The Finnish Line (Hallmark Channel - 2024)

[00:00:04] I'm Brian and I love Hallmark Christmas movies. I'm Brian and I like Hallmark Christmas movies. I'm Dan and I despise Hallmark Christmas movies and this is the Deck The Hallmark Podcast. Deck The Hallmark, it's this podcast. My friends host this podcast. We hope you like this jolly podcast. People don't know it's a grind. It's a grind here at Deck The Hallmark. We work hard. It's a grind. Neither rain nor sleet nor snow. It's another day, another episode. We're putting out so much stuff this week. It's a

[00:00:43] big week. It is a big week. I don't even know what day it is. It doesn't matter. It's a big week. I don't even know what day it is. That's where I'm at. I don't even know what day it is. But it's great to be back here today. Another episode. And I just want everyone to know that's maybe watching on Philo, philodv.dth. I'm not wearing a black... I'm not trying to do a thing. You went very trendy today. You got your backwards hat on and your black shirt on. Look at that sweater. So cool.

[00:01:13] Where can you get that? In a store somewhere on the internet?

[00:01:16] Yeah, deckthehallmark.com. Have we sold a one? I don't know. I don't think so. I'm going to look it up. No, that doesn't count. The Deck The Hallmark astronaut sweater is available at deckthehallmark.com. Classic brand branding by us. It is. Well, because this show is out of this world. That's exactly right. The Cosmic Brownies podcast. It's out of this world. So you can go check that out if you want to.

[00:01:40] It's very... You know, I wasn't sure. You know?

[00:01:43] Yeah. I wasn't sure how it was going to feel. It really looks great.

[00:01:46] It's very cozy on the inside. It's not like scratchy, you know? Sure.

[00:01:50] Guys, we sold a lot of Christmas Movie Era and a lot of Brett Debbie Farms.

[00:01:55] Really? Yeah. Which one more?

[00:01:57] Christmas Movie Era.

[00:01:59] Brett Debbie Farms is the t-shirt number one. But if you add up all the Christmas Movie...

[00:02:03] It's the t-shirt number one. It is t-shirt number one.

[00:02:07] If you add up all the Christmas Movie Era shirts, it's way higher. Like, way, way higher.

[00:02:12] A little bit of Debbie in all the sky. A little bit of Debbie all the time. A little bit of Debbie on my mind.

[00:02:20] T-shirt number one.

[00:02:21] But what about the astronaut sweater?

[00:02:23] We have sold one, and I believe it is you. So we have sold zero of these.

[00:02:27] You did it.

[00:02:28] Rightfully so. It is not on brand at all.

[00:02:30] All right. All right. All right. Let's do this. Let's do this.

[00:02:31] Oh, my God.

[00:02:32] Put a number on it. How many...

[00:02:34] The summer jacket makes more sense in every... Literally every way.

[00:02:37] How many of these need to sell today for you to do some sort of a stunt?

[00:02:41] To throw your chair in the dumpster.

[00:02:43] A hundred?

[00:02:46] That's ridiculous.

[00:02:47] What kind of stunt are we talking about? A hundred?

[00:02:49] Sorry. You asked me.

[00:02:49] I was thinking about something like fun and goofy.

[00:02:51] Like, I think this conversation is going to sell a few. Like, it is.

[00:02:56] What about...

[00:02:56] No, I don't think so.

[00:02:59] What about if we sell five?

[00:03:01] No.

[00:03:01] No. You're going to sell...

[00:03:03] What if we have a Little Debbie Christmas tree contest?

[00:03:07] Ooh.

[00:03:08] See who can eat a box faster.

[00:03:09] I would win the contest.

[00:03:11] Anything for you to get to eat more.

[00:03:11] Oh, you will, will you?

[00:03:12] Yeah.

[00:03:13] Oh, you will, will you?

[00:03:13] I would beat you in that contest.

[00:03:15] Are you willing to do it if we sell five astronaut sweaters?

[00:03:17] No. No. No. Because we're going to sell five, and I don't want to eat a box of those.

[00:03:20] But if we...

[00:03:21] What?

[00:03:22] A dozen.

[00:03:23] A dozen?

[00:03:24] Today.

[00:03:25] Today.

[00:03:25] On the release of this episode.

[00:03:28] We know what day this comes up.

[00:03:29] We know what day.

[00:03:29] We know it's a big week.

[00:03:30] Aaron, you just looked it up.

[00:03:31] What day is today?

[00:03:33] We'll figure it out.

[00:03:34] Oh, sorry.

[00:03:34] Sorry.

[00:03:34] I was doing something else.

[00:03:36] Today is December 6th.

[00:03:37] Oh, that's why we're here.

[00:03:39] That is why we're here.

[00:03:40] December 6th.

[00:03:40] Friday.

[00:03:41] Friday the 6th.

[00:03:42] So...

[00:03:42] If we sell...

[00:03:43] That's a pretty good one.

[00:03:45] The Friday after Black Friday.

[00:03:46] Everybody knows that.

[00:03:47] Number one.

[00:03:48] Astronaut shirt purchases.

[00:03:50] So go ahead.

[00:03:50] If we sell a dozen of these...

[00:03:53] Yeah.

[00:03:54] Yeah.

[00:03:54] A regular dozen.

[00:03:54] We will do a contest.

[00:03:55] I feel really good about the contest knowing that you threw up after 20 cookies.

[00:04:00] And it also takes you a year to eat a meal.

[00:04:02] I feel pretty good about it.

[00:04:04] This is layered.

[00:04:04] What happens?

[00:04:05] Who wins the contest?

[00:04:06] What do you get for the winner of the contest?

[00:04:07] Oh, we'll figure that out later.

[00:04:08] I don't want to do the contest because I am thinking about it.

[00:04:12] The winner gets another box.

[00:04:14] Yeah.

[00:04:15] Gets an astronaut sweatshirt.

[00:04:16] That's right.

[00:04:16] It was a bogo.

[00:04:17] A bogo.

[00:04:17] I feel confident in my ability to...

[00:04:19] I know this is...

[00:04:21] This is the cookies situation all over again.

[00:04:23] You have no prayer.

[00:04:23] Have a big barbecue lunch that day, Grant.

[00:04:26] We literally...

[00:04:27] Have donuts.

[00:04:28] I could eat lunch beforehand and beat you in this.

[00:04:31] And you know it.

