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19 hours ago
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How are popular are the reigning repeat Super Bowl champion Chiefs? Fans in the Kingdom are so passionate, they inspired a television movie about that very subject, just in time for their team's colossal Christmas Day home game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Before or after watching that game on Netflix, Kansas City fans have plenty of reasons they should be ready to eat up "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story," the latest sports adjacent rom-com produced by the Hallmark Channel.
The greeting card company-turned-movie factory is based in Kansas City, so it seems only right that Hallmark would produce a feel-good ode to the Missouri mecca. A win against the Steelers to lock up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs will be at the top of Chiefs fans' Christmas wish list, but here's why "Holiday Touchdown" serves as the ideal family flick to watch before or after Wednesday's game.
MORE: Everything to know about 'Holiday Touchdown' Christmas movie
Holiday Touchdown movie review: 5 reasons to watch 'A Chiefs Love Story'
1. "Kansas City, here we come"
Grandparents of a main character owning a local barbecue joint. References to Crown Center, which also happens to be home of Hallmark. Throwbacks to Super Bowls past, present and future. Chiefs gear, more Chiefs gear and even more Chiefs gear. These are some of the favorite things in "Holiday Touchdown" that Chiefs fans will eat up right along with their Christmas meal.
2. "Hey, isn't that the Nigerian Nightmare before Christmas?
Donna Kelce and Andy Reid are the biggest cameos in the movie, and Travis' mom even has a few fun lines — though she doesn't play herself. Fans can also watch out for current Chiefs, including Trey Smith, Mecole Hardman and George Karlaftis. Clyde Edwards-Helaire also made the cut before he was released by the Chiefs.
In a nod to popular Kansas City teams of the past, running back Christian Okoye appears as a overwhelmed shopper, while quarterback Trent Green is seen, well, throwing footballs.
MORE: How Donna Kelce landed roles in two Hallmark movies
3. "A Love Story ... to Chiefs Kingdom"
Although the primary storyline involves multiple meet-cutes between Missouri lifer Alana (Hunter King) and Chiefs marketing exec Derrick (Tyler Hynes), the real love story is about one family's dedication to all things Chiefs, going all the way back to Super Bowl 4.
Ed Begley Jr. ("St. Elsewhere"), Christine Ebersole ("Black Sheep") and Richard Riehle ("Office Space") play the three living members of two couples who became best friends while sitting next to each other at Arrowhead Stadium. Their respective offspring, Megyn Price ("Grounded for Life") and Diedrich Bader ("The Drew Carey Show") get married and become Alana's parents.
The whole family loves the Chiefs, and their story is sentimental, sappy, syrupy and sweet — and also involves a magical and lucky knit cap. It might bring some viewers from the Kingdom to tears.
4. "Don’t force it, ladies, just let it happen. Trust me on this one”
Fine, so Donna Kelce's best line in the movie doesn't quite match "I'll have what she's having." But her words of matchmaking advice to Alana's mother and grandmother are up there. After all, Kelce has seen a lovely young blonde woman find love with a beloved, bearded member of the Chiefs organization.
Get it? The movie offers a light spin on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, even if the love stories aren't quite the same. (Speaking of which, did you know Taylor Swift's family once lived on a Christmas tree farm?)
MORE: Meet the cast of 'Holiday Touchdown,' including Donna Kelce and Andy Reid cameos
5. "There's no place like Mahomes for the holidays"
The movie is a cinematic Hallmark card made for Chiefs fans. Alana and Derrick are cute enough, the family is funny enough and the story is palpable enough. Plus there's no language or violence that will force you to watch without kids, and Chiefs fans should come out of the experience feeling even better about Kansas City after settling for back-to-back Super Bowl wins and three rings in the past five seasons.
This is the perfect movie to watch if you need something to watch while you're baking Andy Reid- or Santa-shaped Christmas cookies on Christmas morning — or if you just need to get through the long hours before Mahomes & Co. face the Steelers.
How to watch 'Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story'
"Holiday Touchdown" has two more airings on Hallmark Channel during the holiday season. The first comes at 8 a.m. ET on Christmas Day, which will let fans catch the full movie before the Chiefs kick off Week 17 against the Steelers at 1 p.m. ET on Netflix. Another Hallmark airing comes at midnight Tuesday, Dec. 31, to start New Year's Eve.
Viewers also stream "Holiday Touchdown" and other Hallmark Channel Christmas movies on demand via Peacock or through a trial subscription to Fubo.
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