Checkin’ It Twice
Hallmark Hockey
Scott is a cocky hockey player who is convinced his stint in “Idaho Falls” will be but a brief stop before his inevitable call up to Boise(!) and then it’s just a short hop up to the NHL. Ashley is a NYC real estate agent having some professional challenges, but still eagle-eyed about her dream of selling luxury commercial properties.
But, lo and behold, they find themselves forced together in her hometown at Christmas, where he conveniently takes up lodging in her family’s guest house.
Now look, every Hallmark movie stretches the limits of credulity to one extent or another, but perhaps the biggest leap here is that Scott, a 32 year old hockey player playing for the farm team’s farm team actually has a chance of making it to the show.
I digress.
As a hockey fan, I wanted to like this more, but Scott is unlikeable for much of the movie. Arrogant and the opposite of a team player, reluctant to do the things required of the team to support the community, it’s just… it makes it hard to root for the guy. Dude, you’re a 32 year old wannabe rookie hockey player who still thinks he has a real shot at the big time. The red flags abound… 🚩
Somewhat inexplicably, rather than the standard trope where one protagonist leaves their city life for the charm of a small town love, in this case they BOTH abandon their dream jobs to explore a life together. I don’t get it.
I think one of the best parts of this movie was seeing a character in a rainbow blazer that I personally own. That was cool.
Classic Christmas movie tropes:
“Big City” gal is back in her small town for Christmas
Quirky local “Holiday Jamboree” event
Filmed in Canada (but Kelowna and Vernon, which is a little off the normal beaten path for Hallmark)
Decorating a Christmas tree
You’ll like this if…
You know nothing about professional hockey and like seeing successful women abandon their dreams for mediocre men.
SCORE: 5/10
Tell me more!
A journeyman hockey player falls for a real estate agent in a career crisis when he’s traded to her hometown and moves into the cottage in her hockey loving family’s backyard. Starring Kim Matula and Kevin McGarry.
https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/checkin-it-twice/about-checkin-it-twice