[00:04:31] And you know it.

[00:04:32] I'm really good at eating these, though.

[00:04:34] At your own pace.

[00:04:35] Yeah.

[00:04:36] But I'm really good at it being 83 minutes into a movie and going, son of a B, I ate a whole

[00:04:41] box of these.

[00:04:42] That's what you're good at.

[00:04:44] Yeah.

[00:04:45] That's not the same.

[00:04:46] If I put my mind to it, I think I could do it.

[00:04:47] All right.

[00:04:48] I ate more than 20 cookies.

[00:04:50] I think you ate like 24 cookies.

[00:04:52] It was in the 30s, really.

[00:04:53] It wasn't anywhere near the 30s.

[00:04:54] That's half of what you did.

[00:04:56] Yeah.

[00:04:56] Less than half.

[00:04:56] Yeah.

[00:04:57] I ate 55.

[00:04:58] Don't worry.

[00:04:59] I'm still not hearing about it.

[00:05:01] You'll leave the bed down.

[00:05:02] No one ever brings it up.

[00:05:04] No.

[00:05:05] Let's talk real quick.

[00:05:06] Christmas Movie Magic is available right now.

[00:05:08] You can get it.

[00:05:09] There's still plenty.

[00:05:09] I know we're in a marathon this week, but there's still plenty of movie to get to.

[00:05:14] And I think a lot of people are now cracking open the classics.

[00:05:18] Your Elf.

[00:05:18] Your Home Alone.

[00:05:20] Your Polar Express.

[00:05:21] Christmas with the Cranks.

[00:05:23] Christmas with the Cranks.

[00:05:23] You kidding me right now?

[00:05:24] Jingle all the way.

[00:05:25] This game isn't just for made-for-TV Christmas movies.

[00:05:27] It's for Christmas movies of all kinds.

[00:05:30] And so whether you're watching a Hallmark or an All-Mark.

[00:05:36] Should we take it to the Home Alone event and play quietly?

[00:05:42] Not to ruin anybody else's time, but just play on the weekends?

[00:05:44] Next week.

[00:05:44] Amongst ourselves?

[00:05:45] Yes.

[00:05:45] Next week.

[00:05:45] I think that would actually be pretty fun.

[00:05:47] We can get a video, and we'll put it on TikTok, and we'll go viral.

[00:05:50] We'll go to viral.

[00:05:51] Definitely go to viral.

[00:05:52] We'll go to viral.

[00:05:52] I'm trying to get ahead of it.

[00:05:54] I'm trying to get ahead of it.

[00:05:55] Get that out of the way.

[00:05:57] Yeah.

[00:05:57] I mean, I know that was our goal.

[00:05:59] It was our goal to go viral.

[00:06:01] The viral.

[00:06:01] We got to do it.

[00:06:02] Just us playing a card game while we watch Home Alone?

[00:06:06] That should do it.

[00:06:07] Yeah, that would do it.

[00:06:07] Definitely.

[00:06:08] That's going to knock it out.

[00:06:09] Did you hear about those guys?

[00:06:10] Those guys who played our card games?

[00:06:12] You got to see this real.

[00:06:13] The trend that's taking over TikTok.

[00:06:16] Playing Card Games at Live Events.

[00:06:18] Dan, we're never going to go viral on TikTok if you keep calling it a real.

[00:06:20] That's right.

[00:06:21] Yeah.

[00:06:21] That was part of the bit.

[00:06:23] We're going the viral with the real.

[00:06:25] Yeah.

[00:06:25] We'll go viral on TikTok, and then Dan and I will see it on Instagram.

[00:06:28] We'll see it on Instagram.

[00:06:30] A couple weeks later.

[00:06:30] And maybe Facebook.

[00:06:31] You don't know.

[00:06:32] Man, when it gets to Facebook.

[00:06:33] Maybe your mom will send it to you.

[00:06:34] That's when you know you're in the know.

[00:06:36] That's right.

[00:06:36] When you see the TikToks on Facebook.

[00:06:38] Okay.

[00:06:39] Let's talk finish line, shall we?

[00:06:40] Please.

[00:06:40] Let's do it.

[00:06:41] The finish line, mind you.

[00:06:43] And that's finish with a double N.

[00:06:46] Not to be confused with the sports and shoe store.

[00:06:50] Sure.

[00:06:51] Yeah.

[00:06:52] Retail store that you go to at the mall.

[00:06:54] The way the referees work.

[00:06:55] Champs in the finish line.

[00:06:57] Yes, of course.

[00:06:58] Originally aired on December 1st, 2024.

[00:07:02] Right before Christmas Quest.

[00:07:04] A big day for walking around in the snow.

[00:07:07] Walking around in the snow in a foreign country.

[00:07:09] That's right.

[00:07:09] The Hallmark Channel.

[00:07:10] And it went a little something like this.

[00:07:12] The movie kicks off on Christmas Eve with a bunch of good boys pulling a fella on a sleigh.

[00:07:18] Another guy rides up on his sled and bumps him off of his.

[00:07:23] And it turns out that this guy is telling his daughter this story.

[00:07:27] He's no longer sledding around.

[00:07:30] But she's inspired by this and wants to race herself.

[00:07:33] Cut to present day.

[00:07:34] And we meet Anya.

[00:07:35] It's none of Anya business.

[00:07:37] I don't know.

[00:07:38] So close.

[00:07:38] Anya.

[00:07:39] Anya.

[00:07:41] She's heading to Finland for Christmas and to race the race of all races.

[00:07:47] The 40th annual Jullarushka race.

[00:07:53] Yep.

[00:07:53] And she and her best friend Alice.

[00:07:57] I'm Alice.

[00:07:58] Travels to Finland where they meet all the other racers including Manti.

[00:08:04] Has an age today.

[00:08:05] It's Elise.

[00:08:06] It's Elise.

[00:08:07] Dang it.

[00:08:07] I'm Elise.

[00:08:08] Is it Manti?

[00:08:09] Manti?

[00:08:10] Manti.

[00:08:11] Manti.

[00:08:11] For who?

[00:08:12] The bad guy.

[00:08:13] Manti.

[00:08:14] Dang it.

[00:08:14] It's so hard.

[00:08:15] Manti.

[00:08:15] Manti Teo.

[00:08:16] Did you watch this movie years ago?

[00:08:18] An hour ago.

[00:08:20] The racer who bumped into her dad.

