Starring Sara Canning and Ser’Darius Blain
***SPOILER ALERT***
Hannah (Canning) is a busy emergency room doctor who’s recently moved to Philadelphia and feels homesick, while Wes (Blain) is a kindly EMT who’s active in supporting his community. Meanwhile, Sanjay (Erik Athavale), a police officer who’s been transferred to a new precinct, realizes that his new partner, Danielle (Reena Jolly), is a woman he’d ghosted after they kissed. When Wes brings in a new patient to the hospital, he meets Hannah. Learning she’s new to town, he starts showing her around the city, taking the edge off her loneliness and helping her feel more at home. Amid the stress of intense, chaotic work environments, as well as long hours that permit little in the way of a personal life, Hannah and Wes gradually sort out their feelings for one another, as do Sanjay and Danielle.
PROS
Christmas on Call was refreshingly unique among Hallmark movies, as it highlighted the adrenaline-fueled world of those who work on the front lines during emergencies and often must be available to help at a moment’s notice.
Chemistry in spades. I loved Canning and Blain together and thought they had wonderful chemistry. Wes was a gentle teddy bear of a man who brought warmth to Hannah’s lonely life. From the moment they met, they engaged in teasing banter, bringing out each other’s fun side. Wes poked fun at Hannah for not having savored the delights of a Philly cheesesteak yet, and he insisted he was qualified to treat her homesickness. When they finally had the chance to indulge in cheesesteaks, the conversation turned serious. They spoke of devoting their lives to being of service, and knowing early on that this path was the right one for them. They couldn’t fight fate, they said. Ostensibly, they were talking about their careers, but what was unspoken was their certainty that they were destined for each other. It was a beautiful scene. There was also an adorable moment when Wes arrived at the hospital with his a capella group singing Christmas carols. He invited Hannah to join them, and the wary “Are you crazy?” look she gave him was hilarious. And in the lovely final scene outside the hospital, they sat on a bench against a dazzling archway of sparkling lights. She admitted she finally felt at home, and he admitted that although he hadn’t let himself care for anyone romantically, with Hannah, he’d run out of excuses. I enjoyed the delightful connection between them.
Good supporting players. A few supporting actors stood out, especially Tamara Almeida, who played Julia, Wes’s partner. Julia was a nervous newbie with high expectations of herself and high anxiety about being overwhelmed on the job. Wes calmed her down, tried to build her confidence, and urged her to take the lead in difficult situations. Also lending his support to her was Fire Chief Anderson (Hallmark veteran Paul Essiembre, who often plays amiable dads). And Angela Narth was funny as Hannah’s motherly, nosy neighbour. She dropped off manicotti for Hannah and couldn’t resist eavesdropping on her conversations with Wes in the hallway.
Touching situations. Lauren Cochrane was very affecting as Betsy, Hannah’s patient. Betsy had severe asthma and was without a job or family; she was barely keeping it together and Hannah said to her, “I need you to treat your heart.” When Hannah suggested that she connect with Home for the Holidays, the charitable organization Wes worked with, Betsy rejected this, thinking it would be hopeless. However, later she took the advice and expressed her gratitude that Hannah cared. Cochrane displayed considerable vulnerability as Betsy. As well, there was the nurse (Monique Marcker) who wanted desperately to connect to her daughter, Chloe (Juliette Schroeder), over the holidays. Chloe was serving in the military, and to her mom’s surprise, she arrived at the hospital, where they had a heartwarming reunion.
The crisis (mostly). The climax occurred when Fire Chief Anderson’s life was in danger after he entered a burning building. This added dramatic tension, as he fell unconscious and at first everyone wondered if he’d pull through. However, his diagnosis was a concussion and a fractured wrist, so he would recover. Two heroes emerged from this situation: Wes for carrying the chief from the building, and Julia for taking control after that.
CONS
A foolhardy move. The one thing that bothered me about the crisis was that Wes charged into the burning building alone and without any protective gear. He was both an EMT and a firefighter, and I couldn’t imagine he’d simply forget his training in such a moment; it didn’t ring true.
The police officers. Sanjay and Danielle made an odd pairing and it was hard to envision them as a couple; Athavale and Jolly just didn’t create sparks. And while Hannah and Wes had challenging on-the-job situations to cope with, Sanjay and Danielle were relegated to confronting two men who had an ongoing feud over inflatable lawn decorations, which seemed so trivial. This was intended as comic relief (not that the movie required it) and wasn’t even that entertaining.
My grade for Christmas on Call: A-
Caroline Kaiser is a professional book editor who specializes in fiction and memoirs, and she’s been guiding writers toward publication since 2007. Caroline is also the author of two ghostly mystery novels, Virginia’s Ghost and The Spirits of South Drive. Before she embarked on an editing and writing career, she spent many years working in a Toronto auction house as an antiques appraiser. Apart from curling up on the couch and drinking tea as she watches Hallmark movies, Caroline enjoys baking and exploring London, Ontario, the picturesque city she now calls home. Her website is www.carolinekaisereditor.com.
