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

Image
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 "Christmas in Tahoe:" A Movie Quiz AND Train's "Shake Up Christmas" Song

Christmas in Tahoe Plot Summary

To save her family hotel's Christmas variety show, talent booker Claire must ask her ex-boyfriend for help who is the lead guitarist of an A-list band that fired her as their manager years previously.

Starring:  Laura Osnes, Kyle Selig, Pat Monahan, and George Lopez

Christmas in Tahoe Movie
Image:  Crown Media

A Movie with Laura Osnes Is Always Good!

Laura Osnes is beautiful, talented, and can create magic with any co-star, even when he looks young enough to be her little brother.

Kyle Selig has the perfect hair for his role as the lead guitarist of the boy band, Wild Lynx, and in real life, he is a singer and dancer as well as an actor.  Both he and Osnes share a background in theatre, so from that perspective, they are well-matched.  Age wise, however, Selig is seven years younger (age 29), and with his boyishly good looks, Claire looks like she's robbing the cradle in this movie.

One thing's for sure, the boy knows how to land a kiss, and in Christmas in Tahoe, viewers are treated to two kisses, not just one at the end.  Sorry, ladies.  Selig is taken offscreen as well.  He is engaged to fellow actor, Erika Henningsen.  

Kyle Selig and Erika Henningsen engaged
Kyle Selig is engaged to his Broadway co-star, Erika Henningsen.  Image:  Marc J. Franklin

Claire's father can't understand why the annual Christmas variety show at the family hotel is so important to her.  Little does he know a rep from the Emperor Resorts in Las Vegas will by flying in to watch the show to decide if Claire is a good fit for booking talent in Vegas for his resort's live entertainment.  Things unravel when Claire's headliner cancels, causing all the other booked acts to follow suit.  Claire has less than a week to fill all the spots.

Just when her dream job is within her grasp, Claire must make some tough choices.  


Listen to Train's Shake Up Christmas

Claire's co-worker at the hotel and her co-conspirator is Jackson, played by Train's lead singer, Pat Monahan.  Considering Monahan is not an actor, his performance is doubly impressive.

Jackson has been sneaking away from work a few minutes early each week, and Claire teases him about having a date.  She later learns he can play guitar and sing and has been booking gigs locally.  When Claire hears him perform, she's wowed by his talent and immediately books him for the hotel's variety show.  It's at the Christmas show that Jackson joins Wild Lynx (which script writer came up with THAT dumb group name?) to sing Shake Up Christmas, which is actually a Train original song.  It is catchy!  If you love it too, you can listen to it here:

 

Monahan explains his inspiration for writing Shake Up Christmas, which you can watch in this video:


If Shake Up Christmas has you itching for more holiday music from Train, you can order their 2017, 17-track Christmas CD, which also includes Shake Up Christmas.  Find it here:


Christmas in Tahoe is classic Hallmark gold and worth saving on your DVR!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Merry Movie Week 2023 Printable Schedule

Did MacFarlane & Patterson Really Play Their Instruments in "Chateau Christmas?" Find Out!

REVIEW: Why Hallmark's "Never Been Chris'd" Is Such a Flop

Hallmark Channel's Christmas in July 2023 Printable Movie Schedule

Review: Hallmark's "Joyeux Noel" Is a Good Story with a Bad Casting Choice

Hallmark's "Haul Out the Holly" Is Simultaneously Entertaining & Disappointing

Review: Hallmark's "Where Are You, Christmas?" Is a Shot at Creativity that Falls Short

Hallmark's "Mystic Christmas" Starts Off Great Before Taking a Hard Left Turn

It's No Wonder Hallmark's "Christmas Waltz" Was the #1 Most Watched Original Movie Premiere for 2020!

Review: "Ms. Christmas Comes to Town" Is Sad but Poignant