With only two weeks left until Christmas, struggling artist Anna Parisi (Katrina Law) decides to advertise as a holiday personal shopper. It is possible Anna does not have the sharpest business acumen but she also doesn’t have rent money, so she probably should have put a little hustle into her side hustle. Marc Rehnquist (Aaron O’Connell) is a busy ad exec who was supposed to have ordered corporate Christmas gifts for the 100 employees in his office, and apparently doesn’t realize that bulk orders this close to the holidays are practically impossible. Luckily they both patronize the same bakery where Anna’s recommendation of the secret menu cupcakes impresses Marc so much that he hires her to shop not only for his employees, but for his nearest and dearest as well – who apparently aren’t quite so near or so dear that he’s spared them a single thought before now. If it’s truly the thought that counts, Marc usually substitutes thought for expense, sending lavish gifts along with notes apologizing for his absence. But with thoughtful Anna crossing off his list, he’s going to learn a thing or two about priorities and the true value of his time.
12 Gifts of Christmas is about as complex and full-bodied as a bottle of Boone’s but the 2020 holiday season is fast approaching and concessions must be made. Some people are very serious about their Hallmark/LMN/Netflix romantic Christmas movie tradition/addiction, but in our house the annual viewing is a little more reluctant, and not without some grumbling, yet there are indeed some faithful traditions. Sean complaining about every movie set in New York starting off with trite stock footage: check. Then Jay rolls her eyes at the very light attempt at a will-they-or-won’t-they, and Sean’s belly growls at the third cookie baking montage, and Jay’s eyes glaze over at the sight of so many jewelry boxes, and Sean starts to sweat realizing that there are so far zero jewelry boxes under our tree, and we both agree that the only true Christmas miracle in this whole movie is finding street parking in “Manhattan” (Avid Hallmark fans will recognize Eva’s Bakery which has appeared in several Hallmark movies as a New York City location though it’s actually a real bakery in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah).
This movie earns no distinctions in acting or director or production or story. It follows the Hallmark formula loyally and steadfastly, so there are no surprises here, none whatsoever, but if you’re in the market for some banal, PG “romance,” Hallmark’s shelves are fully stocked and you can take your pick.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
oy – I also live in an area where these are churned out. My millennial roommate loves to read the descriptions to me so we can groan and cackle about all the cliches.
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I love Christmas and some great(and not so great) Christmas classics but whenever I put a Hallmark Christmas movie on, my teeth start to ache. If they are in NYC, don’t they normally take a carriage ride through Central Park?
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I enjoy the Hallmark Christmas movies. Though their plot lines are predictable, I find them light and ‘clean’ entertainment, filled with beautiful winter landscapes and American Christmas traditions.
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This one sounds very familiar. I think I’ve seen it.
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I know, right? All of Hallmark’s (and even Lifetime’s) product will remind of a major studio film.
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This was a good movie. Katrina Law is a good actress.
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I can honestly say, I do not like most Christmas movies – they are so far from reality. I think they should make Chritmas movies about all of the bad-tempered and ill-behaved people that are tricked into going out and spending money they don’t have for presents that will be forgotten by February. Everyone is stressed out and then they have to go spend time with family members they don’t want to spend time with the rest of the year, but since it is Christmas they feel like they have to. I do have some Christmas movies I kind of enjoy – Home Alone, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and of course Christmas Carol.
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Honestly, when it’s directed and/or written by ’80s VHS provocateurs Fred Olen Ray or David DeCoteau — or “starring” Eric Roberts in some capacity — Christmas or not, I’ll give the occasional Hallmark/Lifetime/Up flick a spin as guilty watch. I was shocked to discover how many they’ve each made over the years. But work is work, right?
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Yes, these things are often peppered by familiar faces – it’s like b-list bingo!
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B-List bingo! Too funny. And so right.
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