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 "The Christmas Promise" Is One of 2021's Best!

The Christmas Promise Plot Summary


Nicole learns to deal with grief, with the help of her grandfather and a carpenter she hires to renovate the home once meant for her and her fiancé.

Starring:  Torrey DeVitto, Dylan Bruce, and Patrick Duffy

Torrey DeVitto and Dylan Bruce star in Hallmark's "The Christmas Promise"
Image:  Crown Media

Finally, A Decent Cast

Hallmark hasn't been doing the greatest job in 2021 when it comes to casting, mainly because their decisions are based on political ideology rather than talent and chemistry.

The Christmas Promise finally takes us back to how storytelling used to be at Hallmark before Woke Wonya Lucas took the helm at Crown Media.


The cast in The Christmas Promise is stellar.  Torrey DeVitto is actually a talented actress, not some newbie who stinks like we've seen of late.  DeVitto has starred previously in Best Christmas Party Ever in 2014 and Write Before Christmas in 2019.  

Torrey DeVitto in Hallmark's "The Christmas Promise"
Image:  Crown Media

Dylan Bruce isn't the hunkiest Hallmark leading man, but he is upbeat, witty, and fun.  He's starred in previous Hallmark movies dating back to 2011 in Love's Christmas Journey and A Novel Romance in 2015.  

Dylan Bruce in Hallmark's "The Christmas Promise"
Image:  Crown Media

Veteran actor best known for playing Bobby Ewing in Dallas, Patrick Duffy is a rich addition to any Hallmark movie.  He's played in The Christmas Cure and The Mistletoe Secret.

Patrick Duffy plays in Hallmark's "The Christmas Promise"
Image: Crown Media

Giles Panton, the actor who plays Nicole's fiancé Henry, has been in scads of Hallmark movies including, It's Christmas, Eve, Christmas on Holly Lane, A Godwink Christmas, A Gingerbread Romance, Over the Moon in Love, and It Was Always You

Giles Panton in Hallmark's "The Christmas Promise"
Image:  Crown Media

Jesse Moss is always a top-performing supporting Hallmark actor, and in this movie, he plays Teddy--the guy Nicole ultimately sells her toy shop to.  Moss has been in Hallmark mystery shows and most notably, the movies Moonlight in Vermont and Sweet Carolina, both headlined by Lacey Chabert. 

Jesse Moss in Hallmark's "The Christmas Promise"

Matthew James Dowden is a serious Hallmark hunk!  You've seen him in too many Hallmark movies and mysteries to mention, though he stands out the most in Raise a Glass to Love.  He could easily hold his own as a leading love interest, so let's hope Hallmark will recognize that soon.

Matthew James Dowden in Hallmark's "The Christmas Promise"

With such a powerhouse of a cast, it's no wonder The Christmas Promise rates high with fans during the 2021 holiday movie season.  

The Christmas Promise Is a Movie with Heart

Heart is something many Hallmark movies are in short supply of these days, so this movie is reminiscent of holidays of yore when Hallmark focused more on moving stories than political correctness.  

Nicole plays the scene of Henry volunteering to go out for ice over and over in her mind; she's plagued by "what ifs?" Most of us have been in those shoes at some point, maybe not concerning the death of a loved one, but other situations where what we do or say creates lasting consequences.  Life doesn't often offer "re-dos."

Nicole continues to hang with her same friends, work in the same toy store she co-owned with Henry, and deal with the house they planned to live in once they got married.  All of it feels empty without him.  She is flooded with memories of being in all of those same places with Henry; it's unbelievable how much life can change in just one year.  Everything she used to enjoy has become a painful memory reflecting her deep loss--this isn't how it was supposed to be.

In a strange twist of fate, Joe Roberts ends up with Henry's old cell number, so when Nicole sends him texts as a form of therapy, he helps her heal, though neither initially realize they already know each other.  It's very similar to a "Godwink" moment. Nicole finds that past the pain, there is a good life waiting to be lived.  

Let's hope Hallmark will keep making more movies like this one!


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