Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star

Name: Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star
Genre: Halloween, Suburb, Cute Kid, Already Dating
Released: 2012-01-01
Duration: 30 min
Rating: 6.4
Cast: Thomas Stroppel, Julie Reiter, Ryan Bley, Ami Shalabh, Chad Darrow

6.4/10 · 98 ratings201230mHalloweenWeirdness 3/10Bingo card

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The premise

In Jingle and Bell, Jingle the Husky Pup and his buddy Andrew meet some new friends. A girl Andrew's age, Sofia, and her Husky pup, Bell, have moved from sunny Palm City to Pineville weeks before Christmas. With no friends yet and not knowing what to expect, Sofia and Bell's world is upside down and it looks like it might be the worst Christmas ever. But with a little help from Jingle and Andrew, Sofia and Bell will soon discover that Christmas joy isn't about where you are--it's about who's with you.

Themes:friendship belonging adjusting to change holiday traditions community homesickness

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

Our Guy

Thomas Stroppel

as Jingle

Our Girl

Julie Reiter

as Bell

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Chel White

Written by

Wait, what?

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

The story centers on two dogs, Jingle and Bell, who are treated as key guides in a Christmas-star contest plot.
A town-wide holiday ceremony chooses a child to place the star on top of the tree, giving the movie a fairy-tale feel.

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 14 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)

Sofia’s family leaves Palm City for Pineville after her parents open their own bake shop, and Sofia is heartbroken to leave her friends and warm-weather Christmas traditions behind. In Pineville, she meets next-door neighbor Andrew and their dogs, Bell and Jingle, who immediately become part of the story as the town prepares for its annual Christmas tree-lighting and the selection of a child to place the star on top of the tree. At school, Sofia is introduced to her class and learns about the drawing for the finalist who will represent the class in the town-wide star-topper contest. Andrew wins the class drawing, and he invites Sofia to join him at the park and spend time with his friends and dogs. Sofia begins to see a little of Pineville, but she still misses Palm City and pushes back against the idea that she can be happy anywhere else. At the park and around town, Sofia experiences Pineville’s holiday life, including the bake shop and the snow. She tells the other kids about her beachside Christmas in Palm City, which leads to teasing and a small clash with Bruce, who mocks her traditions. Andrew tries to reassure her that Pineville can be wonderful too, even if it looks different from home. Meanwhile, Jingle and Bell wander off, and the kids end up searching for them just as a snowstorm rolls in. The storm becomes serious, and the dogs help guide Sofia and Andrew back home, though Bell loses her new collar in the process. As the snow keeps falling, the town is stranded and all flights in and out of Pineville are canceled, meaning Sofia cannot return to Palm City for Christmas. She becomes convinced that this will be the worst Christmas ever and retreats into sadness, refusing to come out of her room. On the day before Christmas, Andrew chooses friendship over the contest and goes back to cheer Sofia up instead of staying at the tree-lighting ceremony. He helps her get moving, and the two race back toward town on a sled, even offering Bruce a chance to join them after he apologizes for being mean. They reach the ceremony just in time, where Santa recognizes Andrew as the winner but Andrew insists that Sofia should share the honor. Santa agrees to let both children ride up to the top of the tree together, and Sofia finally realizes that her wish to be home with friends has come true in Pineville.

Beat by beat

Opening
Pineville is buzzing with Christmas excitement as the town prepares for the tree-top star ceremony, while Sofia is shown leaving Palm City and grieving the move to a new town.
Inciting incident
Sofia arrives in Pineville, meets her new neighbor Andrew and their dogs Jingle and Bell, and learns about the class drawing for the child finalist who will place the star on the town tree.
Rising action
Andrew invites Sofia to the park and around town, but Sofia feels homesick, clashes with Bruce over her beach-style Christmas traditions, and struggles to embrace Pineville.
Midpoint
A snowstorm hits while the kids are out, Jingle and Bell help guide everyone home, and Bell loses her new collar during the chaos.
Conflict escalates
Flights are canceled, Sofia realizes she cannot go back to Palm City for Christmas, and she withdraws into despair while Andrew decides to abandon the ceremony briefly to comfort her.
Climax
Andrew and Sofia race through town on a sled to make the tree-lighting ceremony on time, Bruce apologizes and joins them, and Santa prepares to name the winner.
Resolution
Santa chooses Andrew, Andrew shares the honor with Sofia, Bell’s collar is found, and Sofia realizes that Pineville and her new friends have become home.

Did you know?

A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.

It runs just 30 minutes — one of only 5 Hallmark titles short enough to watch in under an hour.

How it stacks up

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

Higher-rated than 46% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

BINGOSomeone’s guard finally comes downTwo husky pups guide the kidsA misunderstanding nearly ruins everythingThe leads laugh at the same momentA happy endingA cup of cocoa, coffee or ciderSomeone apologises and means itAn old keepsake or photograph turns upBeach Christmas traditions get mockedA nervous voicemail goes unsentA cosy interior full of warm lightingA class drawing names a finalist★The town pulls together for one of its ownA town contest picks a child star placerSomeone proposes marriageA musical number or live performanceA quiet moment under string lightsA handwritten note or letterThe leads kissA pep talk that changes everythingA love triangleLost dogs spark a snowy searchA shared errand turns into bondingA scenic spot becomes their meeting place

Hallmark Bingo

Your Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star 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.

“Because that's what friends do.”
— AndrewHe explains why he gives up his spot at the tree-lighting ceremony to go comfort Sofia.
“This is going to be the worst Christmas ever.”
— SofiaShe says this after learning the storm has canceled flights and she cannot return to Palm City.
“Christmas in Palm City is the best!”
— SofiaShe describes her warm-weather holiday traditions while defending her hometown Christmas.
“We don't have a beach or seashells, but this is a great place, too.”
— AndrewHe tries to reassure Sofia that Pineville can be special even though it is very different from Palm City.
“You know what, my wish came true.”
— SofiaShe says this at the end when she realizes Pineville and her new friends have become home.

Meet the characters

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

Sofia
Lead
student
homesickloyalstubbornwarm-heartedadaptable
Bruce
Antagonist
student
Sofia's classmate who teases her about her Christmas traditions
rudejudgmentalmean-spiritedinsecure
Andrew
Supporting
student
Sofia's new neighbor and classmate who becomes her closest friend
kindselflesscheerfulbraveempathetic
Jingle
Supporting
dog
Andrew's dog and one of the loyal companions who helps guide the kids
playfulloyalintuitiveadventurous
Bell
Supporting
dog
Sofia's dog and a key companion in the holiday adventure
affectionatecleverloyaladventurous
Sofia's Mother
Supporting
bake shop owner
Sofia's mother who moves the family to Pineville and tries to comfort her
practicalencouragingpatientsupportive
Sofia's Father
Supporting
bake shop owner
Sofia's father who helps the family settle into Pineville
gentlesupportivepatientoptimistic
Santa
Supporting
Santa Claus
the holiday figure who announces the winner of the tree-topper honor
festivewisefairgenerous
Mrs. Waxman
Supporting
teacher
Sofia's teacher who runs the class drawing for the Christmas contest
patientorganizedfairencouraging

Questions people ask about Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star

Where can I watch Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star?

Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star is available via fuboTV, Hallmark+ Amazon Channel, and Hallmark+ Apple TV channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star?

Jingle & Bell's Christmas Star runs about 30 minutes, and was released in 2012.

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