Hallmark’s Holiday Crashers is two love stories for the price of one in a bonkers joy ride that features a lot of lies leading to the meant-to-be truths. It’s a story about second chances, best friends, and romance during the magic of the holidays that’s all about starting over.
Starring Lyndsy Fonseca, Daniella Monet, Chris McNally, and Jag Bal, the film starts with some frustrating character traits but quickly leads to growth rooted in all characters becoming the best versions of themselves. Amid all of these chaotic adventures, they each find their own path before allowing themselves to embark on a relationship.
The story starts when two best friends, Toni and Bri, start crashing parties and realize they’re both crushing on two different guys. We quickly learn that while they both work together today, initially, Toni panicked right before taking the bar exam, and Bri always wanted to be an event planner.
While hiding behind the identities they’ve created, the two find themselves growing more and more confident in their abilities to successfully make those dreams a reality. Interestingly, storylines like this tend to be frustrating because it’s often hard to root for relationships that are built on lies, but it’s easy to appreciate how Hallmark’s Holiday Crashers plays with the storyline.
For Toni and Justin, we see clear signs of their shared morals and the comfort they find in each other that they’ve been missing elsewhere. He says as much when he takes time off work for once to spend time with her, and even while she isn’t exactly truthful, she’s trying her best to at least come clean.
The chemistry between Fonseca and McNally is where so much of their charm lies, and it’s easy to appreciate that the film doesn’t rush the two of them getting back together, but instead, an entire year passes. When they properly reconnect, everything aligns in a way that makes complete sense. If they had rushed into something, their relationship wouldn’t have worked out, and it’d feel a little tainted, too. However, sitting with all the emotions makes it feel entirely earned.
Additionally, Bri and Vinny’s adorable beginning and gorgeous wedding are the icing on top of the cake because I wasn’t expecting to see any of this in the film. Theirs is the type of relationship we’re so used to seeing as the secondary love story that it’s refreshing they take a front seat in Hallmark’s Holiday Crashers. They’re equal players and, dare I say, maybe even a smidge more centered. Their foundation is built on honesty and a conflict that feels especially true to the characters because Bri needed to understand that her worth isn’t tied to money or success.
While it feels like the film is a bit too glamorous at times, and I personally needed some more cozy holiday vibes, it’s still a delightful presentation of love for those striving to make a name for themselves. (Like, why couldn’t we see more of the cabin? The vibes there were immaculate.) Still, it’s especially easy to appreciate all the themed planning Bri sets up, making the film feel less corporate and more realistic. Overall, it’s surely one worth watching.
Watch Holiday Crashers on the Hallmark Channel this Christmas.
First Featured Image | Official Poster Credit: ©Hallmark