OWN is banking on the evergreen appeal of holiday romance with Mistletoe & Matrimony, a yuletide yarn that looks set to deliver the requisite heartwarming moments and festive cheer. This Christmas Eve wedding dramedy features Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut as Olivia Morris, a wedding planner so meticulous, she probably irons her tinsel.
Olivia’s life, organized down to the last candy cane, gets a serious shake-up when her sister’s Christmas Eve wedding lands on her to-do list. And as if festive family drama weren’t enough, Olivia’s carefully constructed world is further upended by the reappearance of her ex-boyfriend, Isaiah (Etienne Maurice), a human wrench thrown directly into the gears of her well-oiled holiday machine.
Will Olivia’s holiday spirit survive the onslaught of family pressures, wedding chaos, and the ghosts of Christmas past? The movie certainly hints at the usual romantic sparks as Olivia grapples with both familiar holiday tensions and her unresolved feelings for Isaiah. The central conflict revolves around Olivia’s need to take a leap of faith – in love, life, and possibly even some ill-advised mistletoe placement.
Will the film offer anything beyond the standard holiday tropes? The presence of Chestnut and Maurice suggests some potential, but the real test will be whether the script can find a fresh angle on a well-worn formula.
Catch Mistletoe & Matrimony on OWN this Saturday, December 14 at 8:00 PM.
