Twelve Men of Christmas
Encyclopedia
12 Men of Christmas is a 2009 American romantic comedy
television film
made for the Lifetime Television network. Directed by Arlene Sanford
and starring Kristin Chenoweth
, the film is based on the novel Decent Exposure by Phillipa Ashley with the teleplay
adaptation written by Jon Maas. Anna Chlumsky
, Aaron Abrams
, Stephen Huszar
, and Peter Mooney
also star.
The film had its world premiere on Lifestyle on December 5, 2009. The story takes place in Kalispell
, Montana
, USA, but the film was shot in Calgary
, Alberta
, Canada
. It tells the story of a New York publicist who takes a job in a small town in Montana. The reference to 12 men in the title refers to members of the volunteer Kalispell Search and Rescue team who are the first point of rescue for those in danger at Glacier National Park.
publicist
. E.J. seemingly has the "perfect life"; a beautiful condo, a loving fiancee, a great job, and an excellent boss. But E.J.'s world takes a turn for the worst when she catches her fiancee Noah having an affair with her boss Lillah at the office Christmas party. Resulting in E.J. breaking Lillah's expensive Gucci
pump shoe, and breaking off her engagement with Noah.
Now, having no one to spend Christmas
or New Years with (except her dog) E.J. starts to look for a new job, though with Lillah account black balling her all over the city, E.J. has no one else to turn to except her braggish sister Roz. Feeling sympathy for her, Roz pushes E.J. to take up a job offer in Kalispell, Montana
to lure corporate retreats for a year.
Upon arriving, E.J. is extremely disappointed to find that her "job" is working at a travel agency bureau with no secretaries or office, except her cheerful co-worker Jan Lucas (Anna Chlumsky
). Upon working, Jan invites E.J. to the town's barbecue where they raise money for equipment for the Kalispell Search & Rescue team. To show respect E.J. reluctantly goes and meets Dr. Marci Hempel and Eric, members of the search and rescue team. Marci tells E.J. that they raise money by holding various events, tr-athlons, pancake breakfasts, bake sales, etc. and if they don't raise enough money all of the tourists will go to more popular destinations such as Aspen
.
Right after the barbecue, E.J dives over to former client Robert Lazaar's chalet to take photos to lure corporate retreats or CEOs. While there, E.J. runs into arrogant Will Abrecht (Josh Hopkins
), a member of the squad swimming in Robert's pool. And immediately get into an argument, as their sparring occurs partly into the movie. The next day, Jan and E.J. receive leftovers of Kalispell's calendars which Jan believes is boring because it shows everyday Montana scenery. Remembering a naked Will, E.J. holds a conference with the Search and Rescue team as a new means of funds E.J. puts her media know how to good use by telling them each man can pose half-naked for the calendar (hence the title). While the majority find it completely absurd, especially Will, Jason defends E.J. and starts a short term relationship with her.
Right after the conference, Will comes by to rudely tell E.J. that it was a unanimous vote of no, not wanting to make a joke of the Rescue Squad. Although, E.J. wasn't brought up to quit and starts one by one to convince every member of the rescue squad to pose. E.J. eventually becomes successful even persuading Mayor Bob Baker, much to Will's dismay as he won't be needed because there are only twelve months but thirteen men on the squad.
But E.J.'s opinion about Will and vice versa soon change when E.J. is invited to an abseiling party and is goaded by Will to try abseiling for the first time. Although, half way down E.J. grips up resulting in Will to counsel her the rest of the way down. E.J. shyly thanks Will which finally grants Will enough courage to announce his feelings to E.J. saying that it's the most disgusting feeling he ever felt. E.J. is outraged and turns down his offer to sponsor the calendar, getting successful Chicago
businesswoman Sonia Kendall to sponsor it instead, liking E.J.'s breath of fresh cynicism.
When everything seems to be going perfectly, Mike comes by to tell E.J. that he is completely nervous and that there's no possible way for him to be convinced to pose. Although, feeling a soft spot for E.J. Will volunteers instead resulting in Will and E.J. having an intimate relationship. Eventually, the calendar is successful as publicity and women surround Kalispell. Jason comes by to tell E.J that he found a new job and is relocating to Chicago with his boss and girlfriend Sonia Kendall. But when Will overhears Jan talking to Eric on how E.J. may be moving back to New York. E.J. and Will get into an argument as Will resents ever getting involved with E.J. This just causes E.J. to go back to New York earlier and re-accept her recently lost job with Lillah.
