2025 lifetime holiday workers film festival

This is a carefully curated collection of movies with a common theme: people who have to work during the holidays.

All total, there are fourteen.  

 

Two have singers performing at holiday fundraisers.

Two have interns working for free in family businesses. 

Two are about working in department stores during the holidays.

Two feature workers in specialty stores, such as a beauty salon and a toy store.

Two others are actually science fiction and have time travel!

Two have Vivica A. Fox as a big financial wiz versus smaller companies that are saved by an intern. 

Two feature businesses that promote Christmas all year long!

Two have specialty crafts, like house designer or chef, that have solo artists.

Two feature Tia Mowry in the lead roles.

Two have special annual events that are threatened by Winter Storm Megan.

Shall we take a look at the fourteen movies viewed between December 8 through today?

Yes, lets! 

 

"Christmas 9 To 5" (2019)

reporter Jennifer - Tiya Sircar
owner's son Jack - Joe Dinicol
store manager Rose - Sheila McCarthy
elevator man Manny - George Wendt (Norm! from "Cheers")

 

A reporter goes undercover at a family-owned department store.

Very charming tale!

 

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'The Holiday Junkie" (2024)

party planner Andie - Jennifer Leigh Hewitt
house manager Mason - Brian Hallisay
Mimi - Kristin Chenoweth
Mason's bff Darren - Greg Grunberg
Andie's bff Riley - Lynn Andrews 

 

A couple of name-brand actors lend their clout to this story of a woman hired to stage a house and activities for a wealthy family that get called away to a ski resort and then don't arrive home until Christmas Day.

Very interesting drinking game of "worst Christmas ever" showcased here.

 

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"A Very Merry Beauty Salon" (2024)

salon owner Sienna - Tia Mowry
wine store owner Lawrence - RonReaco Lee
Sienna's mom Georgia - Donna Biscoe
 

The first of two with Tia Mowry, this time as a young owner whose mom is in charge of the annual Tinsel Ball.

When a newcomer with money shows up with his own ideas about the event, that's when the fireworks start!

 

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"A Very Merry Toy Store" (2017)

Forrester toy store owner Connie - Melissa Joan Hart
DiNova toy store owner Will - Mario Lopez
Connie's mom Pam - Beth Broderick
big toy store owner Roy - Billy Gardell (of "Mike & Molly")
diner owner Joe - Brian Dennehy   ***
town mayor - Mario Cantone (of "Sex In The City")
 

Several name-brand actors sprinkled in the cast with small roles - nice!

Two family-owned toy stores are threatened when a big block store moves into the neighborhood.

Nice go-cart race and a street carnival with dancing make this fun!

 

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"Radio Christmas" (2019)

DJ Kara - Keshia Knight Pulliam
DJ Scott - Michael Xavier
his daughter Andie - Nakai Takawira

'Kara' has a year-round radio show that's all Christmas, all the time, but the station that airs it has power issues, so she's moved to Bethlehem, PA, for December.

That happens to be home to her biggest fan, 'Andie'.

'Scott' is the local DJ with a heart of gold, hosting the annual Christmas Eve party.

This is the first of two which specifically mention Winter Storm Megan.

 

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"Make Or Bake Christmas" (2024)

seasonal helper/spy Emma - Jasmine Aivaliotis
her real boss Leslie - Vivica A. Fox   ***
her seasonal boss and bakery owner Denise - Jackée Harry   ***
Denise's son Dave Sugarbaker - Landon Moss
 

This is the first of two with Vivica A. Fox, having her appear briefly at the start, at the end, and maybe twice during the story, mostly in solo shots.

'Leslie' sends her assistant 'Emma' to a family-owned bakery to gather information for a take-over.

'Denise' and 'Dave Sugarbaker' welcome her, but realize she has a lot of smarts for someone who is just supposed to be a floater.

Nice to see Jackée of "227" on screen again!

 

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"A Christmas Intern" (2023)

online store owner Alexis - Ciarra Carter
her mom Cecilia - Jackée Harry   ***
financial backer Charlotte - Vivica A. Fox  ***
Charlotte's scout Donte - Doug 
Alexis 'warehouse foreman William - Michael Paré
 

'Alexis' operates an online store that sells Christmas goods, from decor to gifts, all year, but her company is up for financial review for the next year's funding.

That's where Vivica A. Fox comes in again, doing the same as in the above movie (which was made in 2024).

That's also where Jackée comes in, who works as an intern in her daughter's store to help get them through the Christmas rush.

Great to see Michael Paré in action, as I once had a crush on him.

