Hitched for the Holidays (2012 TV Movie) User Reviews

Little bit quirky

[Jackbv123 · 7/10 · 7 November 2017]

This is a bit quirkier take on the plot device where two strangers need to pretend to be in a relationship for the holidays. I enjoyed quite a few laughs as this Jewish girl agrees to this with a Catholic boy.

Their first rule is no touching and they break it about 10 seconds later when Julie sees the office creep and grabs Rob and kisses him. In fact this movie probably has more kissing than I've seen in any of these Hallmark friendly movies.

They keep getting into little dilemmas where they have to do some quick thinking that usually leads to a "white" lie. At one point, Rob's whole Catholic family pretends to be Jewish because Rob and Julie have told her family that he is Jewish. Admittedly this isn't PC which hopefully can be forgiven, but it is funny.

Joey Lawrence and Emily Hampshire are cute together.

This story is a nice change on the theme and takes a tiny twist at the end.

Just darling and a great mixture of Christmas and Hanukkah themes

[inkblot11 · 8/10 · 6 March 2014]

Its Thanksgiving. Rob (Joey Lawrence) has a hard time committing to ANYTHING! On the job, he is a talented art director but he happily goes from one freelance position to another, so that he doesn't have to stay true to a single company. The same phobia occurs for his love life, a never ending string of short-term romances. He breaks up with a current flame in a taxicab! His grandma is keenly disappointed, as she is very ill and wants to see him happily married. Meanwhile, beautiful Julie (Emily Hampshire), also single since her last New Year's Eve break-up, is upset that her Jewish mother is endlessly trying to match make her only daughter. Turkey dinner is almost unbearable, since Mom and Dad have invited a "prospect" to join their meal. Enough of this, she thinks! Her brilliant plan is to go online and find a "pretend" boyfriend for the coming holiday season so that she can avoid any future blind dates and complications. Guess who sees her ad! Rob! He believes his grandma is dying and wants to give her a last wish by becoming engaged. Oh, what a tangled web may be ahead, for Rob is Catholic and Julie is Jewish. Each must take a "cram course" in faking a new religion. But, amid the errors, both of them laugh and, in truth, like what they find in their pretend fiancés. Will it only be a case of hitched for the holidays! This darling film has a great cast (including Marilu Henner), lovely sets, fetching costumes, a mirthful script, and a lively direction. How welcome it is to find a seasonal film that touches on Hanukkah as well as Christmas. It also produces laughter, as when Rob's family buys Kwanzaa candle holders instead of Menorrahs! Naturally, romance fans will be delighted, too. Ditch the old re-runs and go get Hitched!

suckered in

[sa8713 · 8/10 · 2 December 2012]

I really like joey Lawrence as an actor and when i seen that he was going to be in this movie i just had to watch it. The holidays are stressful and very lonely if you have no one special to share them with, I'm always single on the holidays so i know. This movie had a sweet twist in it being that the man was doing this online arrangement for his dying grandma and not just to show off to his buddies. THe other thing that i thought was funny is how drunk he got at the work Christmas party. You knew they were going to end up together because thats just how these movies go, but the funniest part of all is that at the end he finally made one of his mothers "visions" come true. I recommend this movie to anyone who like a laugh and a good looking actor, or can relate with a crazy family.

Easy going Xmas story

[cliverichards1 · 7/10 · 29 November 2013]

Not sure why Lisa Bishop has to reduce this to a sexist moan as it wasn't written to be sexist! Such a shame and so unnecessary.

This is a simple little story that draws you in. It I has an easy storyline and is nice to watch and become involved in.

The characters are believable and enjoyable. The story is often predictable but that does not detract from the overall plot which still surprises at moments. There are some great moments in it where you want to hide in embarrassment but this is because in a way they are believable!

It doesn't have to have big expectations because that is what it is!

Settle down on a cold wet afternoon in front of a fire and enjoy!

A Nice Change of Pace From The Average Hallmark Film

[Christmas-Reviewer · 7/10 · 23 August 2016]

In this film two "Thirty Something" adults are both sick and tired of friends and family trying to match them up-especially during the holidays.

In this film a commitment-phobic Rob Marino (Joey Lawrence) breaks up with his girlfriend before Thanksgiving, he is criticized by his big Italian family about his inability to keep a relationship through the holidays. Wanting to prove them wrong and fulfill his dying grandmother's (Paula Shaw) wish to see him happy in love, Rob goes online and finds Julie (Emily Hampshire), another single New Yorker who's meddling Jewish mom (Marilu Henner), has driven her to seek a temporary boyfriend. Rob and Julie agree to pose as a couple through the holidays to get their families off their backs. But things get complicated when Rob's Catholic clan and Julie's Jewish family get involved. With Christmas coming and Hanukkah around the corner, they double their efforts to keep the charade going, only to discover their fake feelings may be a little too real.

The film does move along at a nice pace. My only problem is that Joey Lawrence is miscast. Since this is a Hallmark movie I am a little shocked that Candace Cameron did not snap up this role (Unless she did not want to play a Jewish Girl) Has lots nice moments. Not perfect but very enjoyable.

