The attraction between superfan Alana (Hunter King) and Chiefs Director of Fan Engagement (Tyler Hynes) is simply one of many love tales in Holiday Touchdown.
Joshua Haines/Hallmark Media
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Joshua Haines/Hallmark Media
In 2024, seeing a vacation romantic comedy primarily based round (and made in partnership with) the Kansas City Chiefs naturally calls to thoughts one of the fussed-over superstar {couples} in latest reminiscence: the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and the world’s Taylor Swift.
But Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, which premieres on Hallmark on Saturday night time, is a romance solely partially. It’s a couple of lady named Alana (Hunter King) who will get her complete household of Chiefs fanatics within the working for Fan of the Year. The staff’s Director of Fan Engagement (Tyler Hynes) is assigned to be the household’s liaison with the staff, and he and Alana start making starry eyes at one another … and so forth.
While the romance itself is fairly down-the-middle, what’s charming concerning the film is its affection for Alana’s complete household and the way a lot the Chiefs imply to them. Having a partnership with an actual NFL staff could make the movie really feel like, nicely, lots. (There’s solely a lot Chiefs merch and signage you’ll be able to have a look at earlier than it will get oppressive). But mixed with different Kansas City touches (a cameo from the mayor, as an example), you do get a fuller sense that this fandom actually exists, even when these specific persons are fictional.
Part of the film’s backstory is that Alana’s household started with the Chiefs: her mom’s household and her father’s household had season tickets subsequent to one another, the households turned buddies, her mother and pa began relationship, and now it is all one huge group — nonetheless with season tickets, although it is now in a brand new stadium.
There actually are households like this, and it is why lots of people like sports activities. You know this should you had been paying consideration earlier this yr when the Oakland A’s performed their final sport in Oakland, earlier than being ripped out of their neighborhood and despatched to the purgatory of a minor-league stadium on the way in which to what’s imagined to be a everlasting dwelling in Las Vegas. Oakland followers are experiencing a real sense of loss, and whereas it’s about baseball, it isn’t solely about baseball. If you realize any Oakland followers who had been unhappy about this variation, there is a first rate probability their devastation has one thing to do with anyone they love, or beloved, who additionally beloved the A’s. Families watch video games collectively, buddies watch video games collectively, individuals discuss gamers and adjustments, and it does develop to imply one thing to them. (Just yesterday, a good friend requested me how bummed I’ll be if my staff, the Phillies, commerce Alec Bohm.)
Holiday Touchdown explores the overlap of household and fandom. Above, Christine Ebersole, from left, Ed Begley Jr., Diedrich Bader, Megyn Price, Hunter King and Tyler Hynes.
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Matt Hoover/Hallmark Media
In the film, Alana’s household has a superstition a couple of knit hat that somebody has to put on yearly on Christmas with the intention to make the Chiefs win. On the one hand, it is very foolish. On the opposite hand, it is completely one thing {that a} household of followers may do. I’ve been identified to genuinely pause and wonder if I ought to or mustn’t put on a staff shirt on a given day, primarily based on some sense that it is perhaps good or unhealthy luck. Superstitions are a part of the deal. Goofy? Sure. Genuine? You wager.
So whereas I can not defend the integrity of Derrick getting romantically concerned with one of many followers up for Fan of the Year (that is not what they imply by Fan Engagement, Derrick!), the concept of centering a vacation film round a household’s love of the house staff is a fairly good one.
This piece additionally appeared in NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour publication. Sign up for the publication so you do not miss the following one, plus get weekly suggestions about what’s making us pleased.
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