[00:08:22] That's him.

[00:08:23] It's Manti.

[00:08:24] Manti.

[00:08:25] Manti.

[00:08:26] Good lord.

[00:08:27] I'm not going to get it right this whole time.

[00:08:29] Anya.

[00:08:30] It's none of Anya business.

[00:08:32] Anya also meets Cole, a member of the press.

[00:08:35] When she finds out that he's a reporter and not just a cute boy, she's very reluctant to talk to him.

[00:08:42] But he pitches her an idea.

[00:08:44] You're pretty reluctant to say that word there.

[00:08:45] I know.

[00:08:45] I know.

[00:08:46] I got caught up.

[00:08:47] I'm so caught up.

[00:08:49] He wants to do an in-depth piece on her so that she can tell her story and not just what people are making up about her.

[00:08:56] But she's not having it.

[00:08:57] We get to the race pretty quickly, except it's not the race.

[00:09:01] It's just the qualifiers.

[00:09:02] And Anya immediately makes her move on Monty.

[00:09:07] No.

[00:09:08] Yeah.

[00:09:08] Monty.

[00:09:08] Yeah.

[00:09:09] Got it.

[00:09:09] Dang it.

[00:09:10] That would be funny if you just always told me it was wrong.

[00:09:12] Manti.

[00:09:13] Manti.

[00:09:14] He's already up to his dirty tricks with a big kick.

[00:09:19] Big kick.

[00:09:20] Luckily, she recovers quickly and earns the final spot in the actual race.

[00:09:26] She gives Monty a piece of her mind, but she's pulled away because one of her dogs, Cupid, has shuffled his way to the injured list.

[00:09:34] One off this time.

[00:09:35] And won't be able to continue with racing for another four to six weeks.

[00:09:40] So that's not helpful.

[00:09:41] So she figures out that she's going to have to drop out of the race, which stings because the race costs a lot of money.

[00:09:47] She's not going to be able to save enough money to do this again for another like five years or so.

[00:09:52] Her lovely cousin, Lavi, suggests that they visit Santa and ask for help.

[00:09:57] Luckily, Cole is hanging around Santa and overhears what she's wanting.

[00:10:02] And he's like, I got a dog, Rue.

[00:10:04] And Rue can race.

[00:10:05] Rue's done it before.

[00:10:06] There are some obstacles in getting this approved.

[00:10:09] But after the head of the race committee finds out that Cole is going to write about it, he gets excited about the press coverage and agrees.

[00:10:16] Sensing that Anya is stressed, Cole takes her for a cold plunge and they bond in the sauna.

[00:10:22] The sauna.

[00:10:24] She finally gets the new dogs.

[00:10:26] I'm sorry.

[00:10:27] She finally gets her dogs to trust the new dog, Rue.

[00:10:30] And she's feeling great about it.

[00:10:32] Later, they spend the evening with her extended family baking goods and playing in the snow.

[00:10:39] The next day, Anya finds out that the committee has added a new rule.

[00:10:44] All the sleds will now be pulling the same amount of weight.

[00:10:48] She's very annoyed by this addition, but there's nothing that a fun night with Cole can't fix.

[00:10:54] They go on a sleigh ride and he lets her read his book that he's writing.

[00:10:59] She gives him some more information for the article that he's writing.

[00:11:03] But then she says, can I tell you one thing off the record?

[00:11:05] And she kisses him.

[00:11:07] And it was awesome.

[00:11:08] Speaking of romance, Anya's cousin, Lobby, and her best friend, Al, I'm Al's, are having a will they won't they situation.

[00:11:15] And that's magical.

[00:11:17] It is the day of the final leg of the race.

[00:11:20] And Anya is really stressed.

[00:11:22] So she just kind of yells at everybody and everybody kind of gets sad.

[00:11:25] She makes up with Alistair before the race.

[00:11:28] She talks trash to Monty and off they go into the snow.

[00:11:33] At one point during the race, she finds Monty without his sled.

[00:11:37] He's hurt in his sled and the dogs are nowhere to be found.

[00:11:40] Anya helps him out.

[00:11:41] And they end up talking and understanding each other a little bit more.

[00:11:45] Later, they come across his sled and the dogs.

[00:11:48] And the sled is kind of like off, hanging on, hanging by a moment.

[00:11:53] Hanging by a moment on this rock.

[00:11:55] And she goes to free the sled from the rock situation.

[00:12:00] And she ends up slipping and she's hanging off a cliff.

[00:12:04] And she's about to fall.

[00:12:06] But another racer shows up.

[00:12:08] And Monty and that racer help pull her up to safety.

[00:12:13] And yay.

[00:12:14] They all hop back on their sleds.

[00:12:16] And they continue to race.

[00:12:16] And she wins.

[00:12:18] Yay.

[00:12:19] But Cole is nowhere to be found.

[00:12:21] So she goes to find him.

[00:12:23] While that's happening, Lavi and Alice, they share their feelings.

[00:12:28] And I guess Cole is busy moping around.

[00:12:30] But then he realizes that he has to shoot his shot.

[00:12:33] So he goes to find Anya right as she's trying to find him.

[00:12:37] And he says, I'm finally being lead dog.

[00:12:40] And kisses her.

[00:12:42] And then she kisses him back.

[00:12:44] And as they do that, we pan up and we see the northern lights.

[00:12:48] And that, my friends, was the finish line.

[00:12:51] Not the store.

[00:12:52] We did it.

[00:12:54] Get yourself some shoes.

[00:12:55] And then come on back.

[00:12:57] That's right.

[00:12:58] On the other side of this break here on.

[00:12:59] Deck the Hallmark.

[00:13:05] Dan, there's a bit of a war going on in my house.

[00:13:08] Oh, yeah?

[00:13:09] It's about who gets to Cozy Earth Blankets.

[00:13:11] Yeah.

[00:13:11] I'm not kidding you.

[00:13:12] We got this blanket that Cozy Earth sent over.

[00:13:15] And it is the coziest blanket.

[00:13:17] You're talking about the cuddle blanket?

[00:13:18] Yeah, I am.

[00:13:19] My kids literally, and I've had to tell them that you can't have it because I'm having it.

[00:13:24] Because they were fighting over it.

[00:13:25] And it was a problem.

[00:13:27] It's just that comfortable.

[00:13:28] And it's not just me that knows it.

