The Christmas Contest

The film opens with Lara Cottridge, a successful C.O.O. in Denver, questioning the meaning of her life despite her professional success. Simultaneously, Ben Winters, a retired MLB MVP known as the 'Sultan of Swing,' is struggling with his post-baseball identity, reduced to filming commercials for fruitcake-flavored beef jerky. When a local TV station announces 'The Christmas Contest' with a $50,000 prize for charity, both are pushed to enter: Lara to save her mother's struggling senior center, and Ben to fund his baseball clinic for at-risk youth. The two are shocked to reunite on stage as contestants, revealing a complicated history—they dated for four years before Ben's fear of commitment and their mutual competitiveness drove them apart. The contest consists of four events. In the first round, a trivia quiz, the two are so hyper-competitive they shout answers in unison, demonstrating they are still perfectly in sync. The second event is a bake-off where Lara attempts a complex 'Yule Be Sorry' forest cake while Ben uses a team of adorable children to sway the judges. Despite Lara slipping on a gumdrop and ruining her cake's appearance, she survives elimination. The third event, a caroling competition, forces them to soften; Ben chooses Lara's favorite song, leading them to perform a choreographed routine they created years ago. As they spend more time together, Ben suggests they turn his camp into a year-round non-profit and asks Lara to join him. However, Ben panics at the prospect of real change and tries to 'slow their roll,' reverting to his 'lone wolf' persona. Lara, who has already resigned from her corporate job to find more meaning, is devastated by his retreat. In the final event, the contestants must decorate a tree and answer 'What is Christmas?' Lara gives a moving speech about life's possibility for change and refuses to compete further, stating that life isn't a competition. Ben follows her lead, revealing an 'upside-down' Christmas tree as a tribute to how Lara turns his world upside-down. The judges declare a tie, splitting the money between both charities. Ben finally commits to a 'grow-together' kind of love, and the two reconcile with a kiss, ready to run the non-profit as a team.