It is at New York that E.J. is reminded of Will and everyone she met back in Kalispell. During an important business conference E.J. receives an emergency call from Jan that Will is in Kalispell Regional Hospital with a possibly fatal condition after falling 50 feet from a mountain. Out of insanity and love E.J. immediately flies out to Kalispell Regional and is informed by a nurse that Will is gone. Believing that Will died he comes up behind her to tell her he forgot something as E.J. tells him so has she. The two then embrace and kiss passionately. E.J. ends up residing with Will and all of her newly made friends in the hole in the ground that says Montana.
says the film "no pretense of placing anything new in the audience's stockings" but is complimentary of star Chenoweth, saying "with the right talent, it's possible to make even the moldiest of material sing just a little". David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle
calls it "a pleasant way to spend a holiday evening in front of a crackling plasma screen". Tanner Stransky of Entertainment Weekly
says "The only reason to watch this trivial holiday movie—with Kristin Chenoweth as an NYC bitch who finds herself after moving to Montana—is to gawk at Cougar Town
’s Josh Hopkins, who plays her love interest, often with a bare (and chiseled!) chest". Amy Amatangelo of the Boston Herald
calls the plot "overwhelmingly simple" and "would have been better executed in a half-hour sitcom".
Romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily"...
television film
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
made for the Lifetime Television network. Directed by Arlene Sanford
Arlene Sanford
Arlene Sanford is an American film and television director.Sanford has directed for several notable television series and several motion picture and television films which include A Very Brady Sequel , I'll Be Home for Christmas and Twelve Men of Christmas .Sanford has been nominated for two...
and starring Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth is an American singer and actress, with credits in musical theatre, film and television. She is best known on Broadway for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown , for which she won a Tony Award, and for originating the role of Glinda in the musical...
, the film is based on the novel Decent Exposure by Phillipa Ashley with the teleplay
Teleplay
A teleplay is a television play, a comedy or drama written or adapted for television. The term surfaced during the 1950s with wide usage to distinguish a television plays from stage plays for the theater and screenplays written for films...
adaptation written by Jon Maas. Anna Chlumsky
Anna Chlumsky
Anna Chlumsky is an American actress best known for playing Vada Sultenfuss in the 1991 movie My Girl and the 1994 sequel My Girl 2. Her father, Frank Chlumsky, is an instructor in the culinary program at Kendall College in Chicago...
, Aaron Abrams
Aaron Abrams
Aaron Abrams is a Canadian actor and writer born in Toronto, Ontario, who has worked in both film and television.Abrams has appeared in over 50 films and TV series, having been a regular on several shows including the Emmy nominated series 'The State Within' ,'Slings and Arrows' , and 'Runaway'...
, Stephen Huszar
Stephen Huszar
Stephen Huszar is a Canadian film and television actor.-Selected filmography:*Shock to the System *30 Days of Night: Dark Days as Eben Oleson - cameo appearance -Selected television work:...
, and Peter Mooney
Peter Mooney
-Private life:Mooney was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal, Quebec , and now resides in Toronto, Ontario.-Career:...
also star.
The film had its world premiere on Lifestyle on December 5, 2009. The story takes place in Kalispell
Kalispell, Montana
Kalispell is a city in and the county seat of Flathead County, Montana, United States. The 2010 census put Kalispell's population at 19,927 up 5,704 over 2000. At 40.1% this is the largest percentage of growth of any incorporated city in Montana. Kalispell is the largest city and commercial center...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, USA, but the film was shot in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It tells the story of a New York publicist who takes a job in a small town in Montana. The reference to 12 men in the title refers to members of the volunteer Kalispell Search and Rescue team who are the first point of rescue for those in danger at Glacier National Park.
Plot
E.J. Baxter (Kristen Chenoweth) is a headstrong and popular New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
. E.J. seemingly has the "perfect life"; a beautiful condo, a loving fiancee, a great job, and an excellent boss. But E.J.'s world takes a turn for the worst when she catches her fiancee Noah having an affair with her boss Lillah at the office Christmas party. Resulting in E.J. breaking Lillah's expensive Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
pump shoe, and breaking off her engagement with Noah.
Now, having no one to spend Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
or New Years with (except her dog) E.J. starts to look for a new job, though with Lillah account black balling her all over the city, E.J. has no one else to turn to except her braggish sister Roz. Feeling sympathy for her, Roz pushes E.J. to take up a job offer in Kalispell, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
to lure corporate retreats for a year.