[00:13:30] Everyone knows it.

[00:13:31] When you try this blanket, it's incredible, Dana.

[00:13:33] It's unbelievable, Brent.

[00:13:34] My dog wants to take the blanket from us.

[00:13:37] And it's just too good for the dog to have.

[00:13:38] And here's the thing is whether you're getting the cuddle blanket at Cozy Earth or you're getting the sheets, which are cool to the touch and amazing.

[00:13:44] The pajamas.

[00:13:45] My wife swears by the pajamas.

[00:13:48] Everything at Cozy Earth is premium quality.

[00:13:51] And you're going to get a better night's sleep.

[00:13:53] And you're going to be more comfortable.

[00:13:54] What do we want more than anything at the end of the day?

[00:13:56] To be more comfortable.

[00:13:57] To get a better night's sleep.

[00:13:59] Cozy Earth is the best brand I've ever come across to provide those two things at the end of a long day.

[00:14:04] That's right, Dan.

[00:14:05] And if you want to give the gift of Cozy Earth to a friend or to yourself, I would recommend either.

[00:14:10] We're going to give you 40% off when you go to CozyEarth.com and you use the promo code HALLMARK.

[00:14:16] You're going to get up to 40% off when you use the promo code HALLMARK at CozyEarth.com.

[00:14:22] Go check it out.

[00:14:23] You're going to be happy that you did.

[00:14:25] CozyEarth.com.

[00:14:26] Promo code HALLMARK.

[00:14:27] Promo code HALLMARK.

[00:14:32] Welcome back, everybody.

[00:14:34] I'm excited to talk about this movie.

[00:14:36] I'm also excited about the parade tomorrow in Greenville.

[00:14:40] That's right.

[00:14:40] We're doing it.

[00:14:41] We'd love for you to come.

[00:14:42] Come see us.

[00:14:42] Come say hi to us.

[00:14:44] We'll be hanging out.

[00:14:45] And it's going to be a lot of fun.

[00:14:46] So come on to Greenville.

[00:14:48] Our parade is dope.

[00:14:50] It's a great parade.

[00:14:52] Am I concerned about how cold it's going to be?

[00:14:54] Yes.

[00:14:55] I'm thrilled.

[00:14:56] I want it to be as cold.

[00:14:57] But have you ever tried to talk when it's cold?

[00:15:00] When it's cold.

[00:15:01] Give me some tea.

[00:15:02] Like the last time we did the parade, I'm in a daggum like sweater trying to be festive.

[00:15:10] And it's like 68 degrees outside.

[00:15:13] And I was sweating.

[00:15:14] Give me 25 degrees.

[00:15:16] That hot chocolate bar will be on point.

[00:15:20] We'll be ready to go.

[00:15:21] It's going to be great.

[00:15:22] I'm excited about it.

[00:15:23] Come hang out with us.

[00:15:23] It's going to be great.

[00:15:25] Let's talk finish line, shall we?

[00:15:26] It looked cold there as well.

[00:15:28] No.

[00:15:29] Greenville cold?

[00:15:29] Who can say?

[00:15:31] Let's break the speed of doubt.

[00:15:32] We're going to start with a hot take.

[00:15:33] And I'm going to start with you, Brian.

[00:15:34] Brian, what did you think about the finish line?

[00:15:35] I liked it.

[00:15:36] I liked it.

[00:15:37] I liked it.

[00:15:38] Yay!

[00:15:39] Everybody.

[00:15:40] More time with the dogs, obviously.

[00:15:42] With those good boys and girls.

[00:15:44] To your point, when they got, it was like right before the first commercial break, they started

[00:15:50] doing the race.

[00:15:51] And I was like, we're going to get lots of race.

[00:15:52] Brian's going to be happy.

[00:15:53] Yeah.

[00:15:53] And then from then on out, it was not so much.

[00:15:55] Well, and also, she gets a puppy in like the second scene.

[00:15:57] I'm like, we're going to get a lot of dogs.

[00:15:58] A lot of dogs.

[00:15:59] Not really.

[00:15:59] You don't really see much of that.

[00:16:00] It was a little bit of a bait and switch there.

[00:16:02] I thought the same thing.

[00:16:03] I thought, oh, we're going to be in this race the whole time.

[00:16:05] It's going to be cool.

[00:16:06] But not so much.

[00:16:08] I mean, the main storyline there, the main love interest, fine.

[00:16:14] Great.

[00:16:14] The race, fine.

[00:16:15] Great.

[00:16:15] But the big story here is the cousin and the friend.

[00:16:19] Yeah.

[00:16:19] Lavi's a star.

[00:16:20] Lavi and Elise.

[00:16:21] Like he's a...

[00:16:22] Yes.

[00:16:23] 100%.

[00:16:23] Yes.

[00:16:24] Borderline offended by the lack of Lavi in the alien synopsis.

[00:16:27] Is Lavi the greatest character in Hallmark history?

[00:16:30] It must be.

[00:16:31] It's got to...

[00:16:31] The fact that I didn't get more Lavi in the synopsis from you or a full breakdown of Bo

[00:16:38] Merchoff shirtless for like five or six straight minutes is crazy.

[00:16:42] Well, we'll get there.

[00:16:43] I mean, I just thought for sure in the synopsis...

[00:16:45] I can't please you.

[00:16:47] I do too long synopsis, you mad.

[00:16:49] I mean, these are the things that I...

[00:16:50] I do too short, you mad.

[00:16:51] These are the things that matter in a brand synopsis.

[00:16:54] I'm sorry.

[00:16:54] And it was a C plus synopsis.

[00:16:56] I got it in my feels.

[00:16:58] Maybe C minus.

[00:16:59] Oh, man.

[00:16:59] I got it in my feels.

[00:17:00] It wasn't one of your bad ones.

[00:17:02] People drop off before the feels.

[00:17:03] You know that.

[00:17:04] I know.

[00:17:05] It's the sweater.

[00:17:05] I think the space sweater is getting in his head.

[00:17:06] Yeah, the sweater.

[00:17:07] He's bringing them down.

[00:17:07] It's too much black.

[00:17:09] Yeah.

[00:17:10] Oh, yeah.

[00:17:10] Look at all that.

[00:17:11] Yeah.

[00:17:11] Beautiful sweater.

[00:17:12] If anybody should be wearing that sweater, it should be me, and I don't want any part

[00:17:14] of it.

