Lifetime’s holiday movies are like fruitcake: Dense, predictable, and yet, somehow, we keep coming back for more. This year’s batch includes “A Carpenter Christmas Romance,” starring Sasha Pieterse and Mitchell Slaggert. Pieterse plays Andrea, a novelist seeking solace at her family’s Wildwood farmhouse after a vaguely defined personal setback—presumably of the romantic variety. Slaggert is Seth, her former crush and now a woodworker tasked with rebuilding the town after a disastrous fire. As they collaborate to revive the town’s Christmas spirit, sparks fly.
Will their rekindled connection endure beyond the holiday season, or will it fizzle out like a cheap string of lights? Lifetime’s marketing certainly leans into the enduring love angle, pushing all the usual heartwarming buttons: quaint small-town charm, festive decorations, and attractive leads sharing longing glances over mugs of hot cocoa. The screenplay comes courtesy of “Grey’s Anatomy” alum Sarah Drew, who also holds an Executive Producer credit. With Jake Helgren at the helm as director, it’s a safe bet the film sticks close to the tried-and-true formula.
Tune in to Lifetime on Saturday, December 21st at 8:00 PM to see if love truly conquers all in Wildwood.
“A Carpenter Christmas Romance” is a Crown Media Productions film for Lifetime. Executive Producers are Sarah Drew, Allie Dvorin, Eric Levin, and John Turner. Producers are Autumn Federici and Jake Helgren.
