Holiday Hotline

A light-hearted, creative movie, and funny at times, "Holiday Hotline" delves too long into "Turkey Chat", and humorous poultry puns revolving around the holiday bird. This tone doesn't allow you to take this romantic premise, seriously. The story's somewhat a farce and the jester (well -played) is "Peggy's" boss at the call center, Roger, a Steve Buscemi (Armageddon, Boardwalk Empire) mimic. After the humor was established, it felt like the story (if it's meant to be a romance) was stretched thin (how many turkey-tragedies can you laugh at?). "Peggy" and "Jack's (our primary couple's incognito names) calls were more co-counseling, than dating, so we get to know "Abby's" and "John's" backgrounds, well. Unfortunately, the director didn't succinctly crossover to Abby and John and delved more into the silliness of turkey tragedies, and even a "hotline awards ceremony". You're left getting anxious for the reveal, but their story should have reached (not dragged) a crescendo, well before the pen-ultimate scene . Instead, we have short heart-felt apologies, and an uncertain relationship (John & Abby v. Peggy & Jack) J, not one that has been duly-established (and time was up). Definitely, okay to watch (and enjoy) this once, but you won't find it memorable, or humorous, enough, for a repeat view in the future.

This movie was such a surprise! The ads really did not do it Justice which probably made the movie even better. It was debuted on a Sunday as if it would be one of the terrible movies this year but it might be the best one so far! I was pleasantly surprised by how refreshing the story was, new storyline, well written plot, and great characters. I wasn't sure about the fake accents but it was really good as part of the story. The manager was so awesome. He had a very small part in Santa summit so I'm glad he was given more lines in this one. I've rewatched it three times now and still find it much better than most of the new movies this year. Highly recommend this one!

This started out interesting. I didn't mind Emily's accent at all, I thought it was fine, and my mother was English. There are lots of Americans who are apparently experts on British accents, even accusing Brits of fake accents.

I didn't care for the physical side by side choreographed phone conversations. They were distracting to me as I watched them move back and forth in perfect synchronization.

I told my husband that it was going to be the same old same old "You lied to me, I cannot trust you" trope. He said no, it wouldn't be like that.

I was correct. It's the most annoying trope in Hallmark's arsenal.

A nice story with a blow up anger, walk away scene.

As I recall, that didn't happen in the classic movies from which these scripts copy. It's just Hallmark's standard endings. Ugh!

It's absolutely ridiculous that a guy would be offended because the 2 women he was falling in love with were the same person. He would be glad.

And to blame someone when there was no attempt to deceive. If it's coincidence, it's not deception..

Just to add an opposite view to the other hurrahs here. I would have possibly given this a 7 if it stayed pleasant and romantic. All the drama is just not necessary. The acting and characters were fine.

There was so much humor in this tale of holiday romance...along with some pretty terrible turkey disasters. The film spans Thanksgiving and Christmas, which was nice because I am not sure I remember a thanksgiving film on hallmark. It stars Niall Matter as a widower and single dad named Jack. He is trying to make the holidays special again for his daughter...and not being a cook, he reaches out to the professionals via the turkey hotline.

This is how he starts talking to the helpful "Peggy". In real life he has an awkward first meeting with British Abby, who is on the run from a bad breakup back home in England. These two eventually smooth things over, to the delight of Jack's daughter Jessica.

The best part is all the turkey humor and the cooking catastrophes. I recommend this to anyone looking for more of a thanksgiving story especially those who like humor in their holiday romance.

" I thought this hotline was about Turkey, not chicken."

If you had read me the script before I watched this movie, I'd have made a hefty bet it would be a disaster. There's probably quite a few who think it was. But I thought they made it work.

You can't tell the players without a scorecard as people are using interchangeable names and accents and somehow two people become two couples.

Emily Tennant is a tiny, little ball of gorgeousness who plays a British chef treated shamefully by her boyfriend/boss, so she comes to Chicago for Christmas. She somehow winds up working at a turkey cooking helpline.

Niall Matter is an architect in Chicago who wants to make a Christmas turkey for his daughter. It all gets very convoluted from there.

Erik Athavale was really funny in Santa Summit, and is very good here too.

Myla Volk as the daughter is a child actor new to me. She's going to be gorgeous in ten years, and does a nice job as well.

I can only say this is the kind of movie some love and some hate.

I gave it an 8.