When estranged siblings, Lindsay and Brad Morgan, travel to Scotland at Christmas to reunite with their mother, Jo, a big family secret is revealed.
Starring: Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf
Image: Hallmark Media
What is A Merry Scottish Christmas About?
Lindsay (Chabert) is a doctor who runs her own clinic, and her brother Brad (Wolf) is a tax attorney. Although they were very close as children, they have drifted apart. They rehash the offenses that have led to mutual resentment, but they agree to give their mother the Christmas she wants.
They soon learn that their mother, Jo, played by Scottish actress Fiona Bell, has lied to them their whole lives about Jo's family and her past.
Jo grew up at the castle Glencrave and was in line to be a duchess. She wanted to make her own choices and not have her future dictated to her, so she ran off at age 20 with an American man in a hippie band. The two ultimately divorced, which made life difficult for her two young children.
Jo's brother, Danny, had implored her not to flee, but in her absence, he assumed the royal duties. Jo loved her brother and decided to make peace with him later in life. She wrote him a letter seeking his forgiveness, but she initially doesn't know if he read it--he died before she had a chance to talk to him.
With Danny gone, Jo must decide what to do with Glencave. She isn't able to manage it and offers the royal titles to her children. Should they reject the offer, Jo will have no choice but to sell Glencave, even though the entire town depends on the estate to bolster the local economy and bring everyone together.
Lindsay and Brad wrestle with the opportunity and must decide if a life in a new country is the right step for them or not. To complicate matters, Lindsay develops feelings for the property manager, Mac Bell.
A Merry Scottish Christmas Is Not Your Average Royal Movie
Most Hallmark fans LOVE royal movies, but there's a growing number who say they are sick of them.
A Merry Scottish Christmas satisfies both crowds because it offers an intriguing twist--it's a reverse fairytale!
It's not a movie where the royal hides his or her identity to appear normal, nor is it a movie about a commoner marrying a royal and ascending in social status. The plot involves two people being royalty without even knowing it. Neither marry into royalty--they are already nobility and have to decide whether they will live accordingly or go back to their regular lives. It's an ingenious spin, and we have writers Audrey Schulman and Andrea Canning to thank for it!
The Most Delightful Surprise in A Merry Scottish Christmas
Wolf and Chabert both executive produce A Merry Scottish Christmas. Both are thrilled to reunite on another project since starring together in the teen drama Party of Five that ran from 1994 to 2000.
If you aren't familiar with the program, it was a television show that followed the lives of five siblings after they were orphaned when their parents were killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. Fans of the show were delighted with the indirect references contained in the movie. For example, Lindsay and Brad visit Salinger's pub in Scotland, but if you followed the show, you recognized that "Salinger" was the surname of the five orphans and also the name of the family restaurant they operated.
The biggest surprise in the movie is the cameo by Will Kemp. Fans can't stop talking about it. It is very well done. Scotsmen faceoff in a dance contest, and Thomas (Kemp) whisks Lindsay onto the dance floor. When she positions her hands for a waltz, Thomas asks what she's doing. Lindsay replies, "I only know how to waltz and tango," alluding to the two dancing movies the actors have done together:
Christmas Waltz and
The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango.
Image: Twitter
It's not the first time Hallmark has included cameos in movies. Other stars like Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes, Kimberley Sustad, Nickki DeLoach, and others have popped into scenes unexpectedly. Fans love it!
A Merry Scottish Christmas Enjoyed Record Ratings
A Merry Scottish Christmas is the most watched cable movie in 2023!
The movie performed better than all other cable and broadcast programs among key demos, which encompasses those 18+, 25-54, 18-49, and 55+.
Lacey Chabert has the Midas touch!
Rating A Merry Scottish Christmas
When you tune into a Lacey Chabert movie, you know you won't be disappointed. A Merry Scottish Christmas boasts incredible acting (except for Kellie Blaise who plays Brad's wife--she's terrible), gorgeous scenery, beautiful costumes from Keith Nielsen, an innovative plot, and a wonderful cameo. Oh, and bagpipes! Let's not forget those.
In addition, we're reminded that life is too short to hold grudges over petty differences, especially with family, and we should be quick to forgive so we aren't forced to live with regret.
The connection is lacking between Brad and his wife, and Lindsay doesn't generate much of a spark with Mac, but in this case, the romance isn't critical to the story. The plot is centered more on family secrets and the restoration of family bonds, and with that being the focus, it hits the mark.
The reverse engineering of a fairytale is a bold variation to the typical royal movie, and it's highly enjoyable. I'm giving A Merry Scottish Christmas 4/5 Christmas trees.
Ehhhh.did not care for it
ReplyDeleteAWESOME SHOW REALLY ENJOYED IT THANKYOU
ReplyDeleteHope more to come with them two together
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really bad movie.
ReplyDeleteThis was a terrible movie. Lacey always has a confused look on her face like she forgot the next line. Of course hallmark said the ratings for this was over 3 million viewers. Does it make anyone else wonder where are the 3 millions viewers the rest of the year.
ReplyDeleteI loved this movie as well.
ReplyDeleteIt was OK.. Lacey was good but Scott sucked.. the best part and only reason to watch it again was the Scottish scenery.
ReplyDeleteWolf did not work as son…. Too old … not believable!
ReplyDelete