Christmas Incorporated

6.4/10 · 2,587 ratings20151h 25mChristmasWeirdness 6/10Bingo card

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The premise

Riley lands herself a new job via a case of mistaken identity, and her first assignment is to accompany her new boss on a trip to save a failing toy factory.

How unusual is it?

More than most. Mistaken identity and Santa himself push it well past the usual Hallmark template — the strangest 18% of everything we've logged.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Written by

Wait, what?

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

  • The corporate logic that top performers are never unemployed.
  • A billionaire being arrested and nearly jailed for simply forgetting his driver's license.
  • The 'Christmas Wishing Bear' being treated as a revolutionary business pivot that saves a multi-million dollar corporation.
  • The 'Christmas Carolvan' which is described as a flatbed truck of singers that is a major town tradition.

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 34 to find more movies that do the same thing.

Why we’d put this one on

Shenae Grimes-Beech of 90210 plays Riley, who gets accidentally hired as assistant to a billionaire heir, Steve Lund, after a resume mix-up convinces him she is an Ivy League grad. Their first assignment together: evaluate a struggling toy factory in small-town New Hampshire and figure out whether to save it. The save-the-town plan hangs on a product called the Christmas Wishing Bear, treated as a revolutionary pivot for a multi-million-dollar company, plus a Christmas Carolvan, a flatbed truck of singers, as a local tradition. At a 6.4 with a weirdness of 6, it is a comfortable mistaken-identity holiday romance. Whether Riley's secret holds is the engine.

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 Riley Vance struggling to find work in New York City, facing a corporate culture that refuses to hire the unemployed. Through a stroke of luck, she hears about an opening for an assistant to William Young, the heir to Young Incorporated. During the interview process, a mix-up occurs: Amanda Sage, William's advisor, calls for 'Riley V.,' intending to interview an Ivy League candidate named Riley Vanarden. Riley Vance answers instead and impresses Amanda by fixing a crooked star on the office Christmas tree and demonstrating sharp financial instincts. William Young, burdened by his late father's legacy, plans to close the company's flagship toy factory in Dover, New Hampshire, to satisfy shareholders. Riley challenges this decision, suggesting he visit the factory first. William, intrigued by her boldness, hires her on the spot. Upon arriving in Dover, the story takes a comedic turn when William is arrested by the local Sheriff for driving without his license. After being released, William and Riley settle into a local house that Riley has enthusiastically decorated, much to the chagrin of William, who has avoided Christmas since the death of his grandmother. At the factory, they meet Mayor Keegan and the workers, who are desperate to keep their jobs. Riley notices an obsolete teddy bear named Jeffrey and proposes rebranding it as the 'Christmas Wishing Bear,' a product that allows people to share hope. They launch a grassroots social media campaign that gains national attention. As they work together, William and Riley bond over ice skating and a 'Chicken on the Ritz' dinner. William reveals that his father never allowed him to be a child, grooming him only for business. However, the romance is threatened by Rebecca Neston, a local reporter looking for a big break. Rebecca discovers the resume mix-up and exposes Riley's true identity as a non-Ivy League 'imposter' during a public event. Feeling betrayed, William fires Riley, who returns home to her parents in Exeter. In the resolution, Mayor Keegan and Amanda Sage help William realize that Riley's contributions were genuine regardless of her name. William travels to Riley's hometown to apologize and win her back. He decides to save the factory by purchasing the remaining inventory himself and offers Riley a position running her own consulting firm. The film concludes with the two sharing a kiss on Christmas Eve, having saved the town and found true partnership.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Riley Vance is hired by Young Inc. due to a resume mix-up where she is mistaken for an Ivy League candidate.

  2. Inciting Incident

    William Young plans to close the Dover toy factory, but Riley convinces him to visit the town first.

  3. Midpoint

    Riley and William launch the 'Christmas Wishing Bear' campaign to save the factory through a grassroots social media effort.

  4. Complication

    William and Riley bond over personal histories, including William's childhood trauma regarding his father's expectations.

  5. Climax

    Reporter Rebecca Neston exposes Riley's true identity, leading William to fire her in a fit of perceived betrayal.

  6. Resolution

    William realizes Riley's worth, saves the factory, and travels to her hometown to offer her a new job and his heart.

34 tropes in one movie

We counted 34 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 6.4 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.4567

Higher-rated than 45% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Christmas Incorporated 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.

  • “Why would I be looking for a job if I already had a job?”
    — Riley VanceQuestioning a recruiter's logic about why they only hire currently employed people.
  • “I don't allow Grinches in my factory, not ever.”
    — William YoungKicking the reporter Rebecca Neston off the property after she exposes Riley.
  • “I find the most complex problems are often solved with the simplest solutions.”
    — Santa ClausGiving advice to Riley on a park bench.

Meet the characters

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

  • Riley Vance

    Lead

    Executive Assistant / Consultant

    OptimisticResourcefulEmpatheticChristmas-obsessed
  • William Young

    Love interest

    CEO of Young Incorporated

    Boss and romantic interest

    CynicalLegacy-burdenedGuardedSecretly a pro skater
  • Rebecca Neston

    Antagonist

    Reporter

    Antagonist who exposes Riley's secret

    AmbitiousCynicalOpportunistic
  • Amanda Sage

    Supporting

    Senior Advisor

    Mentor to both Riley and William

    WiseInstinctiveMaternal
  • Mayor Keegan

    Supporting

    Mayor of Dover

    Local guide and advocate

    JovialCommunity-orientedMatchmaker

Questions people ask about Christmas Incorporated

Where can I watch Christmas Incorporated?

Christmas Incorporated is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Christmas Incorporated?

Christmas Incorporated runs about 1 hour and 25 minutes, and was released in 2015.

Is Christmas Incorporated a Christmas movie?

Yes. Christmas Incorporated is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.

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Data and sources

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Sources:IMDbTMDB