Finding Christmas

Name: Finding Christmas
Genre: Christmas, Big City, Mistaken Identity, Cute Kid, Complete Strangers
Released: 2013-01-01
Duration: 1 h 27 min
Rating: 6.4
Cast: Tricia Helfer, J.T. Hodges, Mark Lutz, Cristina Rosato, Christian Distefano

6.4/10 · 2,242 ratings20131h 27mChristmasWeirdness 3/10Bingo card

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The premise

Sean, who runs a New York City advertising agency, and Owen, a small-town handyman and musician, swap residences for the holidays. Mia, who works for Sean, helps Owen get settled into his new apartment while Ryan, sent by Owen to fix a broken heater, helps Sean find the charm of living in a small town. Owen, a fish-out-of-water in the big city, tries to flirt with Halo, an aspiring model/actress/singer who lives in the apartment building. One night after Mia has shown Owen around town, Halo sees him entering the elevator wearing clothes borrowed from Sean's closet. Thinking he's rich, Halo flirts back and sets up a date. Mia, however, warns him that she just thinks he has money because he's living in Sean's apartment and wearing Sean's clothes. On the day of the big date, Owen realizes who he really is and what he really wants in life. Meanwhile, Sean is falling in love with the local veterinarian, who happens to be harboring a big secret--or two. He's surprised when his ex-fiancee' appears on his doorstep, ready to accept his marriage proposal and move back to New York with him. This complicates Sean's blossoming relationship with the small-town girl who has told him that her career as a veterinarian relies on her staying where she is, and to simply enjoy their love while it lasts. On Christmas Eve, Sean invites Owen to come back for a special dinner, where a surprise awaits all of them.

Themes:Living in the present The magic of Christmas Fate and destiny Authenticity vs. Superficiality

How unusual is it?

Mostly classic comfort-watch, give or take mistaken identity.

A rare specific

Tap to find the other Hallmark movies that share it.

North Carolina settingThe only one

Who’s in it

Our Guy

J.T. Hodges

as Owen Harrison

Our Girl

Tricia Helfer

as Ryan Harrison

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Harvey Crossland

Written by

Lee Ventura

Wait, what?

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

The recurring obsession with a 'Robo-Reindeer' toy that speaks in a robotic voice.
Sean's pickup line involving the fact that 90% of human body mass is stardust.
The neighbor 'Halo' who introduces herself as an 'Angel/Model/Waitress' and tries to seduce Owen because she thinks he's rich.

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 27 to find more movies that do the same thing.

Why we’d put this one on

A double-helping holiday swap with a genuinely fun fish-out-of-water streak. NYC ad exec Sean and North Carolina handyman Owen (J.T. Hodges) trade homes for Christmas, and Tricia Helfer plays Owen's sister Ryan. Two romances run at once, which keeps things busy. The bizarre bits are the joy: a neighbor named Halo introduces herself as an "Angel/Model/Waitress," there is a Robo-Reindeer toy that will not stop talking, and Sean's go-to flirtation is informing people that most of their body mass is stardust. It is breezy and a little ridiculous in the best way. Good pick when you want two cute couples for the price of one.

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 two parallel stories of heartbreak. In New York City, Sean Tucker, a high-powered advertising executive, is dumped by his girlfriend Kimber because he is too focused on the future and 'never present.' Meanwhile, in Butters, North Carolina, Owen Harrison, a local repairman and aspiring musician, learns that his ex-girlfriend Courtney is engaged to another man. Seeking an escape, the two men find each other on a house-swap website and agree to trade residences for the Christmas season. Sean arrives in rural North Carolina and struggles with the cold and a finicky heater, leading him to meet Owen's sister, Ryan, a veterinarian and single mother. Ryan helps Sean fix the heater and introduces him to the simple joys of small-town life, including bingo and horse-drawn hayrides. Sean, who previously only cared about his 'Robo-Reindeer' ad campaign, begins to appreciate the 'stardust' connection of the universe and falls for Ryan. In New York, Owen is guided by Sean's assistant, Mia. She encourages him to perform at an open-mic night, where his musical talent shines. Owen finds himself falling for Mia, though she is currently dating a realtor who doesn't appreciate her. The conflict escalates when Sean's ex, Kimber, tracks him down in North Carolina and attempts to reconcile, leading Ryan to believe Sean has been dishonest about his intentions. Simultaneously, Owen has to fend off a shallow neighbor named Halo who is only interested in Sean's wealth. The resolution occurs when Owen rejects the city's superficiality and confesses his love for Mia after a moving performance of 'Silent Night.' In North Carolina, Sean rejects Kimber, explaining that he has finally learned to live in the moment. He wins back Ryan's trust by promising to be present for her and her son, Caleb. The film concludes on Christmas Day when Owen and Mia travel to North Carolina, leading to a surprise meeting where Sean and Owen realize their mutual connection. The two couples celebrate Christmas dinner together, proving that fate and a house swap brought them exactly where they needed to be.

