The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014)

After a stray cat adopts Zachary, he meets Marliee and realizes the single life is not as fulfilling as he thought it was.

Director:

Mark Jean

Writers:

Sheila Roberts (based on the book by), Nancey Silvers

Stars:

Brandon Routh, Kimberly Sustad, Stephanie Bennett

Cast

Credited cast:
Brandon Routh	...	Zachary Stone
Kimberly Sustad	...	Marilee White
Stephanie Bennett	...	Jaclyn
Chelsea Hobbs	...	Blair
Sean Tyson	...	Ray
Dalias Blake	...	Mark
Gregory Harrison	...	Chief Sam
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tonya Lee Albers	...	Melissa
Alison Araya	...	Lucy
Jennifer Cheon	...	Sarah (as Jen Cheon)
Stephen Dimopoulos	...	Manny
Carey Feehan	...	Kyle
Nicole Fraissinet	...	Anna
Keith Martin Gordey	...	Mr. Bosley
Kayvon Kelly	...	Ellio

Storyline

After a stray cat adopts Zachary, he meets Marliee and realizes the single life is not as fulfilling as he thought it was.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | male objectification | tank top | man wearing a tank top | sister sister relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eine samtige Bescherung

Filming Locations:

Fort Langley, Langley Township, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although no word from the production that this was done on purpose, there are many subtle clues and double-entendre references in this movie that would imply that Zachary really is Superman. Brandon Routh played both roles.

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Goofs

In the final scene the position of Marilee's hair changes depending on the camera angle. In camera shots looking over her shoulder at his face it is tucked behind her ears, but in shots looking over his shoulder at her face it is hanging down in front of her ears.

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Quotes

Zachary Stone: [after kissing Marilee] Sorry... I didn't have a choice: Mistletoe!

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Connections

References The Blair Witch Project (1999)

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Soundtracks

O Tannenbaum
(uncredited)
Traditional tune, lyrics by Ernst Anschütz

User Reviews

A First-Rate Hallmark Romance

This is a typical Hallmark Christmas romance movie, but more captivating than most. Of course, you know how everything will turn out, but the process depends upon how attractive and appealing the main characters are. Both leads in this film, Brandon Routh as fireman Zachary Stone and Kimberly Sustad as veterinary student Marilee White, are A-one. They are both instantly likable (in Miss Sustad's case exceedingly lovable) and romance lovers will immediately be rooting for them and intrigued by how they will get together.

OK, this may be enough, but then throw in the animal characters, and those who are pet owners or who love animals will find the two cats adorable. And the pets are not there just for their attraction, but they play essential roles in the plot. So what we have is indeed a warm and fuzzy (pun intentional) love story that is just fun to sit back and enjoy without expecting anything more than that--it is enough.

My wife and I enjoyed the movie so much that we purchased a copy of the short novel by Sheila Roberts that it is based upon. The plot of the book has some major differences, but the adaptation for the screenplay was very well done and was true to the overall effect of the novel.

I would love to see Kimberly Sustad featured in more Hallmark movies. She is such a talented and endearing actress, with a different kind of beauty all her own--a unique look that is far more interesting than that of the cookie-cutter Miss America types.