Swept Up By Christmas
Reviewed by Lisa Sue
This movie was brought to my attention by no less than NPR. With such promise as “You know what doesn't get enough attention as a romantic activity? Cleaning!” this was a Hallmark Christmas movie that just demanded I watch. And while cleaning was involved in the movie, rest assured it didn’t deter from the holiday drinks, s’mores eating, or tree trimming. Our intrepid heroine Gwen (Lindy Booth) is an appraiser who lands this big auction house gig. With the Hawthorne house commission combined with earnings from the annual Holiday Auction, Gwen hopes to be able to buy the Legacy Auction Company after her boss Graham retires. Of course the big Hawthorne account does come with some hurdles, like going through the entire house, appraising and posting all auction items online in two weeks. Gwen is so eager for the job, she even accidentally agrees to decorate the house for Christmas as apparently this will help the house sell. Into this whirlwind steps Reed (Justin Bruening) whose company will help clean the Hawthorne House. Reed and Gwen have worked one prior job together; it apparently didn’t go well as they mix like oil and water. This movie went with the opposites will make you a better person trope, so let’s set up where they start at.
Turns out Gwen was left at the alter many years ago, which did leave scars. What remains is a very independent career driven woman who refuses to ask for help and has a tendency to take on more than perhaps she can handle. She’s always managed to get the job done, and it turns out the last job she worked with Reed she pulled all nighters to make the deadline, kinda proving Reed’s point that the job required more time. Initially Gwen sticks to her plan for the Hawthorne house, except already on Day 1 she’s behind according to Reed. The stuff she was supposed to have gone through is still just sitting there, while she’s been busy “feeling (other) things to see if they are worth it” which can take an indeterminate amount of time. That doesn’t jive with Reed’s timetable, whose military precision and adherence to a tight schedule clashes with Gwen’s stay till the work gets done attitude. Gwen though by Day 2 has decided that she’s going to have to adjust her schedule to get everything done. So Gwen comes in a couple hours early to start (or finish up the stuff from day 1, either way) going through all rest of the stuff in the house. Gwen is burning the candle at both ends, but she’s determined to put in a competitive bid for Legacy. She has a 'can sleep when she’s dead' mentality. Reed, who isn’t as inflexible as Gwen makes him out to be, in return for her adjusting her schedule he agrees to help her decorate the big house. He can add more to the cleaning crew, as he’s happy to give someone extra work around the holidays. And his wise nugget of wisdom is “individuals play the game, but teams beat the odds” His way of inspiring Gwen to accept his help.
Gwen wasn’t the only one who’s been unlucky in love. After leaving the Air Force, Reed had planned to settle down and start a family with his ex Melissa. Turns out Melissa had a change of heart leaving Reed to pick up the pieces. He started the cleaning company to help veterans adjust back to civilian life, not fully realizing he could use some help adjusting himself. The first professional gig Reed got cleaning was the disastrous job with Gwen, he’d like to think he’s grown since then. Apparently Gwen evaluates men with the same approach she uses at work “She efficiently accesses if there’s value, and if she doesn’t see it, she moves on” Based on what I’ve seen in the movie I would question how right Gwen’s gut has been about both men and appraised objects. There was no big break in this movie, just a slow march of two people who eventually crossed that fine line between love and hate. There was no dropped heirloom, family item accidentally sent to auction, or treasure lost to the garbage bins which frankly I was expecting. Instead Reed got the green light to expand his cleaning business to the VA out in San Diego. Unfortunately Gwen wasn’t so lucky career wise; she didn’t make enough to outbid other investors for Legacy. In dramatic fashion, Gwen chose not auctioning the most valuable item from the Hawthorne house- a very rare glass tree topper that Dad Hawthorne didn’t want to keep because it reminded him too much of his dead wife. There’s a sweet story about how Dad and Mom Hawthorne found this treasure in Bruges, on their heymoon. The way the glass caught the light, not its rarity or value, is what got their attention.
While cleaning may not feature prominently as part of the holiday festivities, what does come up time and time again in these Hallmark movies is family. As Dominic Toretto ingrained in us “The most important thing in life will always be family.” And while Dad Hawthorne may not want the glass tree topper, Gwen couldn’t risk that he’d regret selling such a sentimental ornament, and his family was more important than her commission. Gwen was right, and with a little push Dad Hawthorne and his daughter were able to spend one last Christmas together in the big Hawthorne house, with all the decorations and gingerbread that Mom Hawthorne loved. Gwen’s best friend and Reed’s best friend found each other, and instead of Reed going to San Diego, those two will be traveling, like Mike has dreamed of doing. That leaves Reed and Gwen in town, free to spend more time together doing things like making S’mores Men (S’mores People) at the Christmas Fire Pits. But Gwen isn’t done with her winnings yet! Because of her hard work, Dad Hawthorne bought out Legacy, leaving Gwen to be in charge and he only a silent partner. The only question left for me is now that the besties are out of town, who will provide the holiday drink ideas? I’m going to have to give it up for the holiday drinks in this movie, cause while we’ve had many bakeries, cafes, and coffee shops in this endless countdown to Christmas no one else had plum pudding latte, mistletoe mint latte, and candy cane latte. I’m not saying I’d drink all of them, but kudos for the super festive holiday drink choices. Really upping the ante on all those movies that only came up with spiced hot chocolate. But remember kids, holiday drinks and cleaning aside, what is the most important thing? Family.
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