“Rekindling Christmas,” starring Ashley Atwood and Michael Patrick Lane, is a heartwarming daytime fiction program. Digital Journal has the recap.
It was directed by James Ganiere and it was written by Rebekah Ganiere. It is one of those films that deserves to be on Hallmark on Lifetime due to its poignant holiday subject matter. It has been nominated for a 2021 Daytime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Daytime Fiction Program,” and rightfully so.
Ashley Atwood stars as teacher and author Annika Marshall, Michael Patrick Lane portrays former football star Jesse Winchester, Christian Ganiere plays Anniak’s son TJ Marshall, and Disney star Raini Rodriguez takes on the role of Carrie, Jesse’s assistant.
Other cast members include Nickelodeon star Thomas Hobson as Allistair, Sal Velez Jr. as Dean Samborn, and child actress Stella Grubb as Lizzy.
Annika Marshall and Jesse Winchester were the quintessential couple back in their college days. One week after they got engaged, Jesse was drafted into the NFL, and never came back.
Fast-forward many years later, Jesse is back in town with an injured knee and his sole goal is to live a more modest life and win his college sweetheart, Annika back. Without giving too much away, this is a family movie that is worth checking out.
The Verdict
Overall, “Rekindling Christmas” is a charming and heartfelt holiday film that is ideal for the entire family. Ashley Atwood is delightful as Annika, and compliments to James Ganiere for his direction and vision for this movie; moreover, the script by Rebekah Ganiere was solid.
Michael Patrick Lane and Raini Rodriguez also deserved Emmy nominations for “Outstanding Lead Actor” and “Outstanding Supporting Actress” respectively for their performances, especially since Raini’s character was the voice of reason. Michael Patrick Lane was able to humanize Jesse, he showcases his flaws and layers, all while making him relatable.
Christian Ganiere and Stella Grubb should have also been Emmy contenders in the “Younger Performer” category as well. The entire cast brought something unique to the table. The message and overall theme of this movie, which highlights love and family, is quite inspiring. “Rekindling Christmas” garners 4.5 out of 5 stars.
