Adventures. Sometimes it feels as if we’ve gotten so old that we forget what it was like to be young and think that adventures were what we wanted out of life. Truth: We forget what it was like to have the freedom to do what we wanted, when we want, and we become these people who are afraid to live. We exist because of things, because life hasn’t been kind to us. An Alpine Holiday wasn’t what I expected it to be, but then again, what adventure in life is what we expect?
I love a movie that bonds people or makes people redefine and locate the bond that they thought was broken. Sisters, you have your ups and downs, but sometimes you need someone to help you find your way through the peaks and valleys in the relationship. I just have to believe that you’re going to find each other. I have to believe you’re going to get through no matter what. I think sometimes that we forget, as we get older, the important things we may have learned as children. We forget about who we grew up with, the stories that were told, and the people who made a difference in our lives.
In An Alpine Holiday, I think I expected something completely different. I expected two sisters – a ski trip, a reconnection, and falling in love with an old boyfriend, a love triangle, a fight, and a happy ending for all involved. Something like that. What I got was a tale of moving on and moving forward; of remembering who shaped you, what shaped you, and what your future can be – if you just take a second to believe in miracles.
Faith and Kelly’s Grandma passed away, and though they thought that everything was done with her will, they were in for a surprise. They were called in for an emergency meeting at their Grandmother’s lawyer’s office, and it turns out their grandmother had different plans. She wanted them to take an adventure. One that she had meticulously planned out for them. It was an adventure she had once taken. It was an adventure that had led her to her husband.
Faith, who doesn’t know how to plant down roots, who is running from a boyfriend who proposed, doesn’t have to hear much – she’s going. Kelly – well, she’s more conservative and less adventurous. She’s staying home (she says) and working. Kelly doesn’t really like things that aren’t planned out.
And you can see the resentment towards her sister.
Kelly is convinced that she’s not going to go, and honestly, it’s a little disrespectful, because it’s your grandmother’s last wish. But as always, everything happens for a reason, and though Kelly may think she’s going to do something, destiny is not hearing it. She gets a sign that she needs to go – a quote left on the back of a picture from her grandma.
She runs out the door half-packed, anxious, and knowing that she’s gonna lose her job. But that’s okay. Because some things are bigger than the short term.
The two head to France.
I’ve always believed that France can change you. The times that I’ve been there in my life are shaped part of me. They’ve made a big difference in who I am. The journey that Faith and Kelly set out on is going to change and shape them too.
Frederick – their tour guide is smoking hot. Like I drooled. Kelly may not trust him, but Faith is like, “You know what, Freddy, let’s do this.” No surprise Freddy is coming, and Kelly’s gonna have to deal.
The adventure that they set out on – to eat the same food that their grandma ate, walk the same streets, see the same beautiful sites, and to make it up a hike to a place called Lovers Ridge. It’s a place where people fall in love. It is the place where their grandma and grandpa got engaged.
Faith is just running away from something and looking for redemption. Kelly is just trying to believe that people will stay. The two have issues, but I do believe that any sister is going to want to work things out. They are going to want to find a balance. Sisters are special, they’re a built-in best friend that you will forever have – no matter time and space. At the end of the day, the relationship you have with your sister will change everything about you. You can just hope that it’s in the most positive of ways.
Faith and Kelly may not get along or see eye to eye. They may fight like cats and dogs, but when it comes down to it, will they be there for each other? I think we all know the answer to that is yes.
As the two set out with Freddy on this adventure, it’s kind of endearing to watch. Ashley Williams is always full of such joy and light, which made me love her character of Faith even more. When you watch her as any character, you can’t help but root for that character and want that character to succeed. That character is suddenly someone you want to be strong and weak; you want that character to be everything that they are meant to be. She brings characters to life with such charisma and ease that you can’t help but believe that that could be you. You see yourself in that character, and I absolutely love the way that she brought Faith to life.
Laci J Mailey, who played Kelly… I found her to be another character that I was frustrated with but also excited for. She was all of us when we are afraid and scared and have a bit of pullback because you realize that life isn’t easy.
I was rooting for Faith and Kelly to find each other. The two of them balance each other out, and there was a lot to balance out. One thing I’ve learned in life is that a lot of sisters become angry with each other because they feel like the other one deserted them when they needed them the most. Rather than have conversations about i,t because let’s face it, nobody wants to communicate anymore, they act out. It takes something to make them talk.
When the three set off on their climb, the weather hits them so hard, they take refuge in a cabin. Their grandma knew that they would and left them a letter and a stocking. Faith does something that is so stupid, she decides that even though they should stop, she’s going to keep going and get there. But she doesn’t know how to get there. Snow is still surrounding her, and she finally stops. Kelly and Frederick set out to find her. I had to cry because there’s nothing stronger than his sister‘s bond, and seeing it made me nostalgic for my sister.
There’s nothing that you can do to break a sister’s bond. It’s like I said before, it’s a built-in best friend. When they find Faith, she’s upset, and she’s scared. It’s the strength that they give each other that helps propel the story forward.
Their grandma would be proud of the way that they come together.
Now, Faith, she’s got some things to work out at home. She’s got to answer her boyfriend‘s proposal and plant down roots. Kelly needs to stop being afraid that everyone will leave. When she connects with Freddie, and they kiss, I stood up and cheered!
She was taking the first step, and she knew that it was hard. It’s hard to let down that wall and believe that you can love again. I’m sure that somebody’s gonna find a plot hole somewhere, and that’s normally me. I will tell you that as I took a step back and I just watched the movie, I just felt this overwhelming urge to tell my sister. I wanted to tell her that I love her, but I knew that she’d think I lost my mind.
An Alpine Holiday, we’re talking about two sisters who want nothing more than each other in their lives. The adventure that their grandmother set them out on would change anybody. I think that Countdown to Christmas sometimes is so formulaic, and that’s not a bad thing. It doesn’t matter that movies have a formula, because even with a formula, they can really reach out and grab somebody by the heart. This movie will reach out and make them feel something.
I think that’s when you’re doing something right. Finding belief and joy in something. An Alpine Holiday wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, but it is what I needed, and for that I will be forever thankful.
