’Twas the Night Before Christmas is a poem that I think we all can recite. If we’re being honest, I never knew who wrote it, the history of it, or anything. I just remembered it being read to me as a kid. I never thought much about it.
But the beauty of movies and television is that it makes you think. It gives you the opportunity to enjoy something and it gives you the chance to see things from a different point of view.
In the movie, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, actress Madison Rush is looking to reinvent herself. She doesn’t want to keep doing the same thing over and over. Instead she wants to expand her resume into directing. Especially in the theater.
She’s written a play with her friend, which is basically a mock trial to decide who wrote the poem. She’s reached out to her friend, Connor Avery, to play one of the roles. Between her and him there is a big draw for people to see the show.
Now, I will tell you that I admit that I love Torrey Devito, and you know One Chicago forever, even if they aren’t on the show. And you know Zane Holtz, who was in Make it or Break It, is another face. So our fangirl hearts were happy.
But what made us happier was the fact that these two have great on screen chemistry. From the moment that these two are on the screen, there is an instant connection, one that makes your feel at home and rooting for these two.
Madison has made it clear from the beginning that she doesn’t date actors (which we all know in the scheme of holiday movies, it means that she’s gonna date an actor). You can tell that Connor really likes Madison, but she’s oblivious or in denial.
The funny thing is that when you’re trying to deny feelings, they become more prevalent. They become something that you can’t escape.
Conner is one of those charming actors that at face value, he’s a f**kboy. At least that would be my first impression. But he’s not like that. He’s a Dad, a devoted one at that. His whole world is his daughter. He went to school to become a lawyer, but being an actor has always been the quickest way to pay the bills. He can charm his way into any situation and the entire town loves him.
He even charms the owner of the BNB that Madison is staying at in order to stay there. Everyone knows who he is, but the inn owner is specifically taken with him. Madison can’t help but laugh, because she knows how charming he is.
Conner keeps dropping hints at every turn that he really likes her – that she’s been his favorite on screen kiss, that he likes being around her, that his heart beats out of his chest around her. You can tell that she feels the same, but acknowledging it – that’s not something she wants to do.
And with at every turn, the producer of the play throwing her curve balls, with her co-writer having to be in Los Angeles, she has to figure out a way to save everything. Everyone has a million opinions, and their opinion do matter, but it’s very complex. You know that you’re never going to make everyone happy, but you know that you’ll die trying.
Madison knows what she wants – at least she thinks that she does.
She thinks that she needs to return to the theater because it would be what her Dad would have wanted. It would make him happy and she misses him so much, that’s part of what she wants. She wants to know that she’s doing the things that he planned for her – the things that he would have been proudest of her for.
But she doesn’t get that may not be what she thinks it is. She doesn’t have to give up one dream to satisfy the other.
Leave it Hallmark to introduce ghosts into the equation to make an argument. But the ghosts of Livingston and Moore seem to the be things that are throwing these two on their game (even if Madison and Conner felt they were on it, they weren’t). Anything that makes Madison and Connor find their way.
When the lead actress drops out the night before the play, no one knows what to do. But it’s Hayley and Conner that help Madison see that she’s the lead that was supposed to be all along. She’s thought that she needs to be one or the other – but realizing that she can be both has been a relief to her. But the best part is her realizing it was seeing the growth in her.
Madison is all of us – thinking that we have to give up one thing to be the other. When the truth is we can be so many things. Seeing her on the stage, seeing her perform, seeing the way she shines, is everything.
But seeing the way that it brings her and Conner together – I appreciate that. Because I shipped these two so hard. Yet what I loved more than anything was that these two found a faith in themselves. That’s been the most wonderful thing to see.
Do they kiss? Yes. She realizes she can date actors. We’ve got them in this for the long haul.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Hayley having to leave, didn’t like, but we get how it furthered the story.
- Conner’s dedication to his daughter is admirable.
- Love the decorating of the tree scene.
- The fact that they said that this would be an annual play – i’d like a sequel where Conner and Madison get engaged, please.
- This whole Victorian stroll thing is well… a little eccentric for my taste, but I loved the movie, so down for it.
’Twas the Night Before Christmas airs on The Hallmark Channel.
