REVIEW: Lifetime's "12 Men of Christmas"
BY: COLIN MURPHY - SENIOR WRITER
The gay community has long had a love affair with Kristin Chenoweth. From Broadway's Wicked to TV's The West Wing and Pushing Daisies, the perky, pint sized actress and chanteuse has earned a special place in our hearts. So it should come as no surprise that Lifetime’s Original Movie, 12 Men of Christmas, starring Chenoweth, Josh Hopkins (TV’s Cougar Town) and Anna Chlumsky (My Girl) is garnering lots of buzz.
Based on the popular novel, Decent Exposure by Phillipa Ashley, the romantic comedy premieres on Saturday, December 5 at 8 p.m. as part of the Network’s annual holiday movie extravaganza, "Fa La La La Lifetime."
"There are three things all New Yorkers strive for: the perfect job, the perfect apartment, and the perfect fiancé," Chenoweth's, E.J. Baxter explains. Indeed, the high-powered publicist who "could give lessons in amazing" enjoys the trifecta but predictably, her perfect little life goes to hell in hurry.
Ever the trooper and persona non grata in the Big Apple, our plucky heroine decides to take a job in Montana to clear her head. She's been hired by the town of Kalispell for a year to develop a pilot program to lure Corporate Retreats to the scenic, mountain hamlet.
Naturally, Baxter takes the town by storm and immediately notices that in addition to the cheap rent, fattening food and polite people that well, the men there are really hot! While in town Baxter butts heads with the local bad boy, Will (Hopkins) and the oh-so-enjoyable Spencer Tracey/Katharine Hepburn friction ensues.
Will is a member of the local mountain search-and-rescue team which Baxter soon discovers is all-volunteer and in desperate need of new equipment. Eager to help out the men and give her career a jolt at the same time, Baxter and her assistant, Jan (Chlumsky) cook up the idea of a nude calendar featuring the hotties of the rescue team to raise the needed funds. Not surprisingly, the men need convincing; and a little begging, a lot of flirting and just a little bit of subterfuge is in order to win the day.
It should be pointed out that while 12 Men of Christmas does have shades of the British film, Calendar Girls the story remains fresh. Chenoweth is in command throughout the movie and Hopkins is perfect as the surly-but-sweet love interest who drives her to distraction. Heading up an ensemble cast is Chlumsky, who is enjoyable as the easy-going Montana assistant.
Directed by Arlene Sanford, 12 Men of Christmas is a hilarious, feel-good holiday movie. What's more, with Chenoweth at the helm and a baker's dozen of semi-nude men, it is most definitely, must-see gay TV.
You can email Colin Murphy at colin_murphy@sbcglobal.net
