Movies And Specials: 'Reunited At Christmas'

Synopsis: First-time author Samantha Murphy (Nikki DeLoach) meets with her publisher, who assigns her a Christmas story as her second book. Samantha’s not enthused about the subject, despite all the wonderful Christmases spent at her Nana Madeline’s (Beverley Breuer) house as a girl. Samantha’s entire family has received special letters from Madeline, who passed away earlier in the year, asking them to come together for one final Christmas at her house. Samantha’s boyfriend Simon (Mike Faiola) invites himself to Sam’s hometown for Christmas.

Cedar Ridge, Madeline’s hometown, is an idyllic all-American town. The family arrives and settles in at Madeline’s house, including Sam’s divorced parents, Bill (Andrew Airlie) and Claire (Eileen Pedde). Sam is utterly shocked when that evening, Simon proposes marriage to her and, put on the spot, she says "yes" in front of the whole family.

The family reviews a list of family traditions Madeline has left for them to complete together over Christmas. Simon gives Sam his grandmother’s engagement ring. The very next day she tells Simon she’s not sure she’s ready to get married. Yet, as the week goes on and the family completes more of Nana Madeline’s traditions together, Simon is forced to pretend that everything is fine between him and Samantha, all the while uncertain if they are even still a couple.

Everyone decorates the tree and reminisces. Simon’s parents call, Sam stalls on telling them about the engagement. Bill and Claire continue to experience nice moments together throughout the week, and Bill inspires Sam to keep Madeline’s Christmas stories alive through her writing. Samantha joins Simon as he interviews a couple who met at the top of the Empire State Building, lost touch with each other, reconnected and finally got married just one year ago – Irene (Candus Churchill) and Charlie Parnell. Bill and Claire talk about "what happened," how they drifted apart after the girls were grown, and neither can really recall what went wrong. Claire helps Bill tie his tie, he tells her he’s not selling the house, asks her if they might get together again sometime soon. She says yes.

At the Cedar Falls Annual Christmas Dance, Simon tells Samantha he can’t play this charade anymore and says he’s leaving to go back to NY. Sam lets him go, immediately regrets it, and has a talk with Claire, who offers some personal wisdom. On Christmas morning, Samantha reveals the story she’s been inspired to write, then everyone opens their "gifts from Nana." Samantha’s gift is the Christmas Star they had all searched for in vain. Everyone agrees to come together again next year, and Sam reveals the surprise ending to her and Simon’s story.

The Cast:
Nikki DeLoach as Samantha
Mike Faiola as Simon
Eileen Pedde as Claire
Andrew Airlie as Bill
Lisa Durupt as Annie
Noel Johansen as Mark
Tim Bissett as Ben
Trish Allen as Maisie
Candus Churchill as Irene
Joe Costa as Charlie
London Robertson as Young Samantha
Glynis Davies as Laurie
Veena Sood as Victoria
Beverley Breuer as Madeline
Vivian Full as Caitlin
Patricia Ann Cullen as June

Production Credits:
Executive Producers: Nikki DeLoach, Jen Dede, Lincoln Lageson
Producers: Charles Cooper, Harvey Kahn
Production credit: Reunited Productions Ltd.
Directed by: Steven R. Monroe
Teleplay by: Marcy Holland and David Golden
Director of Photography: Adam Sliwinski
Edited by: Asim Nuraney
Casting by: Penny Perry, Jackie Lind, CSA

Airdate:
It premiered Wednesday, November 18th, 2018 on the Hallmark Channel.