Writer Erin (Jill Wagner) is suffering from a lack of inspiration for her next book so she decides to accompany her father Doug (Bruce Boxleitner) for a Christmas trip to their hometown of Aurora. Doug has his sights set on selling the family home, and Erin sees it as a chance to see the Aurora Borealis, which would tick off a major bucket list item for her. With the help of tour guide Trevor (Jesse Hutch), Erin embarks on a journey that she never expected as she reconnects with her roots and finds a chance for love.
‘Christmas Under the Northern Lights’ brings out the holiday movie heavyweights with Jill Wagner and Jesse Hutch leading the cast. Both actors are well-known for their extensive TV work and Hutch starred in last year’s ‘A Christmas Blessing’, which was one of my favourites from the Great American Christmas 2023 season. Rounding out the stellar cast are screen legends Bruce Boxleitner and Lauren Holly, who add a little more gravitas to what could easily have been just another light and fluffy holiday movie.
At its heart, ‘Christmas Under the Northern Lights’ is an exploration of the importance of connecting with, and discovering, your roots. Erin is an urban historian with one successful book to her name, and she’s struggling to decide what her next book should be about. Travelling back to Aurora with her father puts her on an unexpected path as she learns about the place she came from and the deep roots her family has in the community. Assisted by the ruggedly handsome Trevor, who similarly has deep roots in the town, Erin’s eyes are opened to a world, and a life, that she hadn’t really ever thought about.
A sub-plot in the film sees Doug reconnecting with realtor Lori (Lauren Holly), an old friend that he hasn’t seen for a number of years. Their relationship progresses nicely while Erin is slowly falling for Trevor, even though it takes her a while to realise that’s what’s happening. The end result is a cosy multi-generational love story that is warming for the soul and hugely engaging.
I had no doubt that Jill Wagner and Jesse Hutch would pair well in this film. Both are capable actors with plenty of warmth and charm. Their interactions feel natural and their progression from strangers to romance is believable. It’s a credit to both actors that they uncover the emotion of the film’s storyline in a way that will deeply connect with the audience. It’s nice to see a romance for older characters too, with Bruce Boxleitner and Lauren Holly creating a lovely chemistry as two old friends who reconnect.
‘Christmas Under the Northern Lights’ is likely to be one of the standouts from this year’s Great American Christmas, deservedly so. Touching upon the universal themes of family, faith and love, the film reinforces the importance of family and the impact that can have on your life. With a superb cast and a story that is allowed time to breathe, ‘Christmas Under the Northern Lights’ is a festive treat and a film I’ll be adding to my rotation in the year’s to come.
Cast: Jill Wagner, Jesse Hutch, Lauren Holly, Bruce Boxleitner Director: Ernie Barbarash Writer: Amyn Kaderali Certificate: Unrated Duration: 89 mins Released by: Great American Family Release date: 9th November 2024
‘Christmas Under the Northern Lights’ premieres on Great American Family on 9th November at 8/7c. Find out more at https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/movie/aurora-christmas/