 

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"No Time Like Christmas" (2019)

ad exec Emma - Kyla Pratt
high school sweetie Fletcher - Edward Ruttle
his daughter Lola - Sophia Bachart
his mom Katherine - Marina Stephenson Kerr
watch shop owner, theatre owner Noel - Jim O'Heir

 

An advertising executive with a time crunch and a blank slate goes home for the holidays hoping for an idea.

Next thing you know, she's bumped into her high-school flame and the sparks try to reignite, fanned by his daughter.

Plus, there's a mysterious man that may be the one who 'sold' her the watch she had given to 'Fletcher' all those years ago...

and who now owns the theatre where the new play is to be held...

if Winter Storm Megan doesn't cause it to be canceled on Christmas Eve.

 

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"Christmas In The City" (2013)

intern Wendy - Ashley Williams
her 7yo daughter Grace - Kylie Noelle Price
friend and actress Angie - Shanola Hampton
dept store boss' son Tom - Jon Prescott
cost-cutter Teanna - Ashanti  ***
 

In a last-ditch effort to save the store left by her father, 'Wendy' goes to the big city to work in a major department store with her friend, 'Angie'.

Being a capable and cheerful sort, it isn't long before the owner's scion, 'Tom', takes a shine to her, especially as a cost-cutter is gutting the spirit of the store.

I have no idea why Ashanti is in this, but she makes a great Grinch!

 

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"Yes, Chef! Christmas" (2023)

former chef Alicia - Tia Mowry
her adoptive dad Ken - John Koensgen
her mentor from NJ, Bobby - Buddy Valastro (actual chef)
her mentor for contest Logan - Luke Humphrey
contest sponsors Viola and Rick - Raven Dauda and Scott Gibson
 

This is the second with Tia Mowry, this time as a chef that gets tagged to be one of four contestants in a holiday fundraiser.

Nice to have actual chef Buddy Valastro guesting here!

I also liked the touch about her being adopted and never having known her birth parents, though she's had a DNA test recently and found a family member.

 

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"Christmas In The Spotlight" (2024)

pop star Bowyn - Jessica Lord
her asst Mira - Jeannie Mai
football wide receiver Drew - Laith Wallschleger
his brother, football QB Rob - Dennis Andres

 

Can we say Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce? 

Yes, yes, we can, with the similarity only broken by the position played by the footballer, 'Drew', in this movie, which is wide receiver.

IRL, Kelce is a tight end, which actually sounds like a joke, but isn't.

Very fun look at effect of fame on dating.

 

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 "Christmas In Tune" (2021)

singer Georgia Winter - Reba McEntire
singer Joe Winter - John Schneider
their daughter Belle - Candice King

I very much enjoyed this, though I have a sneaking suspicion that I've seen it before.

Loved the music... 

loved all the costume changes that Reba is so famous for...

loved seeing John Schneider again!!!

 

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"Every Day Is Christmas" (2018)

Scrooge-like business owner Alexis - Toni Braxton
her dead mom Lydia - Gloria Reuben
her limo driver Justin - Michael Jai White
her ditched fiance Marc - Mike Dopud
 

Loved this re-telling of "A Christmas Carol", this time with the too-busy 'Alexis' being helped to appreciate life by the ghost of her mom.

At first, I thought the mom was Gladys Knight, but that guess was a generation off, as Gloria Reuben (of "ER" when it began) is 20 years younger.

Very nice, and, surprisingly, didn't make me cry.

(smile!)

 

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"Kristin's Christmas Past" (2013)

music producer Kristin -Shiri Appleby
her childhood bff Jamie - Will Kemp
K's 17yo self Krys - Hannah Marks
Jamie's 17yo self - Michael-James Olsen
K's young dad Glen - Judd Nelson  ***
K's young mom Barbara - Elizabeth Mitchell

 

At 34 years old, single and jaded 'Kristin' wakes up in bed with... her 17-year-old self, in her childhood home, trying to keep her younger self from making the same mistake she had of following a dirt-bag to New York and ditching her family.

Loved seeing Judd Nelson in action, though he had a very small role.

I also found it interesting that 'Kristin' would have been about the same age as her parents were during this trip back in time.

(smile!)

 

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All done!

This next week, Comcast is giving me Up Faith & Family for a week!

I am such a happy camper!!!

