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'Twas the Date Before Christmas

2024

Romance

7
IMDb Rating 7.0/10 10 1340 1.3K

holiday christmas hallmark

Plot summary

To prevent her family from canceling the "Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics," Jessie lies and says she's inviting a date to the long-standing holiday tradition. She meets Bryan on a dating app, and he agrees to spend the holiday with her and her family. As Jessie and Bryan engage in eccentric activities like the search for the Christmas tree star, gift wrapping contest and snowball fight, they start to develop real feelings for each other. Soon her family begins to catch on to their secret and Bryan suspects she may be hiding the real reason for her unusual Christmas date request. As the celebrations continue, Jessie must work to keep all her stories straight and save her date with Bryan.

Director

Bradley Walsh Photo
Bradley Walsh

Top cast

Robert Buckley Photo
Robert Buckley as Bryan
Amy Groening Photo
Amy Groening as Jessie
Patrice Goodman Photo
Patrice Goodman as Shelly
Mimi Kuzyk Photo
Mimi Kuzyk as Aunt Lilly
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
775.01 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 24 min
Seeds 18
1.55 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 24 min
Seeds 29

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by Jackbv123 8 / 10

Enjoyable

Countdown to Christmas starts off this year with a decent entry. The basic premise of fake date is pretty common, but this movie does it well and with a couple of things that give the premise a slightly different flavor.At first I wanted to say Jessie was pathetic. Not only was her reason for the date a little lame, but her whole demeanor leading up to it was a little whiny. The viewer finds out later that there are deeper issues which has taken joy out of her life and that's why she really needs the fun and comfort of this crazy family Christmas.I was expecting a lot more friction early in the date, but instead the two got off to a good start. Bryan is an interesting guy who slides right into the craziness of the Chamberlin Family Christmas Olympics. Bryan and Jessie start to find each other to be appealing. But soon Bryan discovers he has a secret that won't go over well with the family. He can't help it, but it's there. More than that, he starts to have a fondness not only for Jessie, but for the entire family.The viewer knows in general terms what is going to happen from here, but that doesn't really matter. The antics of the contests are fun and there is definite chemistry between Groening and Buckley.This is a movie I can watch again. Maybe if all the new Christmas premieres on more than a handful of channels aren't that good, I will even watch again this year.
Reviewed by dankolbet 8 / 10

Love Amy Groening as our lead; really enjoyed it

When Jesse (Amy Groening) learns that her family is planning to cancel her favorite traditions this year, she is devastated. Hoping to save the tradition, she tells her mom that she's got someone special to bring to the festivities. The trouble is, she doesn't. Using a dating app (who among us hasn't) she finds a guy, Bryan (Robert Buckley), willing to spend his Christmas Eve taking part in the Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics. This movie doesn't fall into the expected trappings of every "fake boyfriend" Christmas movie you've seen before. In fact, they play it pretty loose, which is refreshing and rather enjoyable. The on-screen chemistry between Jesse and Bryan is very much apparent and believable as well.This was a great movie to kick off the 2024 Countdown to Christmas, even if it's mid-October and my house is decorated for Halloween. It's sweet and funny, but there is one clear reason why: Amy Groening. I've seen her in Santa Summit, sharing the female co-starring role with two others and as a secondary character in several other Hallmark movies. But this is the first lead role I've seen her in. Forgive me if it's not the first. She's excellent. Often we have Hallmark female leads who are a bit-how do I put this nicely-stiff. Groening is anything but stiff. She's playful and funny, and easy to root for. Buckley too, is kind and sweet. Hallmark better get this dude a Christmas tree farm or a failing community center to save ASAP.Loved it and would watch again.Cast Kudos: Marcus the stepdad who rules the kitchen and wears a lot of aprons. He is hilarious, but unfortunately, IMDB doesn't even list him as part of the cast, so I can't find his name.Alternative titles: Blind Date for Christmas; Saving the Christmas Olympics.
Reviewed by allmoviesfan 8 / 10

Pretty good!

A very strong start to Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas 2024.The fairly implausible plot line hardly seems to matter when you see Robert Buckley (of "One Tree Hill" and "Chesapeake Shores" fame) and Amy Groening on screen together.They are both strong actors, and their chemistry is absolutely perfect - it carries the movie brilliantly. They elevate it from being a fairly run-of-the-mill movie to one you want to watch again.It's great to see Groening in a lead role, and Buckley has been killing it as a Hallmark leading man for years now.The story involves a family holding a 'Christmas Olympics', which gives us plenty of light moments, and the heavier ones are handed deftly.I wouldn't be averse to a sequel.
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