[00:17:14] Well, everybody knows that you want the majority of the color on anything you're wearing

[00:17:19] to be right on the top.

[00:17:20] Bottom half.

[00:17:20] Right on the top.

[00:17:20] Yeah, that's right.

[00:17:21] Again, guys, 12 sweaters sold.

[00:17:23] Dan and I compete in Lil Debbie competition.

[00:17:26] Brad's going to throw up everywhere.

[00:17:30] The little treats for you forever.

[00:17:32] So, yeah.

[00:17:33] We'll go the viral on the reels.

[00:17:34] It'll work.

[00:17:35] It'll work.

[00:17:35] They were the story.

[00:17:37] More time with them.

[00:17:38] Every scene was just to get to the next Elise and Lavi scene.

[00:17:42] Everything that wasn't them was just to get to more of them.

[00:17:45] They were so great.

[00:17:46] After this movie, unfortunately, I did a little research on sled dogging.

[00:17:51] Not great.

[00:17:52] Sled dog racing?

[00:17:52] Yeah.

[00:17:53] Not sled dog racing.

[00:17:54] Sure.

[00:17:54] You sled dog in your own time.

[00:17:56] There's racing and there's tourism.

[00:17:59] Industry of it, too.

[00:18:00] So, it's not all just racing.

[00:18:01] So, there's some criticism out there on it.

[00:18:03] And it kind of brought me down a little bit.

[00:18:05] I don't like what I read.

[00:18:06] Fair.

[00:18:07] Let's say that.

[00:18:07] So, putting that in my head, not great for how I'm going to remember this movie.

[00:18:13] Is there a good way to do it, though?

[00:18:14] Yeah.

[00:18:15] Yeah.

[00:18:15] Yeah.

[00:18:15] Okay.

[00:18:16] It's like horse racing.

[00:18:17] There is.

[00:18:17] Yeah.

[00:18:18] Definitely.

[00:18:18] But I think it's more the tourism thing that I'm anti.

[00:18:21] It's just people want to go to Finland.

[00:18:23] Anti-tale.

[00:18:24] Exactly.

[00:18:25] Monty.

[00:18:26] Monty-tale.

[00:18:27] Overall, though, you had a good time with this one.

[00:18:30] Yeah.

[00:18:30] This movie slaps.

[00:18:32] It made me want to go watch Balto, which is always a win.

[00:18:37] Oh, obviously.

[00:18:37] I think maybe this is a hot take, but I think that Kim Matula is at BJL level to me.

[00:18:48] I think she's so good.

[00:18:51] And just every time she's on the screen in a movie, I'm just locked in.

[00:18:56] She just pulls you in.

[00:18:59] The chemistry that she had with Cole, I thought was wonderful.

[00:19:05] And yeah, this movie's great.

[00:19:09] I really, really enjoyed this movie.

[00:19:11] And give me more KM.

[00:19:14] Give me more KM.

[00:19:16] Who's going to say BJL?

[00:19:17] I can say KM.

[00:19:18] Give me more KM.

[00:19:20] Is that a crazy hot take?

[00:19:22] No.

[00:19:22] I don't know.

[00:19:23] I would agree 100% with you on Kim Matula.

[00:19:27] I think she's as good as we have.

[00:19:29] And literally, she was in Saturday Night, a movie that went into the theaters.

[00:19:33] She played Jane Curtin.

[00:19:35] She's amazing in that.

[00:19:36] Ghost of Christmas Always.

[00:19:37] This movie, a couple others she's done.

[00:19:39] She's fantastic.

[00:19:41] She's 100% fantastic.

[00:19:42] Look, this movie fails as a sports movie, but works as a Hallmark movie.

[00:19:48] The sports movie side of this, which starts off so strong, takes a so far back seat you can't see it.

[00:19:56] The dog racing scenes are bad.

[00:19:58] The fact that they're in the middle of this intense competition with high stakes and they're doing all these Christmas activities is fundamentally stupid.

[00:20:07] And it's hard to get past that.

[00:20:10] This is a really great Hallmark movie.

[00:20:12] It's a bad sports movie.

[00:20:13] And it's a really great Hallmark movie, which makes it tough to rank.

[00:20:16] As a sports movie, I wanted more of everything that Brian said.

[00:20:20] As a Hallmark movie, this cast is amazing.

[00:20:22] This script is amazing.

[00:20:23] Nicole Drespel wrote the script.

[00:20:25] It's fantastic.

[00:20:27] Kim Matula and Bo Merchoff, chemistry for days.

[00:20:30] One of the best kisses of the year.

[00:20:32] Kim Matula talking about why Christmas is hard for her.

[00:20:36] Are you kidding me?

[00:20:38] Unbelievable.

[00:20:38] Don't need a dog sledding race.

[00:20:41] Love, he's a star.

[00:20:43] Benedict Grondahl, this guy is unbelievable.

[00:20:46] Nicole Sakura.

[00:20:47] Benedict, never in his life.

[00:20:48] Never in his life.

[00:20:50] Nicely done.

[00:20:50] I don't know where that lands, but nicely done.

[00:20:52] Nicole Sakura, who plays Alice.

[00:20:55] That storyline is amazing.

[00:20:57] She's great.

[00:20:58] I knew her from somewhere.

[00:21:00] I realized she was in Superstore.

[00:21:02] Oh, yeah.

[00:21:03] So it's very quick-witted, very smart.

[00:21:07] Love all four of the leads in this movie.

[00:21:10] If you take the dog sledding out of this movie, it's the best movie of the year.

[00:21:15] Whoa!

[00:21:16] Wow.

[00:21:16] The problem is, is you can't do that.

[00:21:19] Wow.

[00:21:19] They're there for a dog sled race.

[00:21:22] Do you think without the dog sledding, it's better than Holiday Touchdown?

[00:21:26] Well, if it, I will say this.

[00:21:28] It has the scene with Kim Matula where she's talking about her parents.

[00:21:33] Yeah.

[00:21:33] Ed Begley does that.

[00:21:35] He's not the lead.

[00:21:35] You don't get that from Hunter King or Tyler Hines.

[00:21:38] Sure.

[00:21:38] Lavi.

[00:21:39] There is not a Lavi character in Holiday Touchdown.

[00:21:41] Sure.

[00:21:41] It would be duking it out.

[00:21:43] I'd be willing to admit, maybe it's not one, but it's very, very close.

