As the Cherry Lane triple feature comes to an end, I have to admit that I am tired. It’s been a long day of movie watching, but in the best way. Sitting down for the last one – this one – feels a little weird. How did I not know these existed last year? Why weren’t they given more attention? What rock was I living under?
The Cherry Lane franchise has been very interesting. It’s been interesting because the franchise has really touched my heart and I am pretty sure that when it comes to Christmas they’ve made a little bit of my skepticism fade.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: In 1966, single guy David’s (Hollingsworth) plans for a simple Christmas are dashed when his neighbor Stephanie (Hobbs) arrives with news that she won a contest to have Tommy Saunders’ (Dusk) Christmas Eve TV special broadcast live from her house – but used his address. In 1981, John (Brotherton) and Lizzie (Cahill) learn that this will be their last Christmas on Cherry Lane after John receives a job offer in Michigan and Lizzie finds out she’s pregnant. In 2000, best friends Matt (Page) and Rebecca (D’Orsay) find unexpected feelings developing as they try to find out who is behind a series of Christmas-themed random acts of kindness.
WHAT IT’S GIVING: CHANGE
STANDOUT PERFORMANCE: Brooke D’Orsay as Rebecca. I think that all of us can find a way to relate to her – where she was just trying to come to terms with the relationship that she had with her father, as well as the relationship with her best friend. I saw myself in her – confused by the complex feelings of a life that everyone else thought was perfect, but a father that just didn’t make sense. Her performance was relatable. She shined.
GRINCH-ISH THOUGHTS: 1973, 1966, and 2000. Only one of those eras was I alive for and well, 2000 was an experience.
1973 – John and Lizzie. The two are married with one kid – both keeping secrets from each other. But it’s Christmas Eve, which is also their daughters birthday. Not to mention that they are having a couple they barely know over for the holiday. As they are trying to have the most normal evening that they can – it’s definitely not normal.
John is hiding the fact that he was offered a job in Michigan. Lizzie is hiding the fact that she’s pregnant. While they are hiding it from each other, their guests are privy to the information that they are hiding from each other. The person that seems to know everything is their daughter, Ivy. She overhears everything and confronts her father about the possibility of moving.
She doesn’t want to.
Ivy’s young and she loves her homes and friends. She doesn’t want to leave Cherry Lane. She’s afraid of the house forgetting her and so when she’s told that she’s moving she wants to leave something behind.
1966. David is living alone at 7 Cherry Lane. He is working to develop a navigation system. Stephanie lives on the lane, but not at the same place. However, she’s won a contest that would have TV star Tommy Saunders broadcasting from her home. There are a few issues – Stephanie lied and said she lived at 7 Cherry Lane (she doesn’t) and that she’s married.
She ask David to use the home, and at first he says no. He likes living alone and he likes working. He doesn’t like the idea, but eventually agrees.
The way that Benjamin Hollingsworth brings David to life makes me smile. Why? Because he’s a workaholic and he’s lonely and doesn’t seem to know how to vocalize that. When Stephanie is around him though, he seems to be driven crazy and also to let down a wall. He likes her. That is very obvious.
She also likes him. The look on her face when she’s around him is pure joy. Part of me thought that Stephanies joy was because she was getting to see Tommy Saunders, but I don’t think that’s it.
In moments she knew that she really liked David.
When they two have to kiss on camera and for David – he feels like that’s such an invasion of his privacy and what he wants. I think though, that to a point, that was fear because he likes Stephanie so much.
When the two finally get to kiss, in private it just felt that it was a moment for us all to remember that love can be found in may places.
2000. Finding yourself starting over feels different. Sometimes it’s what a person needs though. Figuring out who you are and the space that you are in is not simple. Instead it is something most of us fight against.
Rebecca has moved into 7 Cherry Lane. She’s not used to a neighborhood that looks out for each other. It doesn’t take long though before she starts to find out.
Her bestie comes to visit and guides her through getting to know the neighborhood. They bake cookies and go around introducing her to everyone. Mike and her – you can tell that she loves him and he her. But, loving your best friend – hard to admit and I can’t blame Rebecca for being guarded about that.
She bought the house because it was where her father had performed his show once from there. Her relationship with him was complicated. She loved her Dad – the famous Tommy Saunders – but her relationship with him was complicated.
It’s when Ivy returns to get something that she left behind all those years ago so that the house would not forget her. She left it under the stairs.
It turns out that it was a Tommy Saunders was the record that she left. It was a full circle for them to pull out the record and it be Tommy’s. The movie has a full circle moment and one that tied up the series well.
Cherry Lane is a magical place – one that we know only exists in the movies, but all the same, it’s magical.
The series was able to showcase families in all different forms – but so much love all around. If you can’t find a way to believe in Christmas and its magic watching it – you’re missing out.
