We’re all a bunch of competitive asses in life. Let’s just admit it. We all want to win – it matters to us all.
And in It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, competition and winning are everything.
As mayors of neighboring New Hampshire towns, longtime rivals Liam and Sarah are determined to best each other on their way to leading their hamlets to victory in the annual statewide “Christmas Spirit Competition.” When both towns unexpectedly advance to the contest’s final round, the mayors decide their best hope lies in working with, rather than against, each other. As they collaborate on a celebration showing what Christmas means to their communities, they discover their own holiday miracle: love.
But when competition happens, the beauty of it is that we can all grow and learn from it. And in this movie the beauty is that the towns competing are brought together by a child opening their eyes to the bigger picture.
And it’s a beautiful thing. Because coming together and finding peace in the toughest of times is the real win.
A CHILDS EYES ARE CLEAR
Kids don’t understand rivalries, but they do understand the present. And they have minds that are clear and pure and want to make the world a better place. So when kids pose questions, like someone that you don’t like, see the good in things that you don’t see – well, life becomes different.
And that’s a beautiful thing. Especially when the child can lead you past the rivalry that you don’t even understand why you have.
They can help you see past the feelings, the hate, the dislike, and find comfort in moving forward.
WHY ARE WE COMPETING
You ever grow up and know that you are competing with someone, something, or somehow – but like you don’t know why? But like hey, the competition is real and it is strong.
East and West Riverton don’t really know why they are so competitive, they just are. Hell, I can’t figure out why they are split in half. But the towns are competing against each other and winning the Christmas Spirit Competition is a big thing in the state and so it’s important to each one that they win.
But the beauty of this contest – this year – is that they find their way to compete together and be a community. And that’s the beauty of it – they become a community that finds the Christmas spirit in each other.
OPEN YOUR EYES TO OTHERS AROUND YOU
We all get so blinded by life that a lot of times we don’t see what is happening in the world. And we see only what is in front of us. This year East and West Riverton get to see that they are a lot a like. They are the same people, living different lives, but essentially doing the same thing. We need to realize that people have a lot of things going on in their lives and we can’t judge without knowing.
And we all do that too often.
So opening your eyes to the others around you is important. Seeing the world around you is important. Being open to the ideas and thoughts of others is important.
FIND THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WHEREVER IT MAY BE
We all have a lot of things going on in our lives and that is fine. Christmas is a stressful time in anyones life. It’s hard with so many things going on in the world to see the beauty in anything, but when you are trying to balance work, family, and everything else – Christmas is hard.
But when these towns find a way to work past the competitiveness, and find just the beauty in Christmas.
This movie is a feel good movie that leaves you feeling the wonderfulness of Christmas. And for that, I love it.
Have you seen It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas? What are your thoughts?
