Starring Janel Parrish and Maggie Lawson
***SPOILER ALERT***
Emily (Lawson), a lawyer, holds a family meeting to review her checklist of five things her mom thought were essential to a perfect Christmas. But each family member is preoccupied with other concerns. Daughter Nina (Kyra Leroux) wants to attend a music college, which Emily discourages. Son Max (Avan Stewart) doesn’t fit in at high school. And Emily’s husband, Ben (Brendon Zub), an architect, must revise a design for his Scrooge-like boss. In a box of ornaments, Emily discovers a star-shaped tree topper. It’s said to grant whoever finds it a worthy wish, so she wishes for a magical Christmas—just like the ones in her beloved Sugarplum holiday movies—to bring her family together. Perky, ebullient Sugarplum, the star of these movies, then materializes before Emily’s eyes. Sugarplum’s mission is to help Emily create that perfect Christmas, but things go awry when Sugarplum’s rules fail to apply in the real world, leaving Emily’s family unhappier than ever.
PROS
The film was written and directed by Ryan Landels, also credited with Santa Tell Me (2024). Like that movie, this one brimmed with humor, and it featured rapid-fire, clever dialogue and spot-on performances by the entire cast. Best of all, it was an affectionate send-up of the Hallmark clichés that fans are so familiar with, such as the small bag that fits a woman’s entire winter wardrobe!
Parrish as Sugarplum. The actress absolutely nailed this Pollyannaish character, who hailed from the small town of Perfection. Parrish lent Sugarplum a rainbows-and-unicorn optimism, demure mid-century style (her wardrobe looked as if it was from circa 1960), and giggly, girlish manner. According to the character, Emily’s Christmas would work out fine if they followed Sugarplum’s rulebook, and because one of the rules stipulated that she be invited into a complete stranger’s home, she stayed with Emily and her family and pretended to be “Sue Garplum,” an old college friend.
Many hilarious scenes centered on Sugarplum. She sold her collection of tiaras and other jewels, presents from assorted princes, to finance Emily’s decorating. Sugarplum also participated in a store competition so she could win the headphones Nina wanted for Christmas. Very much in her element, Sugarplum showed off her amazing prowess in gift wrapping, knitting (she produced a whole sweater in no time), and gingerbread house decorating (hers was an elaborate mansion that lit up). Attending a career day in Max’s class, she shook a magic snow globe, creating a snowfall inside the school. This boosted Max’s popularity. But she was arrested for being involved in the snow incident and for cutting down Emily’s neighbor’s tree. Sugarplum posed goofily for the camera in her mug shots, and in her jail cell, led some surly-looking prisoners in singing Christmas carols. This quirky character was irresistible.
A family Christmas unravels. Sugarplum’s network, Harmony Home, was having a competition for the most Christmassy-looking home, and Emily entered. She was thrilled to become a finalist. She thought winning would create the magical Christmas memory for her family she craved, but Sugarplum realized that the rules were backfiring in the real world. Things truly fell apart when Emily was delayed by getting Sugarplum released from jail. When she finally arrived home, she learned that Max had been suspended over the snow incident (he was accused of making light of climate change) and Ben had to meet with the principal. And Ben’s deadline had been moved up after he gave his boss some gin-soaked cookies Emily had baked. Meanwhile, Nina was frustrated that Emily had ducked her attempts to discuss college. The straw that broke the camel’s back came when Emily asked them to focus on the competition instead of their own concerns, which she’d been oblivious to. They mutinied. Emily’s obsession with decorating for the competition wasn’t for them but for her, they said, before abruptly leaving for the Christmas pageant, where Nina would perform. The crisis added a note of drama to this otherwise fluffier-than-meringue movie.
Lessons about perfectionism and being yourself. The film delivered heartfelt messages, some of them from a surprising source—Sugarplum. For such a ditzy character, she showed surprising wisdom when, after the family left, she consoled Emily, saying that she needed to let Christmas be imperfect. According to Sugarplum, Emily’s family didn’t need perfection—they needed her. Order was restored when Emily apologized to Ben at the pageant. She resolved to stop chasing perfection, as she wanted to be present in the moment for her family. And when Max continued to fret about fitting in, Sugarplum counseled him not to fit in when he had a chance to stand out for just being who he was. Finally, Nina had a crisis of confidence immediately before she was due to go onstage, and at last Emily stood behind her, encouraging her to not worry about a flawless performance and to just be herself. Her mother’s support moved Nina to tears, and after a tender family hug (aww . . .), she went on to give a stellar performance. Sugarplum’s mission accomplished, it was time for her to return to Perfection.
Fun cameos. A subplot pitted Emily’s client, Miranda (Fiona Gubelmann), against a greedy developer (Victor Webster). He wanted to tear down Miranda’s family’s ski lodge and put up an ultramodern resort. Sugarplum correctly predicted they’d fall in love, and their chemistry was obvious here. Carlo Marks also appeared briefly as a handsome man Sugarplum coyly flirted with before he served her with a summons!
CONS
None.
My grade for Sugarplummed: A (a delectable Christmas treat)
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.
