By: Kat Harlton
All Media Courtesy of Crown Media United States LLC
Matt Cohen (“South of Nowhere”) and Brittany Bristow (“Love, Romance & Chocolate”) play the perfect – albeit fabricated – Christmas couple in “Holiday Date” premiering Saturday, December 14 (8 p.m. ET/PT) on Hallmark Channel as part of the network’s beloved, number one-rated programming event, “Countdown to Christmas” celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
About The Movie:
When aspiring fashion designer Brooke (Bristow) is dumped right before Christmas, she dreads going home both single and professionally down on her luck. She enlists the help of actor Joel (Cohen) to play the role of her boyfriend over the holidays, joining her to stay with her parents Donna (Rothery) and Walter (Boxleitner). Brooke, who had described her ex-boyfriend as “Mr. Christmas,” worries about keeping up the charade when she discovers Joel is Jewish. Fully committing to playing the part of Ethan, he enthusiastically participates in all the yuletide festivities. When her family eventually finds out his background, they happily incorporate his Hanukkah traditions into their plans.
Christmas and Hanukkah are celebrated side by side as they all learn more about the other’s holiday. When a rumor about the couple’s engagement brings her ex-boyfriend face-to-face with her fake boyfriend, Brooke’s family begins to wonder about the true nature of their relationship. Faced with the embarrassing prospect of revealing their lie to those around them, Brooke and Joel must decide whether to keep up the relationship charade or come clean about their lie as well as their true feelings.
“Holiday Date” is from Crown Media Productions LLC. Joey Plager is executive producer. Harvey Kahn and Charles Cooper are producers. Jeff Beesley directed from a script written by Karen Berger from a story by Kraig Wenman.