REVIEW: The Hallmark Sequel "Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up" Is as Silly as the First One

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Emily and Jared are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together as a couple, and they prepare to work with their neighbors on Evergreen Lane to make this year's Christmas celebrations the best yet.  When a house on the block goes up for sale, the soon-to-be-neighbors are holiday royalty, but they are so competitive that they nearly ruin Christmas for everyone. Starring:   Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Stephen Tobolowsky, Ellen Travolta, Melissa Peterman, Seth Morris, and Jennifer Aspen Image:  Hallmark Media Haul Out the Holly:  Lit Up Has a Moral When the residents of Evergreen Lane learn that their new neighbors are the Jolly Johnsons--famous holiday reality stars--they are thrilled to welcome them to the block.  Everyone assumes the Johnsons will fit right in since they share their same affinity for elf culture. Emily, Jared, and the rest of the holiday crew quickly realize that the Johnsons aren't interested in joining in on the fun--they plan to take over. Image:  Tw

Hallmark's "A Christmas Duet" Showcases Musical Talent

Starring:  Chaley Rose and Rome Flynn

Released:  2019

Summary:  A music duo who decided to go their separate ways many years ago is brought back together through fate at a lodge in a town in Vermont.

Image:  Crown Media, United States LLC

Rose & Flynn Can Act AND Sing!

Back in the golden ages of film making, celebrities didn't just act--they could also sing, dance, and tell jokes, making them well-rounded entertainers.  You don't see it as often these days, but Chaley Rose (best known for her role in Nashville) and Rome Flynn (How to Get Away with Murder) seem to have it all.

It's Christmas, and every radio station is playing, Wouldn't Be Christmas--the duet between Averie Davis and Jesse Collins.  

As Jesse tours small towns as a solo artist, Wouldn't Be Christmas is the most requested song by fans, but he won't perform it alone.  It's an ever "present" reminder that the success he had as a duo with Averie is still out of reach for him on his own.

Hallmark fans know at some point, Averie and Jesse are going to agree to sing together again, and we anxiously wait to hear their sweet harmony.  We aren't disappointed!  We might have to wait until the end of the Yuletide Festival to hear their duet in full, but it's worth the wait.

In real life, Rose is an accomplished singer and songwriter from Indiana who has performed in renowned venues, such as the Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry, and the Troubadour, as well as overseas.  She's not only mega talented, but she's also beautiful!    

Born in Illinois in 1991, Flynn is of Cuban, Irish, African, and American descent--whatever his gene pool, his DNA shaped him into one gorgeous dream boat.  Fun fact--he has a brother named Wisdom and a sister named Love.

In 2019, Flynn released a new song called Keep Me in Mind, which you can hear here:


That is smoooooth!

Dreams Change

How did Averie go from being a singing sensation to a co-lodge owner?  She loved the singing and songwriting part of her career because it brought people together, but the stress of constantly being on the road grew old.  She wanted to establish roots, and she was charmed by this Vermont town when she passed through it on tour.  

Averie decided she would create a "home away from home" for other travelers.  We see her do this for Miss Selig, who's critiquing the lodge--Averie caters to Miss Selig's tea preferences, gives her a special breakfast, and even roasts chestnuts so it would smell like home to her (her deceased husband always roasted chestnuts at Christmas).  

In the end, Averie nets a $60,000 reward for the competition she entered, and she plans to apply it to the construction of additional cabins.  

Jesse passes up the career opportunity he's been working toward.  He finally gets the chance to join Micah Cameron for a show and tour, which would propel him to stardom, but he turns it down to stay in Vermont with Averie.

In both cases, dreams didn't die--they just changed.  This is so relatable because it happens to us all the time!  You might map out a career path, but then you have kids and decide to be a stay-at-home parent.  You want to retire to a cabin in the woods but end up near the beach.  When life changes direction, we learn to create new dreams. We just need to remain open and flexible.


Why Are Pregnant Characters Always So Annoying?

Co-owner, BFF, and lodge chef, Susie, is a sweet character played by Chiara Zanni, but pregnancies are always exaggerated in Hallmark movies.  Yes, at over 8 months gestation, we can tell she's with child--we don't need constant belly rubbing, waddling, and pregnancy references in every scene the preggo character is in.  

When I was pregnant, I made a point not to waddle, rub my belly, or act abnormally, even when I felt as big as a barn.  It can be done!


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Image:  Crown Media, United States LLC     

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