Upon arriving, E.J. is extremely disappointed to find that her "job" is working at a travel agency bureau with no secretaries or office, except her cheerful co-worker Jan Lucas (Anna Chlumsky
Anna Chlumsky
Anna Chlumsky is an American actress best known for playing Vada Sultenfuss in the 1991 movie My Girl and the 1994 sequel My Girl 2. Her father, Frank Chlumsky, is an instructor in the culinary program at Kendall College in Chicago...
). Upon working, Jan invites E.J. to the town's barbecue where they raise money for equipment for the Kalispell Search & Rescue team. To show respect E.J. reluctantly goes and meets Dr. Marci Hempel and Eric, members of the search and rescue team. Marci tells E.J. that they raise money by holding various events, tr-athlons, pancake breakfasts, bake sales, etc. and if they don't raise enough money all of the tourists will go to more popular destinations such as Aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
.
Right after the barbecue, E.J dives over to former client Robert Lazaar's chalet to take photos to lure corporate retreats or CEOs. While there, E.J. runs into arrogant Will Abrecht (Josh Hopkins
Josh Hopkins
William Joshua Hopkins is an American actor.-Career:Hopkins joined the fourth, and last season, of New York Undercover in 1998. In 1999 Hopkins starred in Alanis Morissette's "Unsent" music video...
), a member of the squad swimming in Robert's pool. And immediately get into an argument, as their sparring occurs partly into the movie. The next day, Jan and E.J. receive leftovers of Kalispell's calendars which Jan believes is boring because it shows everyday Montana scenery. Remembering a naked Will, E.J. holds a conference with the Search and Rescue team as a new means of funds E.J. puts her media know how to good use by telling them each man can pose half-naked for the calendar (hence the title). While the majority find it completely absurd, especially Will, Jason defends E.J. and starts a short term relationship with her.
Right after the conference, Will comes by to rudely tell E.J. that it was a unanimous vote of no, not wanting to make a joke of the Rescue Squad. Although, E.J. wasn't brought up to quit and starts one by one to convince every member of the rescue squad to pose. E.J. eventually becomes successful even persuading Mayor Bob Baker, much to Will's dismay as he won't be needed because there are only twelve months but thirteen men on the squad.
But E.J.'s opinion about Will and vice versa soon change when E.J. is invited to an abseiling party and is goaded by Will to try abseiling for the first time. Although, half way down E.J. grips up resulting in Will to counsel her the rest of the way down. E.J. shyly thanks Will which finally grants Will enough courage to announce his feelings to E.J. saying that it's the most disgusting feeling he ever felt. E.J. is outraged and turns down his offer to sponsor the calendar, getting successful Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
businesswoman Sonia Kendall to sponsor it instead, liking E.J.'s breath of fresh cynicism.
When everything seems to be going perfectly, Mike comes by to tell E.J. that he is completely nervous and that there's no possible way for him to be convinced to pose. Although, feeling a soft spot for E.J. Will volunteers instead resulting in Will and E.J. having an intimate relationship. Eventually, the calendar is successful as publicity and women surround Kalispell. Jason comes by to tell E.J that he found a new job and is relocating to Chicago with his boss and girlfriend Sonia Kendall. But when Will overhears Jan talking to Eric on how E.J. may be moving back to New York. E.J. and Will get into an argument as Will resents ever getting involved with E.J. This just causes E.J. to go back to New York earlier and re-accept her recently lost job with Lillah.
It is at New York that E.J. is reminded of Will and everyone she met back in Kalispell. During an important business conference E.J. receives an emergency call from Jan that Will is in Kalispell Regional Hospital with a possibly fatal condition after falling 50 feet from a mountain. Out of insanity and love E.J. immediately flies out to Kalispell Regional and is informed by a nurse that Will is gone. Believing that Will died he comes up behind her to tell her he forgot something as E.J. tells him so has she. The two then embrace and kiss passionately. E.J. ends up residing with Will and all of her newly made friends in the hole in the ground that says Montana.
Critical reception
Brian Lowry of VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
says the film "no pretense of placing anything new in the audience's stockings" but is complimentary of star Chenoweth, saying "with the right talent, it's possible to make even the moldiest of material sing just a little". David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
calls it "a pleasant way to spend a holiday evening in front of a crackling plasma screen". Tanner Stransky of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
says "The only reason to watch this trivial holiday movie—with Kristin Chenoweth as an NYC bitch who finds herself after moving to Montana—is to gawk at Cougar Town
Cougar Town
Cougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
’s Josh Hopkins, who plays her love interest, often with a bare (and chiseled!) chest". Amy Amatangelo of the Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
calls the plot "overwhelmingly simple" and "would have been better executed in a half-hour sitcom".
External links
- Twelve Men of Christmas at Lifetime