Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have taken the world by storm throughout their yearlong relationship, spawning Halloween costumes, two songs on Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department,” a mess of fan accounts and a complete Jason Kelce expanded universe.
The most recent addition to the Tayvis multiverse? Two vacation films based mostly on their romance, releasing every week aside. The primary, “Christmas in the Spotlight,” is a Lifetime Christmas film loosely impressed by Swift and Kelce’s story. The characters are usually not explicitly Travis and Taylor, however the film makes quite a few references to the couple, they usually clearly resemble Swift and Kelce in each demeanor and look. It’s not fairly a beat-for-beat illustration of what we all know of their public relationship, but it surely’s an in depth approximation. (The second, “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” airs on the Hallmark Channel on Saturday).
Whether or not you don’t have time to observe it or need to know what to anticipate earlier than hitting play, right here’s what you should know …
What’s the plot of ‘Christmas in the Spotlight?’
Film Taylor — named Bowyn, and performed by Jessica Lord — and Film Travis — named Drew, and performed by Laith Wallschleger — meet backstage at one among Bowyn’s concert events. Drew takes a photograph with the pop star, however doesn’t efficiently ask her out. He later posts it on social media inviting her to one among his video games, a parallel to Travis asking Taylor to come back to one among his video games on the “New Heights” podcast after attending the Eras Tour.
Bowyn initially agrees to exit with Drew in order that her supervisor (performed by Jeannie Mai) can sit within the field and finally meet Drew — since she’s a giant fan of his crew, the Bombers. They begin relationship privately, however quickly undergo a short breakup after one among Drew’s teammates catches the 2 on a date they usually disagree on whether or not or to not go public.
In the end, the true audio of Bowyn’s interplay together with her ex-boyfriend is launched and he or she will get again along with Drew simply in time for Christmas. And all’s effectively within the Lifetime universe, correctly.
Are Jason and Kylie Kelce in it? What about Donna Kelce?
No film impressed by Travis Kelce can be full with out an in-universe Jason and Kylie, or on this film, Rob and Nicole. However not the whole lot is identical. Listed here are some key references to the Kelce household from “Christmas in the Spotlight” …
In contrast to in actual life, the Jason and Travis characters within the film play for a similar crew. And as an alternative of enjoying heart, Rob (Film Jason, performed by Dennis Andres) is the star quarterback of the crew, regardless of being a lot shorter than his brother.
Within the first scene, the brothers argue over who their mother’s favourite is. “On this planet, I’ve given her a grandchild and you’ve given her an ulcer,” Rob tells Drew. Forward of the Tremendous Bowl, Donna Kelce really did say that Jason was at present her favourite “because of the grandchildren” — so Lifetime did its background analysis!
Rob additionally comes off as a bit sexist, judging Bowyn for writing songs about her string of exes, whereas being at his daughter’s celebration themed in her honor. Drew, after all, calls him out, and rattles off a listing of her many awards and achievements, which appear unimaginable given the standard of the tune she sings initially, however I’m giving them a cross for the music.
Bowyn’s not the one one with unrealistic accomplishments. Allegedly, Drew has gained MVP 9 instances, which is nearly unimaginable for any participant, particularly a receiver. It additionally feels incongruent along with his first scene, which he spends apprehensive about whether or not or not he’ll be getting lower on the finish of the yr. He additionally could be very involved with residing as much as his brother, which appears ridiculous if he’s already gained 9 MVP trophies.
General, Rob shouldn’t be very supportive of Bowyn and Drew’s relationship, judging his brother for letting the connection and rising fame affect his efficiency, which Drew denies by saying he’s enjoying higher than ever. Rob can also be is noticeably jealous of Drew’s fame at a number of factors within the film, and will get mad when Drew will get a proposal to play in L.A. This film’s model of Jason Kelce is fairly unlikable, to be trustworthy.
Nicole (Film Kylie, performed by Haley Kalil) is barely in it, and the film equivalents of the Kelce dad and mom even have minimal roles. Drew does beg Film Donna for her well-known lasagna recipe to cook dinner for Bowyn.
What number of Taylor Swift references are there?
Along with the references to Swift’s love life and Travis Kelce’s real-life household, there are many references to different facets of the couple’s lives …
Film Taylor’s followers are referred to as “Arrowheads.” The in-universe justification for that is that her character’s identify is Bowyn (or Bow) and so her followers are arrows — however after all it’s impressed by Arrowhead Stadium, the place Travis Kelce’s Chiefs play. This additionally offers the Travis Kelce character an excuse to do the bow and arrow celebration, which references Swift’s tune “The Archer.”
Bowyn’s supervisor makes a reference to Rob being in “basically every commercial,” which is certainly additionally true of real-life Jason.
The variety of references to Swift’s lyrics on this film is sort of uncountable. At one level, Drew’s niece solutions a name from Bowyn with a “can’t come to the phone right now, he’s dead!” from “Look What You Made Me Do.” There are references to … “Ready For It?,” “The Alchemy” (which is notably about Travis), “Wonderland,” “Cassandra,” “You Belong With Me,” “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart,” “Mean,” “You’re Losing Me” and doubtless extra that I missed.
Bowyn and Drew have their first date on her non-public jet. Swift is legendary for her non-public jet journey, for good and for dangerous. Bowyn’s jet stays wheels down within the hangar all through that date.
Bowyn having an out-of-context dialog launched references Swift’s notorious battle with Kanye West over the “Famous” music video. Swift was “canceled” for getting indignant at West for together with a unadorned model of hers within the video and utilizing an offensive time period towards her after West launched footage that recommended he knowledgeable her of the video forward of time. Swift later launched a tape with your entire dialog.
Is ‘Christmas in the Spotlight’ any good?
The film is fairly commonplace Hallmark-esque Christmas fare. The hook of the film is the Kelce-Swift connection, but it surely’s in all probability a stronger film with out the express references continually reminding you that you just’re primarily watching fan-fiction put to display screen. It’s clear sufficient what it’s mimicking simply based mostly on the premise and the plot factors — do we actually must reference Swift straight in each scene?
The lyrics are sometimes clunkily inserted and there are means too many singing sequences on this film, which is jarring contemplating the songs are extraordinarily dangerous. I used to be not anticipating a Lifetime film to drag out Taylor Swift-quality lyrics, however the songs may simply be lower, actually.
The actors are pretty charming. And apart from Bowyn trying suspiciously like Brittany Mahomes and the film inexplicably utilizing inventory footage of Yankee Stadium for the establishing photographs — have been no soccer stadiums out there? — it’s really fairly pleasurable. That’s, when it’s not beating you over the top with all these overt references. Then once more, that’s form of the purpose.
‘CHRISTMAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT’
Ranking: TV-PG
The right way to watch: Lifetime