A Christmas movie set in the bayou . . . proof that even in warmer weather one can experience a sparkly and wonderful holiday.
In The Christmas Contract, we have the quintessential “I need a date for Christmas so my family doesn’t think I’m a failure” scenerio. But that’s where the “oh, yeah, that” ends.
Jolie Guidry’s best friend’s brother, Jack, is an archenemy–he stood her up on their one and only date and he took over her role as the final toaster at said-sister-friend’s wedding. At the start of the film, they are at a holiday party where Jolie expresses that she is going home to Louisiana for Christmas and that her ex-boyfriend will be there with his new girlfriend. Of course she feels like a failure and doesn’t want to go. But then Best Friend comes up with an idea: take my brother.
They create a contract (thus the title) but (and here’s the part as an author I couldn’t fathom) they don’t discuss anything before arriving in Louisiana. Things such as “how did we meet” and “what was our first date like” and “who asked whom out?” So, I have to take away an ornament for that.
As expected, the two start to have feelings for each other, but there are other elements to layer the story . . . Jolie’s mother (played by Cheryl Ladd) is in cancer remission, a sister (played by Cheryl’s daughter, Jordan) doesn’t quite buy what she’s seeing, and a still-handsome dad (Bruce Boxleitner) who only wants to see his daughter happy.
Bookstore: I don’t remember one . . . but Jack is a writer/author.
Hot chocolate/cocoa: There’s a peppermint hot chocolate mentioned that is supposed to be the best thing ever . . . some hot apple cider . . . and bowls of spicy gumbo–which has nothing to do with Christmas unless you live in the bayou!
Bakery: No, but there is a Christmas market (looks like so much fun!) with lots of good things to eat. And, of course, Mom likes to bake.
Cute kid or pet: Yes, Jolie’s niece, Maxie, is adorable but she doesn’t play a significant role.
Ornament Rating: Four out of five shiny red ornaments! I may want to watch this one again . . .
I watched The Christmas Contract on Netflix. What about you? Have you seen the movie? What did you think?