Christmas on Call (2024)
Aka - the one with a Donna Kelce cameo
In mid-2024, peak Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce mania, Hallmark (a Kansas City-based organization) took advantage of the extra eyeballs on the city in a few ways. There was the Hallmark Christmas Experience, a multi-weekend holiday festival, in Kansas City. And two new movies with ties to the Kansas City Chiefs. This was the first of those, with much of the promotion around Donna Kelce making a cameo.
It’s no secret that Hallmark tends to film these movies in Canada for the most part, but in this instance I am particularly tickled by the idea that they convinced Donna Kelce to travel to Winnipeg, where they had a shawarma shop standing in for a cheesesteak diner. And all for about a minute on screen. You cash those cheques, Mama Kelce! Seriously, no shade. Get it while you can. (Mama Kelce truly seems like a wonderful person and I expect this was a fun little thing to do).
As to the main storyline(s) - billed as something of an ensemble affair, there are a few interwove storylines in this movie, the main story centres on Hannah and Wes, and ER doctor and local EMT, whose busy work schedules see them around each other a lot in the leadup to Christmas. Given Hannah is newly arrived in Philly, Wes takes it upon himself to help her feel at home and spread some holiday cheer.
Overall it was fairly forgettable. While I can guess filming in Philadelphia is more expensive than Winnipeg, this feels like a missed opportunity to showcase Philly. I mean, is there more to the city than the Eagles, Rocky, and cheesesteaks? Apparently community, if you take this movie at its word, but it’s not giving a whole lot to go on.
Also - barely qualifies as a Christmas movie.
Onto the next…