(smile!)

washing dishes

Today, I attended a special talk by Herb Childress. He was the keynote speaker for the 2014 Armstrong Student Scholars Symposium. His talk, titled "Now What? Jobs, Careers, and Obsessions, in College and Beyond", sounded like just the kind of pepper-upper I needed!
I arrived at the Ogeechee Theatre in the Student Union a little early. I was expecting the room to be packed for this award-winning speaker.
Sadly, that was not the case.
He ended up preaching to the choir, so to speak.
Still, it was definitely worth my time to attend. I can always use a peptalk, especially one that reassures me that my mind is working properly.
I was especially glad to be there when he was discussing the words of Thich Nhat Hanh. Never heard of him? No, me neither. But I like the way he thinks.
"When washing the dishes, one should only be washing the dishes."
How often do we find ourselves trying to multitask? How often does that pursuit lead to poorly executed tasks? How often to do we miss out on simple pleasures on our way to the "next big thing"? How often are we not present in the moment before us?
I can certainly vouch for the joys of washing dishes. I grew up sharing that task with Mama. While my brothers were in other rooms in the house or playing in the yard, she and I welcomed the time together, hands immersed in warm soapy water. Talking. The simple task became a special time of bonding for us.
Even today, when I wash the dishes, still by hand, it's as if she is by my side, sharing the task, sharing thoughts, sharing the moment.
Sure, I'm a bit off, as some might say. Ben wouldn't, though. He writes the Truly Simple blog and has a wonderful take on the above dish washing quote. Actually, I wouldn't mind meeting him someday for some discussions about life, while washing dishes, perhaps.

I'll leave you with my paraphrase of these final words from Herb.
"Identify your obsessions.
Find work that feeds them.
That's all."

validation

Tonight, I went to my philosophy group meeting for the first time in a long time... and was greeted with warm smiles and hugs! How wonderful to feel valued and respected for my opinions and my thoughts! I've been going through a rather difficult time at work lately, through no fault of my own, I can assure you. Business has been slow - we're talking retail here - and the phone has been more quiet of late. Still, I see the cycle, whether anyone else does or not, and things are improving, albeit slowly. Slow, but sure. And I'll be sure to surround myself on my time away from work with people who understand that I have much to contribute.

50 is the new 40?

I don't know how anyone else's brain works, but I have some knowledge of the nature of my own. My brain likes to solve puzzles: crossword, jigsaw, sudoku. It always has and I've used that feature to my advantage time and time again, especially when I was in school. When I needed to write a paper, I would simply task my brain with developing the total topic and then wait for it to let me know the time was come to write. My friends and teachers didn't seem to understand that draft-writing and outlining were simply not useful tools for me in composition and really slowed me down.

The topic at dinner last night concerned age and appearances and included the assertion that "50 is the new '40' and 40 is the new '30'." Next thing I know, I've voiced a cohesive, multi-point argument. Unbeknowst to me and unbidden by me, this very topic was a puzzle my brain had taken on some time back and out of my mouth came the theories for the veracity of that assertion. Amazing.

First and foremost, I stated, we have MUCH better nutrition these days and, for many of us, that better nutrition began when we were in the womb. Better nutrition allows our bodies to better maintain every cell, every muscle, every organ, including the skin. With better cellular maintenance internally, and better skin care externally, we look younger longer. And for a nation so consumed by the appearance of the package, that translates to older folks looking a decade younger in the eyes of the beholder and the camera.

Second, we don't work as hard physically as our forebears did. We have developed tools to make our work easier and faster. No more do we have generations of skilled craftsman building a single mansion, or church, or monstrous public display such as a pyramid. With the tools now at our disposal, those edifices can be erected in a matter of months or years, not decades. Less strain on our bodies means less wear and tear on our physical appearance, allowing us to not show our age at the once-normal pace.

Third, we have more free time on our hands. Not only do the tools we have developed make our work easier, those same tools make our work faster, allowing us to work fewer hours. More free time should translate into better rested bodies, though that is not necessarily so. Still, more leisure time again means less wear and tear on our bodies, as many of us use that leisure time to exercise and tone the vessels that hold our souls. The benefit again is reflected in a longer stance with a younger appearance.

It's taken me longer to write this than for me to have uttered these thoughts last night at dinner. Amazing. I tell my students all the time that the subconscious brain is faster than any computer, that it is the source of our "gut feelings", of our instinct about a situation or a person. The brain is the keeper of every sensory bit of data collected by our bodies, as well as the library holding every word we've ever read. And yet, we depend too often on input from others to govern our own actions and beliefs. Not that it's a bad thing to look to others for advice and to take heed of their knowledge and experience. No, but we need to have more faith in our own database and continue to add to that store of knowledge, including one-on-one with other people. We need to accept responsibility for our own actions and decisions.

Me, too.