[00:21:45] Holiday Touchdown is an all-timer.

[00:21:47] But this movie-

[00:21:48] How far down do you think this-

[00:21:49] Is so hard to rank.

[00:21:50] Really?

[00:21:51] The dog sled really bothered you.

[00:21:52] In my initial rankings, it dropped to three.

[00:21:54] Okay.

[00:21:56] But you can make a case that it is seven.

[00:21:58] You can make a case that it's two.

[00:22:00] I really do have a lot good to say about this movie.

[00:22:03] It's a great movie.

[00:22:03] It's so hard because the movie is sold as a dog sled racing movie.

[00:22:08] And even the scenes where she's supposed to be racing, those dogs are pulling in different

[00:22:12] directions.

[00:22:14] They're not committed to the dog racing side of this.

[00:22:17] Did it make you want to watch Balto, though?

[00:22:18] I'd never seen Balto.

[00:22:19] Really?

[00:22:20] Yeah.

[00:22:21] Interesting.

[00:22:21] Yeah.

[00:22:22] Yeah.

[00:22:22] Sorry.

[00:22:33] At the very least, if you like Hallmark movies, you're going to love this movie.

[00:22:35] I can't imagine you liking Hallmark movies and not loving this movie.

[00:22:38] It is worth your time on that front.

[00:22:40] Worth your time and your money.

[00:22:42] Well.

[00:22:43] Filo.tv.

[00:22:43] I'm not going one for the finish line.

[00:22:46] I'm not going to the theater to see this.

[00:22:47] Yeah, but you would watch it on Filo.

[00:22:48] Yeah.

[00:22:48] Filo.tv.

[00:22:49] You get it on the unlimited DVR just to see the scenes that aren't the dog racing.

[00:22:53] Yeah.

[00:22:54] Yeah.

[00:22:55] I, you know, we get to watch most of the movies together, but occasionally like this one,

[00:22:59] we don't get to watch together.

[00:23:00] And I'm always just like, I wonder if he liked it as much as me.

[00:23:02] Yeah.

[00:23:03] So did you like the movie?

[00:23:05] I'm really torn here.

[00:23:06] And I don't want to water it.

[00:23:08] Dan's torn if he liked the movie.

[00:23:10] Dan's torn if he liked the movie.

[00:23:13] Ha ha.

[00:23:14] Was that good?

[00:23:14] That was something.

[00:23:17] That was as good as the dog sledding.

[00:23:18] Here's the thing is, is that this is right now third Christmas with the Sings is second

[00:23:22] for me.

[00:23:24] And you didn't give me a song for that one.

[00:23:26] So I said, I liked it.

[00:23:28] You didn't give me a song.

[00:23:29] I think we retroactively did it.

[00:23:30] I think we retroactively did it.

[00:23:31] You may have retroactively did it, I guess.

[00:23:34] I want the fence.

[00:23:35] It's really good.

[00:23:36] That's better.

[00:23:38] Dan's on the fence.

[00:23:40] That's easier to sing.

[00:23:41] It's less words.

[00:23:42] Let's get to all the feels where we're talking about when this movie gave us feels, not words.

[00:23:46] Words?

[00:23:47] Yeah.

[00:23:49] I got words.

[00:23:50] I got a number of feels.

[00:23:52] I'm going to narrow it down to two things.

[00:23:54] One, the sauna.

[00:23:55] Sauna feels.

[00:23:56] Are you kidding me right now?

[00:23:57] Sauna.

[00:23:58] The sauna.

[00:23:58] They even do the sauna.

[00:23:59] They even do the sauna a bit.

[00:24:01] Yeah.

[00:24:02] How can you be mad at that?

[00:24:03] It looks so nice in there.

[00:24:04] It was such a great scene.

[00:24:05] It looks so nice in there.

[00:24:06] Thank you.

[00:24:07] Why did you say thank you?

[00:24:09] I wasn't talking about you.

[00:24:10] I was just agreeing with you, I guess.

[00:24:13] I haven't seen you in a sauna.

[00:24:14] I'm sure it's fine.

[00:24:15] I'm sure you look nice, too.

[00:24:16] I'm sure.

[00:24:16] I'd love to be in a sauna.

[00:24:17] Talking about the sauna.

[00:24:18] The other one was when they visit the cemetery at the end, which I watched this with my wife,

[00:24:22] and she said, oh, they do that in Poland.

[00:24:23] I'm like, do what?

[00:24:24] She's like, oh, they're in the cemetery.

[00:24:26] She explained that going to the cemetery is a big thing.

[00:24:29] You visit the cemetery.

[00:24:30] You visit the people.

[00:24:31] I'm like, wow, what a great thing.

[00:24:33] Here, we put people in a cemetery, and that's pretty much it.

[00:24:37] But in places where you actually visit the cemetery, when you die knowing that people are

[00:24:42] going to come visit you often, that's a pretty great feeling.

[00:24:45] That was really sweet.

[00:24:46] Thank you, man.

[00:24:48] Thanks.

[00:24:48] How much sooner do you think?

[00:24:50] How long do you think you have when he goes?

[00:24:52] Well, it depends.

[00:24:53] Are people buying 12 of these sweaters?

[00:24:56] That's true.

[00:24:57] Are people buying 12 of these sweaters and going to have to shove a bunch of them?

[00:25:00] Brian is the oldest of the three of us.

[00:25:02] The idea that either of us are going to be visiting Brian in his grave is hysterical or tragic.

[00:25:08] It is not realistic.

[00:25:11] I think you guys could make sure that it happens.

[00:25:14] That's true.

[00:25:15] I think it is largely dependent on how the day goes.

[00:25:18] Yeah.

[00:25:18] What the sales are.

[00:25:20] So it's really in the listeners' hands.

[00:25:22] It really is.

[00:25:22] It's what it is.

[00:25:23] So vote for our lives.

[00:25:25] And I personally think that, in case you were wondering,

[00:25:28] that eating the Little Debbie cakes doing that contest is going to make us live longer.

[00:25:32] Yeah, that's right.

[00:25:32] No, no.

[00:25:32] I don't want to figure that out.

[00:25:33] It's the process of the shirt we need.

[00:25:34] Absolutely.

[00:25:35] Exactly right.

[00:25:39] Obviously, he took his shirt off, and I didn't see it coming.

[00:25:43] And then Remain shirtless.

