Widower Nate (Marshall Williams) moves back to his hometown with his son to take on a new job as City Manager. Tasked with putting together the town’s Christmas celebration, The Jingle Bell Jubilee, in only three weeks, Nate enlists the help of his old school friend Hope (Erin Agostino) who is now a teacher at the local school. As preparations get under way, Nate hits a hurdle when donations for the charity drive fall below expectations. With the help of Hope, Nate tries to get the event back on track.
Old school friends reuniting after a number of years is a trope of many a romantic comedy and it’s not surprising that it’s become a staple part of holiday movies. ‘The Jingle Bell Jubilee’, the latest holiday film from Great American Family, dives into nostalgia as Nate and Hope reconnect again after years of having no contact. During that time Nate has been married, had a son and become a widow, while Hope has dated a few guys but mostly channelled her energies into her job and her regiftmas project – an initiative for people to donate gifts they don’t want so they can be gifted to others.
Hope is surprised by the feelings that Nate’s returns stirs up in her but she refuses to acknowledge them, instead deciding to try and set her friend Alison (Samantha Kendrick) up with Nate instead. While Alison is clearly into Nate, the feeling isn’t mutual but Hope continues to try and set them up regardless. Her feelings become harder to hide when Nate asks for her help getting his charity drive back on track. There’s a little back-and-forth in terms of the approach to achieve their objective, but Hope’s down-to-earth nature and relentless optimism is just what Nate needs.
Marshall Williams and Erin Agostino make the perfect couple in this film and their chemistry is incredibly natural. Williams, perhaps best-known for ‘Glee’, plays Nate as charming and sincere with an edge of grief as he adjusts to life as a single father. Agostino on the other hand turns in a sweet and sensitive performance as Hope, giving the film a boost of optimism and (no pun intended) hope. The two leads are ably supported by Samantha Kendrick and Kristian Jordan as Alison and Andy, who add a few complications to the will-they-won’t-they plot between Nate and Hope.
‘The Jingle Bell Jubilee’ is a very sweet movie about second chances and missed opportunities. Yes, there are plenty of tropes you’ll recognise as the story progresses but that doesn’t change the huge heart, and good message, that’s at the centre of the film. Heart-warming, nostalgic and injected with some nice comedy moments, ‘The Jingle Bell Jubilee’ is fun for the family and it really captures what the true meaning of Christmas is all about.
Cast: Erin Agostino, Marshall Williams, Samantha Kendrick, Kristian Jordan Director: Ernie Barbarash Writers: Joel Canfield, Lisa Canfield & Lorie Hope Certificate: Unrated Duration: 87 mins Released by: Great American Family Release date: 3rd December 2023
Find out more about ‘The Jingle Bell Jubilee’ at https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/movie/the-jinglebell-jubilee/.
