For those who are open to having something different, then you can easily appreciate “The Christmas Edition” as it is. It may not be the best holiday Lifetime Television film but it’s an entertaining holiday film worth watching.
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TITLE: The Christmas Edition
FILM YEAR: 2020
DURATION: 88 Minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition
COMPANY: Lifetime Television
RATED: TV-G
RELEASE DATE: 2020
Directed by Peter Sullivan
Story by Anna White
Written by Topher Payne
Executive Producer: Barry Barnholtz, Zelma Kiwi, Jeffrey Schenck
Produced by Brtian Nolan
Co-Producer: Peter Sullivan
Music by Matthew Janszen
Cinematography by Eitan Almagor
Edited by Randy Carter
Casting by Dean E. Fronk, Donald Paul Pemrick
Production Design by Lawrene Humphreys
Art Direction by Molly Saito
Costume Design by Nancy Cannon
Starring:
Carly Hughes as Jackie
Rob Mayes as Finn
Marie Osmond as Melanie
Aloma Wright as Edna
Emily Alabi as Dolores
It’s Christmas time and Jackie (Carly Hughes), an up-and- coming journalist, finds that her life is at a crossroads until she finds an unexpected opportunity – to run a small-town newspaper in Alaska. Jackie decides to give it a try and relocates to the small picture-perfect small town. Using a series of Christmas articles, she’s able to quickly return the newspaper to profitability, and soon falls in love… both with her new home and the handsome son of the paper’s former owner. However, when her old boss announces plans to take over the paper for herself, Jackie will need a Christmas miracle to save it.
For my latest holiday telefilm, which is day 18 of my holiday film marathon, I am checking out the “The Christmas Edition”.
Directed by Peter Sullivan (“Broadcasting Christmas”, “Christmas Under Wraps”) and written by Anna White (“My Christmas Inn”, “Sister of the Bride”, “Christmas Made to ORder”, “Christmas Wonderland”), the film aired on Lifetime Television.
The film stars Carly Hughes (“Blind Sight”, “American Housewife”), Rob Mays (“Mistresses”, “Jane By Design”, “Frequency”), Marie Osmond (“Donny and Marie”, “Maybe This Time”), Aloma Wright (“Scrubs”, “Mr. Deeds”), Emily Alabi (“Teen Wolf”, “NCIS”, “Runaways” and more).
The film revolves around Jackie Evans (portrayed by Carly Hughes), who is in the running for News Editor for the Sunshine Chronicle newspaper in California. And expecting to be promoted, instead they see Melanie Dower (portrayed by Marie Osmond), the owner of digital empire, Dower Media, at the newspaper location. It is revealed that Dower Media has purchased the Sunshine Chronicle and for current staff, Dower Media will be making decisions on the staff.
Melanie meets with Jackie and when the discussion comes up of Jackie taking on the News Editor position, Melanie tells her that it requires a different skill set and requests for her to stay on as news journalist, a title she had five years ago. And in a few years, maybe they would have something for her.
Jackie heard about the Juneau Weekly in a place called Lantern Grove, Alaska looking for an Editor-in-Chief position and to own the newspaper for free and Jackie decides that she will pursue it.
When she arrives, she is met by the deceased editor’s son, Finn (portrayed by Rob Mayes) and meets the staff, which includes the person who runs the printing press, Edna (portrayed by Aloma Wright) and photographer Dolores (portrayed by Emily Alabi) and learns the two are the only staff members of the newspaper.
She sees how much love the town has towards Christmas and through her time in Lantern Grove, can Jackie show that she would make a wonderful Editor-in-Chief of the “Lantern Grove Press” and will she get used to living this new life in this small town near the North Pole?
And while in town, she and Finn grow closer to each other. Will romance blossom between the two?
For the most part, I have to say that “The Christmas Edition” was an entertaining Christmas film, considering the challenges the cast had to face due to the Pandemic.
For one, the cast had to shoot during the hot weather which at the time was in the mid-90s (the location was shot in Weber County, Utaha, especially at Wolf Creek) and the cast had only three days to prepare for the role, while having to take COVID tests every 72 hours.
But you have to admire the staff’s dedication to making it work. Everyone wearing sweaters and holiday outfits (I would imagine the AC was on full blast to make it as cool as possible).
But I did enjoy this telefilm, to see a woman pursue her dreams and not resort of taking a demotion. I’ve worked in media, especially for growing a newspaper’s digital media division, also working in a smaller media market and I know the struggles far too well. As as an Asian man married to a woman who is Caucasian, I am grateful to see a film showcasing interracial relationships (which Lifetime Television has been consistent in showcasing each holiday year).
I loved seeing Carly Hughes featured in her first holiday film and it’s always good to see Marie Osmond show up for anything holiday-related and she still continues to look amazing. And you also have a fun supporting cast with Rob Mayes, Aloma Wright and Emily Alabi.
But what this comes down to is story and is it a fun holiday telefilm? The answer is yes. Is it one of the top holiday films from Lifetime Television? That answer is no.
“The Christmas Edition” is a holiday film that I enjoyed its storyline, its cast members but its important for people to know that while it does have a romantic aspect, the holiday film focuses on Jackie and her news team of creating the best newspaper and growing from the experience and seeing how people in town gravitate towards her and make her feel at home.
If anything, Lantern Grove is like a silent cast member as its town that tries to win Jackie over, moreso than the usual storyline of the male romantic lead trying to woo over the female protagonist. It’s a film that is about Emily’s strength as a woman, a leader in the community and achieving success, and that’s all wonderful!
But the film has elements that people love to see in a holiday film, holiday spirit, Christmas decorations, many Christmas sweaters and holiday romance, but if you want more heavy on the romance, then “The Christmas Edition” may disappoint those who are expecting it to be prominent.
But for those who are open to having something different, then you can easily appreciate “The Christmas Edition” as it is. It may not be the best holiday Lifetime Television film but it’s an entertaining holiday film worth watching.
PURCHASE THIS FILM ON AMAZON PRIME
