It’s that time of year again, when the only snowflakes falling faster than outside your window are the saccharine sentiments of Lifetime’s holiday movie lineup. This year, amidst the flurry of festive romances, Vivica A. Fox and Jackée Harry headline “Make or Bake Christmas,” a TV Movie that sets out to examine whether love can truly conquer all, even a hostile corporate takeover.
Fox plays Leslie, a lifestyle expert with her sights set on acquiring the heartwarmingly named Sugar Bakers bakery, owned by none other than Denise Sugarbaker, played by Harry. While the premise might sound as predictable as a fruitcake recipe, the addition of corporate intrigue offers a slightly less stale take on the typical holiday romance.
Jasmine Aivaliotis stars as Emma, Leslie’s undercover agent, tasked with infiltrating Sugar Bakers and softening up Denise for the sale. However, Emma, like so many Lifetime heroines before her, finds herself falling for the bakery’s Christmas spirit and, wouldn’t you know it, the owner’s son, David (Landon Moss). Predictably, Emma’s loyalties begin to shift, placing her in a complicated position between her mission and her burgeoning feelings.
Will “Make or Bake Christmas” transcend the typical Lifetime holiday movie tropes, or will it simply be another slice of predictable, yet comforting, Christmas fluff? With a cast that includes Fox, Harry, and Corin Nemec, there’s at least a glimmer of hope that this holiday confection might rise above the rest.
“Make or Bake Christmas” premieres Sunday, December 1, 2024, on Lifetime.
