A lot of movies this weekend and a lot of lessons to learn – because yes, I find deep meaning in most things. I love that about me, though, because even as I disconnect from a lot of things, I can find hope and joy in all these Christmas movies, even if I don’t want to. Bah humbug and all of that.
Rhiannon Fish and Ben Rosenbaum, I didn’t expect to like you two so much in The Christmas Cup, but in all fairness, I didn’t think I would like the movie. In all fairness, competitions aren’t my thing.
But spirit sweaters (if you know, you know) and a love for Rhiannon Fish, I thought, why not? Well, that and Ben Rosenbaum’s smile.
You should at least give it a chance, because it does deserve that.
After being medically discharged, Kelly returns home to her hometown for Christmas. She doesn’t know what’s next, and she is afraid of what is. She’s applied to be reinstated to the Marines, but she knows that’s a long shot. She’s still willing to try.
And that alone is inspiring.
Serving her country has been her life. It’s the only thing that she knows how to do and who she is. Coming home feels like life has gone on without her (and it has), and she feels like a stranger. Everyone has changed.
On her return, she finds out that Bridgeport and Longleaf have combined their firehouse, and that is supposed to be neutral ground. Quinn, the fire captain, also served in the armed forces, understands her. She understands him. When he shuts down her party (cause the mayor is nasty), he owes her one.
Little did I know that Kelly would become the leader of Longleaf’s team, and she would use that favor to call him in for some help. He did it, but I do believe that he did it because he liked Kelly already. Fire Captain Quinn, I really adore you.
The origin of the cup was competition, but also to teach people from both towns some skills. Like patience, for instance. The towns take it very seriously. I just about puked knowing that the egg nog chug was a part of the competition, cause that’s gross.
Like really gross.
Kelly stepping up to the plate and leading the team was hard for her, but she decided to try leadership once again. Being the coach sounds like a nightmare, especially since it’s a band of misfits. There is fun to be had, but she needs to help them through it.
In order to practice her leadership, Kelly knows that she’s going to have to give 100%. She feels that she’s failed in a lot of leadership positions, and if she’s going to get to the next step, she needs to face her fears of leading. It’s quite sad, because she doesn’t know what she has left to give.
Small steps, Kelly. Small steps.
It’s when she’s out with Quinn that she finds that she’s been offered a position in Hawaii. Now, she can’t reenlist, but still having a job with the Marines – she’ll take it. Development of Strategy and shaping young minds? She’s down for it.
The thing is, Kelly, is really enjoying being at home. Now, I think that you can go away from home and make a new place for yourself, but there is always this draw to the place where you get to be with family. For her, that is Longleaf.
The majority of the movie is spent with Quinn and Kelly getting to know each other. To be honest, I enjoyed those moments more than I enjoyed the competition parts. Both seemed to be so in love with each other, but also so scared of feelings at the same time.
I hated the cliche of overhearing conversations and thinking that you know what people are talking about. Quinn and Kelly don’t seem to want to give each other the benefit of the doubt, but they are also a reminder that talking over each other and jumping to conclusions really does matter. It can change the narrative.
Well, that and listening to things you shouldn’t be listening to.
For instance, when Kelly is telling her bestie about Hawaii, Quinn overhears. He thinks that she’s being honest when she says that he’s just a friend and it doesn’t matter. BUT, if you saw the look on her face, you would see that she was lying. It was as if she was choking on the words as she pushed words out.
Men and women say things to protect themselves, and that’s okay. I don’t even think it’s lying, because no one wants to be the one to say it first. Feelings are scary – he** they are terrifying. Kelly is going to do what it takes to get to Quinn, even going to see him as Santa.
Communication is not easy because it requires a lot of patience, listening, and control. Neither one of them seems to be able to do that. The issue is that a lot of the time, it’s fear, but also getting out of our own way. It’s so frustrating, but also that happens all the time in real life, so it just makes it more real.
When she’s told that she needs to leave for Hawaii on December 25th, she’s devastated. She makes peace with it, and it’s in that peace that. Well, until Christmas, and she decides that she can’t do that. She wants to stay and be a part of her family.
Now it’s time for the cup, and Quinn wants to talk to her, but she doesn’t want to. There is drama and a lot of miscommunication. But when the youngest of the players shows them what real leadership is, walls start coming down. I was moved and thankful for the lesson in sportsmanship.
Do we get a happy ending? Yes. Of course we do. But that is a good thing (right?), and I was here for it. I do think that is what we’re looking for a lot of the time in life. A happy ending, especially when that’s not what we’re getting in real life. I loved Fish and Rosenbaum together on the screen, and the way that both seem so innocent and good, that it felt like a reward seeing them together.
The Christmas Cup isn’t something that we would stop and watch again, but saying that, it’s definitely something that you should watch at least once.
