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He knows how to ball, she knows Aristotle its a love story, baby, just say yes!
Taylor Swifts romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has delighted fans since day one.
Swifties were just thrilled to see the pop star so open and happy.
Its no surprise that such a public and joyous fairytale-esque relationship would spark creative endeavors like books and movies.
Yet despite being entirely different, both movies capitalize on the popularity and fascination with their romance.
So, which movie is better?
Well, that depends on what components are most important to you: narrative versus execution.
Obviously, the unlikely pair fall in love against all odds.
It did bug me how villainized Bowyns ex is portrayed, though.
Well never truly know what happened during their relationship, and its frankly none of our business.
As far as Taylor Swift Easter eggs go, Christmas in the Spotlight is chock-full of them.
The script has a ton of homages to songs like Love Story, Mean and All Too Well.
As enjoyable and Tayvis-coded as Holiday Touchdown is, the homages to the couple are fairly subtle.
Of course, their meet-cute happens before he has to interview her for the biggest fan competition.
Add in some Christmas superstition and youve got yourself a movie.
Lost in a film screen
Between the two movies, theres a clear production value winner.
Sorry, Lifetime, but Hallmark bagged this particular coin toss.
Its no secret that holiday movies typically have a pretty minuscule budget.
In Christmas in the Spotlight, the Kelce-coded character Drew plays for the Bay Spring Bombers.
Its not the worst fictional team Ive seen, but its not the best, either.
But lets face it: The most iconic cameo is Donna Kelce Travis Kelces mother.
To boot, the movie wasnt filmed in Canada or a remote location like most of the genre.
And thats not a bad thing!
Bowyns musical performances didnt wow me, either.
Do sparks fly?
The Christmas movie genre hinges on the chemistry and believability of its on-screen relationships.
I wanted to love Christmas in the Spotlight, I really did.
My disdain for super uncomfy or cringey thirst-trap scenes is just a personal ick, though.
If you dont mind some secondhand embarrassment, that aspect wont be a dealbreaker.
Theres so much to work with as both characters contend with invasive fame and secrecy.
However, the forced chemistry and lack of authentic emotional bonding made it hard for me to get invested.
But I am a sucker for banter, though, and these two definitely win that category.
Theres a narrative arc where both characters learn and grow together, making the payoff more satisfying.
This is, shall we say, thehallmarkof a good Christmas movie.
Being a lovely person aside, Hynes definitely stands out as a Hallmark staple.
His acting is always believable and he effortlessly taps into the heart of Christmas movies every time.
Hunter King is also effective as the fiery Alana.
Her vibe as a passionate dreamer contrasts nicely with the slightly jaded realist Derrick.
I dont blame the Christmas in the Spotlight actors for how they portray their characters.
It likely has a lot to do with the script and direction.
Just watch some of her cat videos and look at her old social media posts.
Celebrities are just like us.
None of that comes through with Bowyn, though.
She feels fake more often than not, which directly contrasts Swifts genuine authenticity.
Not all movie charactersshouldbe relatable, but thats a pretty core component of Christmas movies.
The fictional pop stars characterization made me ambivalent toward the character, and by extension, the core relationship.
However, his bumbling awkwardness is straight-up painful at times.
As a result, the acting feels stiff and overdone to compensate for the underdeveloped relationship.
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