[00:25:45] Remain shirtless for two straight scenes.

[00:25:47] You know what?

[00:25:48] When they went out there, I didn't know what to expect.

[00:25:50] I didn't know what to expect, and it happened.

[00:25:53] And that whole sequence from cold plunge to sauna was great.

[00:25:58] Was great.

[00:26:01] And big, big, big fans.

[00:26:04] We've talked about it.

[00:26:05] Lavi.

[00:26:06] Every time Lavi was on the train, it was amazing.

[00:26:11] I do think he is the greatest character in the history of Hallmark,

[00:26:14] and we need more Lavi in our lives.

[00:26:17] Steven Toblowski hauled the holly.

[00:26:18] I'm sorry.

[00:26:19] There's nothing I can do.

[00:26:20] That's fair.

[00:26:20] That's fair.

[00:26:21] But he's up there.

[00:26:22] He is.

[00:26:23] To be in the conversation with Ned.

[00:26:25] I mean, come on.

[00:26:26] That's tough to beat.

[00:26:28] What a moment.

[00:26:30] What a fun time.

[00:26:32] The kiss.

[00:26:34] You know, I never –

[00:26:37] Saying kiss for all the feels is low-hanging fruit, but this one –

[00:26:41] Both kisses.

[00:26:41] Was special.

[00:26:42] When they're on the couch and she says,

[00:26:44] can I say one more thing off the record?

[00:26:46] And she scoots in and they kiss.

[00:26:48] That is as good of a setup to a kiss as we've ever seen on the channel.

[00:26:53] It was magnificent.

[00:26:55] And what a time.

[00:26:57] What a moment.

[00:26:57] Dano?

[00:26:57] Yeah.

[00:26:58] Both kisses between the two leads.

[00:27:00] Great.

[00:27:01] Both of them –

[00:27:02] Did I'm finally being lead dog?

[00:27:04] Did that do anything for you?

[00:27:05] I think the reason that that worked is the movie explicitly establishes him as not that.

[00:27:12] Yes.

[00:27:12] He's like, hey, I don't have the killer instinct.

[00:27:15] I don't –

[00:27:16] Like, it's a very weird thing for homework to do, and we should probably talk about it.

[00:27:19] The fact that the guy in this movie is like, I'm just not really an alpha.

[00:27:22] And the girl is clearly the alpha in this movie.

[00:27:25] Yeah.

[00:27:25] And for him to be like, you know what?

[00:27:27] Sometimes you've got to do that anyway.

[00:27:29] Sometimes you've got to be lead dog.

[00:27:29] That actually –

[00:27:30] Weirdly enough, all the other dog references being funny and him being like, I've got to stop doing this.

[00:27:35] For some reason, the lead dog thing did work for me.

[00:27:37] Like, it did work for me.

[00:27:39] I thought both kisses worked.

[00:27:40] And then Lavi, yes.

[00:27:41] This guy, Benedict Grondel, we've got to bring him over to the States, and he's got to axe him over here.

[00:27:46] His timing is impeccable.

[00:27:48] It's unbelievable.

[00:27:50] Like, he had some Chris Farley mannerisms, like reaction stuff that was really funny.

[00:27:57] The guy's a champion.

[00:27:58] Yeah.

[00:27:58] Like, Bo Merchoff, they use Bo Merchoff perfectly in this movie.

[00:28:02] Take your shirt off.

[00:28:03] Don't try to do too much.

[00:28:04] You're fine.

[00:28:05] The other three of these actors –

[00:28:07] Yeah.

[00:28:07] Like, Bo Merchoff was great.

[00:28:08] Right.

[00:28:08] He's the fourth in this group.

[00:28:10] They're all amazing.

[00:28:11] Yeah.

[00:28:11] Like, they all did a great job, but come on.

[00:28:14] Lavi's unbelievable.

[00:28:15] Yeah.

[00:28:15] Let's take a quick break.

[00:28:16] We'll come back.

[00:28:17] We'll get to the way what and the what the hallmark here on Deck the Hallmark.

[00:28:20] We are on it today, folks.

[00:28:21] Yeah, we are.

[00:28:22] Locked in December 6th.

[00:28:24] That's almost why we're here.

[00:28:26] Dan, you were telling me the other day about how much you love for King & Country's Christmas album.

[00:28:30] It's unbelievable, Brian.

[00:28:32] And you know what is even better?

[00:28:33] What's that?

[00:28:33] Their live show.

[00:28:34] Yeah.

[00:28:38] It's in the air.

[00:28:39] It's acrobatics.

[00:28:40] It's light show.

[00:28:41] It really comes to life.

[00:28:43] I have a problem, though.

[00:28:43] What's the problem?

[00:28:44] Because they're doing their Christmas tour, but they're only going to a few places.

[00:28:46] They're going to New York and London and Nashville.

[00:28:49] And I'm not anywhere near those places.

[00:28:51] I've got good news, Brian.

[00:28:52] What's that?

[00:28:52] For one week only, you can go to your local cinema, your local movie theater, and you

[00:28:59] can see Little Drummer Boy, a cinematic experience in the comfort of your home city at your local

[00:29:05] theater.

[00:29:06] And it's going to be worth the trip.

[00:29:07] It is, Dano.

[00:29:08] And it's out right now, only for a few more days.

[00:29:12] It's in 1,200 theaters across the country.

[00:29:15] So chances are it's in a theater near you.

[00:29:18] You're going to want to see it.

[00:29:19] It's going to be in your local theater through the night for the rest of the week.

[00:29:24] So you've got to go check it out.

[00:29:25] Right now.

[00:29:25] It is a wonderful experience.

[00:29:27] Go take your family and go get yourself in the Christmas spirit.

[00:29:30] It's one thing to listen to it, and I would recommend that as well.

[00:29:32] It's another thing to see it.

[00:29:34] It truly is a cinematic experience.

[00:29:36] So check out the For King and Country Little Drummer Boy cinematic experience out right now.

[00:29:43] Almost.

[00:29:46] Welcome back, everybody.

[00:29:47] We're talking about the finish line, not the store.

[00:29:50] Not the store.

[00:29:51] Right, right.

[00:29:51] It's time for wait.

[00:29:52] Prima code check out there, I believe.

[00:29:54] Yes.

[00:29:55] Try it out.

[00:29:56] It's time for the wait what.

[00:29:57] It's where we talk about what in this movie is going what.

