What Hallmark's New Movie A Fabled Holiday Can Teach You About Following Your Heart And Calling
Hallmark continues spreading holiday cheer with fun films and familiar faces. Former "General Hospital" star Ryan Paevey is no stranger to Hallmark films, having been in "A Little Daytime Drama," "Christmas at the Plaza," and "Marrying Mr. Darcy," among several others, per QC Approved. The multi-talented actor — who has a surprising side-business as a jewelry maker — stars in the Christmas film, "A Fabled Holiday." Paevey is joined by other veteran actors including Brooke D'Orsay who is well-known for "Royal Pains," the animated "6Teen," and the Hallmark film, "How to Fall in Love." Co-star John Prowse has been all over the dial on such shows as "Riverdale," "The Haunting of Bly Manor," and "DC's Legends of Tomorrow," just to name a few. Rounding out the cast are Patti Allan, Rochelle Greenwood, Carmel Amit, and David Attar (via IMDb).
Much like the classic TV series, "Fantasy Island," the new Hallmark film, "A Fabled Holiday" takes a group of characters that each have a personal issue and puts them in a setting where they are challenged to resolve their problems. According to Hallmark's press release, Anderson (Ryan Paevey) and Talia (Brook D'Orsay) are childhood friends that enjoyed a book as kids called "A Wunderbrook Christmas Story," which centers around a "town full of Christmas spirit [which] restores its visitors during their times of deep turmoil." Talia dreams of becoming a writer, while Anderson wants to be a doctor.
After her father's death, Talia's family moves away and they lose touch.
Talia and Anderson meet again as adults
In the new Hallmark film, "A Fabled Holiday," Anderson (Ryan Paevey) and Talia (Brooke D'Orsay) are childhood friends that were separated when Talia moved away. The two accidentally meet as adults in Talia's bookstore. Anderson has become a successful surgeon who is disillusioned when he can't save a patient, and Talia owns the bookshop while fielding one writing rejection after another. When she inadvertently calls the wrong number, Talia is intrigued by an offer from the person on the other end to partake in a short getaway in a cozy town. Having car trouble at the same time, Anderson finds himself detoured also to the town and bumps into Talia.
A couple on the brink of divorce named Diane (Carmel Amit) and Keith (David Attar), along with a lonely widower named Charles, also find themselves somehow in the town, and the group is greeted by Judy (Rochelle Greenwood) and Miles (John Murphy), who are townspeople that explain to the travelers the joy to be found at the town's annual "Night of Wunder." At first, only Talia notices the similarities between the town they are in and the one portrayed in their childhood book, "A Wunderbrook Christmas Story." Judy and Miles, along with the goofy Jake (Jake Guy) and the surly Mildred (Patti Allan), secretly worry that if they don't help the guests resolve their issues by the Night of Wunder, the town will lose its magic (per Mr. Dustbin).
The mysterious town holds answers for its guests
The town in Hallmark's film, "A Fabled Holiday," has a week-long celebration including a Christmas market, tree lighting, and a procession before their special "Night of Wunder." While Talia wrestles with the fact that she's failed in her life's goal of becoming a writer, and Anderson re-thinks his career as a surgeon after failing a patient who died during a simple procedure, the other characters also struggle with their issues.
Charles (John Prowse) reveals to the sullen barkeep, Mildred (Patti Allan), that ever since his wife passed away he's lost interest in celebrating the holidays without her. The morose woman takes a liking to Charles and is charmed by him. Meanwhile, Keith (David Attar) feels that his wife Diane (Carmel Amit) treats him like an employee ever since she got promoted in her job. Judy, Miles, Jake, and Mildred all feel that they must work together to help the guests figure out how to resolve their problems before the Night of Wunder, before the town's magic is lost forever. As Decider speculates, the film is a very cheery version of what could otherwise be a darker tale of characters from a book trapped in an endlessly repeating cycle if they don't help the guests find their way.
At its core, "A Fabled Holiday" is an enchanting film about facing one's fears in order to overcome the very things that are holding one back in life.