Beat by beat

Opening
Sean and Owen both experience devastating breakups just before Christmas, leading them to list their homes on a swap website.
Inciting Incident
The men agree to the swap; Sean moves to a rustic cabin in Butters, NC, while Owen moves to a luxury Manhattan loft.
Midpoint
Owen finds success at a New York open mic night with Mia's help, while Sean wins a local bingo tournament and bonds with Ryan on a hayride.
Complication
Sean's ex-fiancée Kimber arrives uninvited in North Carolina, causing a major misunderstanding with Ryan.
Climax
Owen performs 'Silent Night' for Mia and breaks up with his 'gold-digger' neighbor, while Sean rejects Kimber to pursue a real connection with Ryan.
Resolution
The two couples meet at Ryan's house for Christmas dinner, revealing the interconnectedness of their holiday journeys.

27 tropes in one movie

We counted 27 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.

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

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Finding Christmas belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

BINGOLocals gather for a bingo nightA cosy interior full of warm lightingThe lead works as a marketingSomeone proposes marriageThe leads kissSomeone borrows the apartment owner's wardrobeA happy endingA workaholic learns to slow downThe love interest is a musicianThe lead returns to their hometownA handwritten note or letterA long-distance relationship★A holiday house swap kicks things offA shared errand turns into bondingA scenic spot becomes their meeting placeSomeone decorates a Christmas treeA horse-drawn hayride sets the sceneA second chance worth takingA best friend who has all the answersA toast at a celebrationA first impression that turns out completely wrongA calendar reminder raises the stakesPlans get derailed by the weatherA city executive fights a finicky cabin heater

Hallmark Bingo

Your Finding Christmas card is dealt.

Twenty-four squares pulled from this movie’s own quirks — the cosy classics, a few only-in-this-one curveballs, and a couple of decoys. Mark them as you watch.

Open your card

Lines worth quoting

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

“You're like the human version of tomorrow land.”
— KimberKimber explaining to Sean why she is breaking up with him.
“90% of our body mass is made up of stardust. In fact, all the elements except hydrogen and helium are found in the stars.”
— SeanSean flirting with Ryan during a hayride.
“What's your major malfunction, space cadet?”
— Robo-ReindeerThe catchphrase of the toy Sean's agency is marketing.

Meet the characters

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

Sean Tucker
Lead
Advertising Agency Owner
WorkaholicFuture-focusedCharmingScientifically-minded
Owen Harrison
Lead
Repairman and Musician
House-swap partner
Kind-heartedTalentedInsecureTraditional
Ryan
Love interest
Veterinarian
Owen's sister and Sean's love interest
IndependentProtective motherPracticalNature-loving
Mia
Love interest
Advertising Assistant
Sean's employee and Owen's love interest
SupportiveDirectMusic-loverUrban
Kimber
Antagonist
Wall Street Professional
Sean's ex-fiancée
SuperficialImpulsiveAmbitious

Questions people ask about Finding Christmas

Where can I watch Finding Christmas?

Finding Christmas is available via Philo, Hallmark+ Amazon Channel, and Hallmark+ Apple TV channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Finding Christmas?

Finding Christmas runs about 1 hour and 27 minutes, and was released in 2013.

Is Finding Christmas a Christmas movie?

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

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