Jingle Bell Bride (2020)

Wedding planner Jessica Perez travels to a remote town in Alaska to find a rare flower for a celebrity client and is charmed by the small town during Christmas, as well as the handsome local helping her.

Director:

Allan Harmon

Writers:

Marcy Holland, Scarlet Wilson (based on the book "The Jingle Bell Bride" by)

Stars:

Julie Gonzalo, Ronnie Rowe, BJ Harrison

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Gonzalo	...	Jessica Perez
Ronnie Rowe	...	Matt (as Ronnie Rowe Jr.)
BJ Harrison	...	Mary
Keenan Mentzos	...	Landon
Lucia Walters	...	Amanda
Lindsay Gibson	...	Mayor Margaret
Alison Araya	...	Kara
Donna Benedicto	...	Renee
Kehli O'Byrne	...	Barbara Novak
Carlos Joe Costa	...	Mr. Gregory (as Joe Costa)
Matty Finochio	...	Jack
Kirsten Slenning	...	Isa
Emma Barratt	...	Rebecca
Pietra Castro	...	Kaylee
Chris Wood	...	Steve

Storyline

Jessica Perez is a New York City wedding planner putting the final touches on the Christmas Eve wedding of pop sensation Renee when the bride's last-minute request to change her flower to a rare bloom - the Jingle Bell Flower - sends her searching for it. Jessica's quest takes her to the remote Alaskan town of Tapeesa, but her plan to return immediately with the flowers is foiled by mechanical difficulties. Having to extend her stay, Jessica joins the townspeople in the holiday happenings that are part of the annual Jingle Bell Festival and becomes close with Matt, her ride from the airport and whose family is hosting her while she's in town. Each of them begins to open their hearts but Jessica is focused on returning to New York in time for the wedding and securing an in important promotion she's in line for. But just as it looks like Jessica's hard work is for naught when her boss reassigns the wedding to a co-worker, a Christmas miracle gives her the chance to see it through after ...

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Plot Keywords:

reference to rockefeller center manhattan new york city | wedding planner | airport | alaska | festival | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Aired as the first of twenty-three original films in The Hallmark Channel's 2020 "Countdown to Christmas" lineup.

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Goofs

When the camera gets a closeup of two of the snowmen being built you can tell they are Styrofoam balls instead of snow.

User Reviews

Pretty average

The story has an unusual start. A wedding planner has to obtain a rare flower which she has to travel to Alaska to get.

Boss says "Do whatever it takes. Do the impossible." Planner says "I have to fly to Alaska." Boss says "Isn't that a little much." (Paraphrase)

Don't worry, there's still plenty of the standard stuff. There's a town festival. A festival princess. (Cute little twist here, though.) Up for a promotion. A thousand things happen to keep her from leaving. Difficult cell service including holding the phone up over her head. Battery died and no phone charger. Everything about a small town is wonderful. "No, no, we're not together." "Let's decorate together even if you're a stranger." The community center's pipes broke. And so many more.

There is a worthy mini-villain. Between her and the situation there is just a little tension.

I've enjoyed Julie Gonzalo in several parts in similar movies. But her character Jessica didn't get off to a good start. Arrogant and narcissistic. Of course in most of these movies, that's the way the leads start off, with antagonism toward one another. Then suddenly, they turn angelic. And Jessica suddenly loses her NYC arrogance and becomes a very likeable lady. Gonzalo and Ronnie Rowe develop good chemistry. Mostly the movie is held together by their relationship.

The climax and ending are neither surprising nor sparkling - just nice.

I have to give the writers credit for one thing. I can't remember a Hallmark movie that actually understood when the sun rises and sets in the winter in northern latitudes. Jessica learns about long hours of darkness right away.

Details

Official Sites:

Hallmark Channel Press [United States] Johnson Production Group [Canada]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

24 October 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

Рождественская невеста

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Channel, Johnson Production Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD