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

"Time for You to Come Home for Christmas" QUIZ!!

Starring:  Alison Sweeney and Lucas Bryant

Released:  2019

Summary:  After her husband passed, a woman returns home and meets a veteran who is on his own journey, and as Christmas nears, they learn of a shared bond that leads to a Christmas miracle.

Image:  Crown Media

Hallmark Honors Veterans

Hallmark is known for honoring veterans by including patriotic story lines in several movies. 

An air of mystery surrounds Jack's purpose in joining a band over the holidays in Provincetown, Virginia.  He's supposedly in town to meet a "friend."  The dramatic irony is that he replaces Tyler as a guitarist for the band--Katherine's deceased husband.  It takes him a while to connect the dots though.

The goal of Jack's cryptic meetings with other townsfolk who have one of the 30 bicentennial pocket watches isn't immediately obvious.  By the end, we find the medic who saved his life, and lost his pocket watch in the process, is Tyler.  

Although Jack plans to find Tyler and return his watch, while expressing his deep gratitude, he ends up finding Katherine and falling love.  


It's a strange twist of fate, or a Christmas miracle if you prefer, that Katherine finally returns to Provincetown to spend the holidays with her family.  Memories of her life with Tyler haunt her.  All of her old stomping grounds are painful reminders of Tyler's loss, so she has avoided coming home since his death.  

Once Katherine learns of Jack's connection to her husband, it's like a sign that it's okay for her to move on with her life and love again.

Did You Feel Any Sparks Between Katherine and Jack?

My spark-o-meter read "ZERO," but you might feel differently.  Share your thoughts in the poll below.

Lucas Bryant doesn't help matters with his unemotional, dead-pan performance.  He doesn't seem "into" this role.  His look is a hybrid of a young Mr. Rogers and Anthony Perkins, which voids any hotness appeal.

The story is good, but the lack of connection between the leads only earns this movie a 2/5 star rating in my book. 🌟🌟

Sorry if that causes some of you a stroke.              


"Very Happy Memories Can Be Sad Too"

Will doesn't open up and share his feelings regarding the loss of his father.  He knows it makes his mom sad, so he bottles his emotions.  When Katherine catches him watching DVDs of his dad's performances, it finally opens the door of communication between the two of them.

If you've ever lost someone close to you, you know that even the happy memories are both sad and bittersweet, just like Katherine admits.
 
     

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