay in the city to help Meg’s restaurant win and not go to Paris.
And while working together at the restaurant, Meg and Joe grow closer with one another. But to make things challenging, unfortunate situations lead to certain challenges, which the two must prepare for.
For the most part, I absolutely like Hallmark holiday films that think outside of the box. And “Sister Swap” is something cool and fun to watch because there are certain scenes featured in both films that are the same, but shot at a different angle from each other, so establishing difference but yet similarity.
But for the most part, these “Sister Swap” holiday telefilms feature two different stories… and as mentioned, “Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday” focuses on Jennifer Swift, “Sister Swap: Christmas in the City” focuses on Meg Swift.
One is set in town, the other in the city. “A Hometown Holiday” is family driven and features somewhat of a WASPy Christmas story, while “Christmas in the City” is more progressive featuring an interracial relationship, while also showcasing gay cast members and very diverse.
Both are romantic holiday films, both are very different but at the same time, both are enjoyable. I definitely applaud everyone involved in the making of the two films and trying something different for the holidays!
Recommended!