Loved It

[asbelcorrales · 10/10 · 25 December 2018]

I absolutely loved this movie and enjoyed the various hilarious parts it had! I love Christmas holiday movies.

nice

[Kirpianuscus · 23 December 2017]

Not different by many others Christmas movies, using the same sweet romanticism, with few drops of religion, solitude and ...a horse, it is only nice. and this is the good point. because , in this case, the most important detail could be the status of hot chocolate film. and, few good performances and few references to classic scenes of genre are enough for ignore the not inspired parts and the unrealistic scenes. but the real great thing is the science to use the well known recipe of genre. in simple manner, without many innovations, it is the typical Christmas film - comfortable, nice and romantic.

Looking back....

[rightisright · 6/10 · 13 November 2017]

Watching this movie again five years later, it's striking how sterile and predictable this year's Hallmark movies are.

Emily Hampshire is not the usual fake looking blond used these days as the female lead in Hallmark movies. She's cute, quirky and funny as the lead girl. I've never been much of a Joey Lawrence fan, but he's fine here as a decent guy out in a bad spot. The ending is as stupid and contrived as they come, but you really want to see these two together, so it'll do. It's strange home Hallmark movies these days completely avoid any mention of religion, so it's nice to see both Jewish and Catholics portrayed.

Definitely watch it!

[lauralp-86284 · 10/10 · 8 November 2015]

This was the first Christmas movie of the year that I saw I it didn't disappoint. The themes of family radiated from the storyline which is what Christmas is all about, the plot was believable cause it didn't always go to plan and most of the time I was in fits of giggles at the characters situations. The acting of all the characters was very good for a TV movie and the storyline was on that is used many times in Christmas movies but this had more comedy in it which in involved different religions but wasn't, in my eyes, offensive to either religion. The scale of the movies finale was very well directed and it added to the festive spirit. It was a lovely festive movie that got me all ready for the Christmas season!

Needs Captions

[dick-33879 · 7/10 · 21 November 2018]

Would have enjoyed much more of there were closed captions.

Average at best

[Zoooma · 5/10 · 15 September 2014]

Here is yet another Hallmark Channel Made-for-TV Christmas movie, this time starring the awesome (ha!) Joey Lawrence (whooaaa!) He's actually does have decent acting talent and isn't all that bad. Neither is Emily Hampshire, the lead Canadian here. But the movie itself has a dumb, overused premise and is nothing but predictable. Why I'm watching 90 minutes of Christmas fluff each week I am not sure. You'd think more than 1 out of every 20 would be above average but they're seemingly all nearly the same.

5.6 / 10 stars

--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener

A double fish out of water story

[VetteRanger · 8/10 · 23 October 2022]

There have been several of these "fake boyfriend/girlfriend" Hallmark Christmas movies over the years, but this was one of the early ones, and it delivered. The Catholic "boyfriend' pretending to be Jewish was funny. The actors' takes to him blowing out the Minora candles cracks us up.

There are lots of laugh and chuckle moments, and that's what you're watching these for in the first place. Yeah, a good romance story is nice. This didn't have the "best" bonding structure between the romantic leads, but it worked well enough.

We've seen this a few times now, and i think we like it better every time.

don't waste your time

[lisachristenebishop · 3/10 · 28 December 2012]

I am a Joey Lawrence fan, but he has much better chemistry with Melissa Joan Hart. You would be better off watching them in 'My Fake Fiancé' or in their TV show 'Melissa and Joey'. Most of the acting was stilted and unbelievable and made it difficult to connect with the characters. In the end, you really did not care if the main characters got together or not. And really, would it be too much to ask to see a movie where a mother does not push for her daughter to get married and try to arrange dates for her? My mother has never done this, nor has any one of my friends' mothers. In this day and age, why is it still portrayed in movies that a woman is nothing without a man? While the right man can compliment your life, you still have one without a man in it.

Very entertaining fake dating fiasco

[MickyG333 · 8/10 · 9 January 2024]

7.9 stars.

'Hitched for the Holidays' for me was a Christmas surprise. I'd never have thought they could pull off this type of story and still pack a bunch of twists and surprises into the script. A man and a woman both put ads into what appears to be a made up copycat of Craigslist, and the ads says they are looking for a fake significant other to get through the holidays with, maybe have someone to kiss on the New Year. This is not a new story by any means, but there are so many little tweaks and variances that it's actually quite original in the presentation.

He acts different than most lead men, you can see he's being authentic to himself with his style. Although it can be strange and frustrating at times, because it comes off as too real, in the end it makes this a better movie. She is not someone I've seen a whole lot, yet I recognize her. This was a great role for her and she really shines in this part.

The whole fiasco is downplayed in such a way that it's not too flashy and crazy hectic, with all the pretending, and the white lies becoming worse and worse, spiraling into a nightmare. No, they cut it short where it needs, make it more believable and the families are dismayed at first, but arguably quite forgiving and open-minded.

Wonderful storytelling going on with this film, so I highly recommend it. Almost a full 8 stars, but there were just a couple parts that left me wanting, potential fun that wandered off to a lonely place, underutilized.

Forgettable

[yellowmarlin · 5/10 · 26 December 2020]

I've seen worse Hallmark Christmas movies, but this is basically a bargain bin version of While You Were Sleeping. I recommend watching that instead.