Checkin' It Twice

6.7/10 · 1,790 ratings20231h 24mChristmasWeirdness 3/10Bingo card

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The premise

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.

How unusual is it?

Honestly? Not very — and that's the charm. It plays the hits, which is exactly the point for a cozy night in.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

  • The 'Merry Fishmas' game involves adults and children frantically 'fishing' for plastic trout in a small plastic pool for a championship.
  • Grandma Stella's 'witch's brew' eggnog is notorious for potentially causing salmonella, yet she insists everyone drink it.
  • The meet-cute relies entirely on a gift shop clerk being so distracted she hands two people the wrong credit cards simultaneously.

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 30 to find more movies that do the same thing.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)
The film begins with Ashley, a high-powered commercial real estate agent in New York, discovering that her boyfriend Trevor has gone behind her back to steal a massive client. She breaks up with him and heads home to Idaho Falls for Christmas. Simultaneously, Scott Briggs, a journeyman hockey player and son of an NHL legend, is traded to the Idaho Falls Fighting Trout and dumped by his girlfriend. At the airport gift shop, a distracted clerk accidentally swaps Ashley and Scott's debit cards. This leads to a second meeting when Ashley tries to buy a Christmas wreath and realizes she has Scott's card, while Scott is at a bar with his new teammates trying to use hers. It turns out Scott is staying in the guest cottage at Ashley’s parents' house. As the week progresses, Scott is pressured by his coach to participate in community events like the 'Cider Social' and 'Merry Fishmas' to prove he is a team player. Ashley, hiding her breakup from her family, helps her sister Becca with her first real estate showings. Scott uses his hockey knowledge to help Becca's clients visualize home renovations, while Ashley encourages Scott to embrace coaching after he successfully leads a youth hockey game for her nephew, Parker. The central conflict intensifies when Scott is initially passed over for a promotion to the Boise team in favor of a younger player, and Ashley receives a call from a major New York firm offering her the hotel deal of a lifetime—but she must return before Christmas. Scott eventually gets called up to Boise to replace an injured player, and Ashley prepares to leave for New York. They exchange sentimental gifts—a family scarf for him and a plastic trout from their 'Fishmas' win for her—and say a bittersweet goodbye. However, after watching his father’s cold NHL Hall of Fame induction speech, Scott realizes he doesn't want a life that prioritizes career over family. He quits the Boise team to accept an assistant coaching position with the Fighting Trout. Meanwhile, Ashley realizes her happiness lies in Idaho Falls and decides to stay and form a real estate team with Becca. The film concludes with Scott returning to the Derrieux household on Christmas Eve, where he and Ashley confess their feelings and decide to build a life together in Idaho Falls.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Ashley and Scott both experience breakups and career shifts before arriving in Idaho Falls, where their debit cards are accidentally swapped at the airport.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Ashley discovers Scott is staying in her family's guest cottage after they meet to exchange their swapped cards.

  3. Midpoint

    Scott coaches a youth hockey game and realizes he has a passion for mentoring, while Ashley helps her sister Becca close her first real estate deal.

  4. Climax

    Scott receives his dream call-up to the Boise team, and Ashley is offered a career-making deal in New York, forcing them to say goodbye.

  5. Resolution

    Scott rejects the NHL path to become a local coach, and Ashley stays in Idaho Falls to work with her sister; the two reunite at the family cottage.

30 tropes in one movie

We counted 30 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Rating 6.7 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.7567

Higher-rated than 74% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Checkin' It Twice belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

  • “Take the hit, shake it off, and get back out there.”
    — Scott BriggsScott's personal mantra for both hockey and life's disappointments.
  • “I'm no big fancy agent like you but it sure beats waiting tables at the Drunken Puck.”
    — BeccaDiscussing her new real estate license with Ashley.
  • “Any guy that dates my little sister better treat her the way that she deserves. Like my Dave treats me.”
    — JulieExpressing family loyalty regarding Ashley's relationship status.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

  • Ashley Derrieux

    Lead

    Commercial Real Estate Agent

    AmbitiousFamily-orientedSophisticatedResilient
  • Scott Briggs

    Love interest

    Professional Hockey Player

    Love interest and guest cottage tenant

    DeterminedCompetitiveKind-heartedTalented coach
  • Trevor

    Antagonist

    Real Estate Agent

    Ex-boyfriend and former colleague

    DeceptiveAmbitiousSelf-centered
  • Becca

    Supporting

    New Real Estate Agent

    Sister

    NervousSupportiveLocal

Questions people ask about Checkin' It Twice

Where can I watch Checkin' It Twice?

Checkin' It Twice is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Checkin' It Twice?

Checkin' It Twice runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2023.

Is Checkin' It Twice a Christmas movie?

Yes. Checkin' It Twice is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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Data and sources

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Sources:IMDbTMDB