Christmas in the Spotlight

There's been a fair bit of Christmas buzz about this movie that tells the story of a pop star and a football player's unlikely romance. No idea where Lifetime got that idea from...!!

Jokes aside, the film that is oh-so-loosely based on the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce romance features plenty of nods to the famous couple along the way and when you set that aside, it's still a very good Christmas romance movie, one of the better Lifetime efforts in recent years. Sure, parts of the movie are contrived and you can see the conflict coming a mile away, not to mention the ending. Not that any other Christmas movie isn't similarly formulaic.

Jessica Lord (who is absolutely gorgeous, and has a chance to look radiant in some of her costumes) as Bowyn and Laith Wallschleger as Drew Gonville bring their characters to life. I've never seen either actor before, but they play their parts well. Their scorching chemistry is evident right from their first scene together and it's what makes this film so successful. Very-well cast. Sometimes you wonder what the casting people see in a couple who are terrible on screen. Indeed, a lesser coupling than Lord and Wallschleger would have sent this movie down the crapper. Instead, their presence elevates "Christmas in the Spotlight" above the rest of the pack.

Not an Oscar-winner, but great entertainment nonetheless. Depending on certain real-life developments, I wonder if we'll get a sequel?

I won't lie I am usually not the biggest fan of Lifetimes Christmas movies..but this one was 100% a hit for me!! I love the story line and the actors had the best chemistry!

I understand it was about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and I feel like they did a really good job at portraying how life/dating is when you're famous.

This movie definitely isn't a comedy, it has funny moments but personally I loved that there was drama, and seriousness! Usually Christmas movies are serious with the cheesiness (which I do love!!!) but this was a nice change and breath of fresh air. I would LOVE a sequel to this next year!

I watched this in a bad mood and wanted to hate it, but I have this obsession that I have to watch every Christmas movie, so here I was. That changed almost immediately. It's funny. The niece is perfect setting up Bowyn and Drew to click. Bowyn is almost immediately likeable. She's not some stuck-up star and she does a few good musical numbers. Drew is a dumb jock, but kind of likeable too.

We start getting to know these two characters pretty quickly. Their first date has some sharing. And the chemistry between Jessica Lord and Laith Wallschleger is apparent right away. They are playful. A little steamy too. This movie is plain fun to watch. The story is about two celebrities trying to stay under the radar. It's hard not to compare it to Taylor and Kelcie.

There's almost no tension for a little more than half the movie. Very upbeat. But a good story needs it and it comes, in a couple of ways that makes it a good story. The ending may not be a surprise but it was so good.

I didn't know these actors, but I was pulled in by their performances. It's not Masterpiece Theatre, but it worked.

I really enjoyed this one. It was my first Lifetime Christmas movie and I didn't know Lifetime has a more liberal policy than Hallmark in terms of showing the male actors shirtless. As a direct consequence of that, I loved this movie.

The name lead, Laith Wallschleger, is insanely hot and had at least 2-3 scenes where he took his shirt off and we were able to lovingly gaze on his enormous muscles. One of these scenes was actually in a football team locker room, and that really did certain things for me.

I think there were some female characters in the movie too, but don't ask me anything about them.

Casting Laith was a really inspired choice. I will watch everything he ever appears in from here onto eternity.

Match a very popular and beautiful singer-songwriter with a hot football player, it's fiction imitating life. The writers were no doubt inspired by the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce relationship that's all over the media. The script is good, the plot and dialog are much better than most holiday movies. Jessica Lord and Laith Wallschleger have chemistry together Laith Wallschleger showed more of a range in his acting and came across as more original. I assume it was filmed around Toronto which competes with Vancouver as the movie capitals of Canada.

I liked the supporting cast specifically Madeleine Cox, Stacey Bernstein, Dennis Andres and Carlisle Williams. Holiday films are either hit or miss, this film is very much a HIT.