Fandom. Some may consider it a dirty word, but I would challenge that and tell you that fandom in all its forms make the world go round. Theres something about it that gives us hope and in a world where hope seems fleeting, it is something that we have to hold onto with all of our hearts.
Now, I am not a football person, but I don’t believe that I have to be to have enjoyed Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. To me, the movie wasn’t just about football – it was about the way that fandom brings people together, the way that it gives us tradition, and that way that it can be ever changing. It was about falling in love and remembering the love that we’ve been blessed with. It was about celebrating the ways that loving something can bring you some of the happiest moments of ones life.
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story was about the spirit of believing in something and finding yourself in it. It was also about allowing yourself to find happiness in the things that spark joy in your life.
It was about finding home, wherever that may be.
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story is a love letter to fandom – sports fandom in particular, but in my opinion any fandom can take it as a love letter to themselves.
A NEW HOME
Derrick (Tyler Hynes) is the Director of Fan Engagement at the Chiefs and he seems to not have made Missouri his home. He’s hesitant to do anything to set down roots or learn about his new home. Derrick is used to not being in one place for a long period of time, which in this persons opinion was out of fear.
The thing about finding where you belong is that sometimes you have to face the fear of belonging somewhere and there being a chance of loosing that.
As he goes out, at the urge of his coworkers, to try Kansas City Barbecue, he ends up meeting Alana (Hunter King), whose family is not very coy about trying to set them up. Alana and Derrick have chemistry – that kind of chemistry that you see on the screen and you go – wow, I want someone to look at me like that.
Just seeing the two of them – on a day where they don’t know who the other is – is endearing. She doesn’t know that he works for the Kansas City Chiefs and he doesn’t know that she’s a finalist for fan of the year.
They are just enjoying the moments and if you base their potential relationship just off those moments – you can’ help but think that these two are meant to be together. That fate has taken a step in and brought them to cross each others paths, giving them the one thing that they’ve been missing – each other.
A SUPERSTITION
Alana’s family history is tied to the Chiefs. Her Grandparents became the best of friends and then their kids starting dating and got married and had her. Their season tickets were the start of her family, and the Chiefs are everything to them. Her family loves the team.
And that’s her life and she’s okay with that. She’s taking over her families shop – KC Corner – which is the ultimate place to get Chiefs merchandise. Showing Derrick the place, thinking that all is going well, she looses interest when he doesn’t understand her families superstitions about a hat.
A hat that her family believes that someone has to wear on Christmas for the Chiefs to go to the Super Bowl.
Derrick doesn’t seem to understand or know a lot about Chiefs Kingdom or understand that it’s their superstitions and their history that shape who the team is now.
But he’s going to learn really quickly and Alana isn’t going to be too forgiving – once she finds out that he works for the Chiefs.
AN OH NO!
When Derrick finds out that he has to go interview the finalist for Fan of the Year and it’s Alana’s family – it’s an uh oh moment for him. He introduces himself to the family, and when he says that he works for the Chiefs, Alana is mad. Now, I personally don’t see how it is that what he does would have come up. I can also understand why she’s mad.
But it’s in the moments that she’s upset with him that I see disappointment and fear in her, because she liked him so much. It’s nice to find someone that you can just be yourself with and share the parts of you that others may consider too fanatic and there be no judgement.
You would think that the it’s the end of their relationship when he leaves, but Derrick keeps getting sent back to spend time with the family.
We keep getting the moments where Derrick is bringing Alana out of her shell, but we also get all these moments where she is bringing him to life also. She’s challenging him personally and professionally – which is nice to see. She is showing him all about the way that Kansas City is a community, that there is a family in that community and their superstitions, and he’s a part of it.
A FALL
Every moment that Derrick and Alana are together is a moment that just brings a smile to the viewers face. Seeing him be able to make her biggest dreams come true and genuinely care about her and her family – I found myself watching and smiling.
When he brings her to the holiday party at work and is able to show her Arrowhead from a different point of view, makes me so happy. It’s the way that Hynes and King are able to convey through their characters that they know the meaning fans of Hallmark moments like these.
We watch these movies because they give us the drama, but also the way that love can be so innocent and natural if you let it. Hallmark movies make the viewers believe in the power of love and that all these moments that are simple and all these moments that are complex can change a person. There isn’t a second in life that is meant to be taken for granted.
Because a life is meant to be lived. Love is meant to be felt.
FATE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD
When Alana’s family wins the Fan of the Year award, Derrick talks her into bringing the hat to the Chiefs toy drive. Everyone wants to see it and people ask to try it on. Alana politely declines, and then before you know it, in the blink of an eye, the hat disappears.
Someone has taken the hat.
It goes to show the viewer – at least it did me – how beliefs in traditions and rituals are sometimes all a person has. Alana believed so strongly in the hat, that it having disappeared, meant to her that being with Derrick was a wrong thing. He tried to explain to her that it was just a hat, that he thought he meant more than that.
But she gets mean – hitting him where it hurts – telling him that she doesn’t believe in fate anymore.
The way that the words flow out of her mouth and she instantly wants to take them back in – it was hard to see the look on both their faces. Mostly because, I think I have said some mean things in my life to give myself some space from the fear of being hurt.
Alana and Derricks love story – to me – is a secondary part of this movie. It’s a big part, sure. But I think that even more than the love story that was blossoming between the two of them – was the strong story of fandom and family that was shining bright in this entire movie.
There are a million things in life that can bring you to the next stage in your life. We all have to overcome fears and feelings and our pasts to get to where we need to be.
That can be the hardest thing of all.
TRUST ME
It comes time for the Christmas game and Alana does not want to go onto the field. She doesn’t think she can face Kansas City and she can’t face Derrick. Her family tries to convince her to come, but she just can’t seem to bring herself to do it.
Until she gets a sign.
There is a funny thing about signs – if you start paying attention the signs are there. Alana is able to make it into the stadium, and delivers a speech to the fans. She tells them about the hat being lost but that the magic isn’t just in that hat, that it’s in the fans.
Derrick had the idea to leave a hat underneath everyones chair and now there are 75,000 hats in that stadium holding all of the magic.
Fandom. It’s the beautifully complicated thing that some find meaning in and some are confused by. Watching this movie, I remember why I love it so much. It’s this roller coaster ride that reminds you in part, why you’re alive. It makes your heart beat fast, your knees get weak, and your mind come to life filled with the memories that it’s given you.
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story was the ultimate love letter to fandom – both sports fans and other fans alike.
But it was also a big love letter from Hallmark to its fans and it’s home. We’re listening, we’re loving, and we’re here for you – Hallmarks love letter to us reads.
At least to this viewer.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Derricks Christmas gift to Alana’s family – I full on cried
- There are so many great moments in this movie that are small, but so large. You need to watch and pay attention to all of the moments that it honors
- Hunter King has this smile that can light up a room
- The Chiefs have a lot of merch – but what team doesn’t
- I had to laugh at Derricks pockets of candy canes… IYKYK
- Loved all the cameos
- Did the Chiefs win?
- Egg Nog will never be the same to be again… ever
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story is out now.