[00:29:59] I'll start with you, Brian.

[00:30:00] Yeah.

[00:30:00] I'm realizing all of mine have to do with the dog racing.

[00:30:03] Yeah.

[00:30:03] It's fair.

[00:30:04] Just the green screen was brutal.

[00:30:07] The green screen and the cold plunge was brutal.

[00:30:11] Did you see that?

[00:30:12] Yeah.

[00:30:13] Yeah.

[00:30:13] They're not in a cold.

[00:30:14] Right.

[00:30:15] Very clearly acting there.

[00:30:16] But I only felt, I felt like it only looked bad for one.

[00:30:22] You think it looked bad the whole time?

[00:30:24] The close-ups look bad.

[00:30:25] Really?

[00:30:25] I felt like the wide shot looked bad.

[00:30:26] When they close up and you see them.

[00:30:28] Or no, no, no.

[00:30:28] The wide shot.

[00:30:29] It was the wide shot.

[00:30:30] I felt like it was real.

[00:30:33] I didn't think that they were acting.

[00:30:34] Oh, no.

[00:30:34] I thought they were inside.

[00:30:35] They were inside the soundstage for sure.

[00:30:37] Interesting.

[00:30:37] Maybe somebody from the movie can tell us.

[00:30:39] I assume that it was real and they had to do something to clean up some stuff in the background.

[00:30:43] Oh, no.

[00:30:43] It looked real bad.

[00:30:44] And that's why it looked bad.

[00:30:44] Oh, okay.

[00:30:45] Maybe.

[00:30:45] I think that.

[00:30:46] No.

[00:30:46] I agree.

[00:30:47] It did look bad.

[00:30:48] They need to pick some stuff up.

[00:30:48] I think the wide shot.

[00:30:49] There was something that they.

[00:30:51] I don't even know if it was.

[00:30:52] It just looked so bad.

[00:30:53] Maybe they did it in somebody's backyard.

[00:30:55] Maybe.

[00:30:56] Well, the close-up, they can make it look cold.

[00:30:58] You know what I mean?

[00:30:58] And the wide shot, they can't.

[00:30:59] Right.

[00:31:00] So they had to green screen it.

[00:31:01] So a lot of stuff like that.

[00:31:03] It was just big, like wide shots.

[00:31:04] Yeah.

[00:31:04] A lot of the wide.

[00:31:05] And the racing just.

[00:31:06] It was real bad.

[00:31:07] Just don't.

[00:31:07] I just would rather you not.

[00:31:09] The racing was real bad.

[00:31:10] It was not good.

[00:31:11] And just so much downtime.

[00:31:12] Every time I think I'm going to tell you I like this movie, we talk about the racing

[00:31:15] and it bothers me.

[00:31:15] And it brings you right back.

[00:31:16] It bothers me.

[00:31:17] There's so much downtime during the race.

[00:31:19] Yeah.

[00:31:19] They had plenty of time.

[00:31:20] Oh, my.

[00:31:20] It's crazy.

[00:31:21] Yeah.

[00:31:21] And the lighting of the.

[00:31:22] Like this.

[00:31:23] It was just sort of like, don't do this.

[00:31:25] If you can't.

[00:31:25] If you can't.

[00:31:26] Don't.

[00:31:26] That's right.

[00:31:27] If you can't.

[00:31:27] Don't.

[00:31:27] During the big race, it was bright.

[00:31:30] It was dark.

[00:31:30] It was like the lighting was all off.

[00:31:33] And so it just kind of throws you off.

[00:31:34] You know?

[00:31:35] You could have made this movie where she doesn't.

[00:31:37] Her parents die.

[00:31:38] She doesn't know who she is.

[00:31:39] And she goes to Finland to see her family.

[00:31:41] And it might just be better without the racing.

[00:31:44] Yeah.

[00:31:44] Or even all stock footage.

[00:31:46] Like up high aerial shots.

[00:31:47] Like I don't need to see them up close.

[00:31:48] Yeah.

[00:31:48] Like we get it.

[00:31:50] Yes.

[00:31:51] Yes.

[00:31:52] But in Finland.

[00:31:53] In Finland.

[00:31:53] By Finnish holiday.

[00:31:54] You get it.

[00:31:54] Finnish version.

[00:31:55] And it's got lobby.

[00:31:56] So.

[00:31:56] It's got lobby.

[00:31:57] Next level.

[00:31:58] So yeah.

[00:31:58] It was really just all.

[00:31:59] That's everything else was really, really great.

[00:32:02] Yeah.

[00:32:02] I also only have a couple of things.

[00:32:04] And they are also dog sled racing adjacent.

[00:32:07] You can't.

[00:32:08] I don't.

[00:32:08] You can't just add a.

[00:32:09] Add a rule to the.

[00:32:11] To the 40th.

[00:32:13] It's.

[00:32:13] The 40th anniversary of the most popular race.

[00:32:16] You can't just add a rule mid race.

[00:32:18] But also.

[00:32:19] Is the weight rule not something that they already do?

[00:32:22] You would think that they already do.

[00:32:23] I would like.

[00:32:24] As against it as I am to add a rule mid race.

[00:32:29] I think it's actually a pretty good rule.

[00:32:31] I think that that's probably fair.

[00:32:33] Right?

[00:32:34] It makes sense.

[00:32:34] Yeah.

[00:32:34] For the dogs.

[00:32:35] To pull the same weight.

[00:32:37] To pull the same weight.

[00:32:39] Makes sense to me.

[00:32:40] It does seem that she would have a bit of an advantage.

[00:32:43] Over old man Titeo over there.

[00:32:45] Right?

[00:32:46] Yeah.

[00:32:46] Well I mean when they do.

[00:32:47] I don't think that you have to weigh the exact same.

[00:32:49] I don't think that's a reasonable request.

[00:32:51] I mean horse jockeys don't all weigh the same.

[00:32:52] I mean like every.

[00:32:53] You know horses don't weigh all the same.

[00:32:55] I think that part of it is the.

[00:32:57] But they're.

[00:32:58] But they're.

[00:32:58] Yes.

[00:32:59] But they're.

[00:33:03] I guarantee.

[00:33:03] This is a.

[00:33:04] Well they're carrying a.

[00:33:05] Yeah.

[00:33:05] But this is dogs pulling.

[00:33:07] I don't know.

[00:33:07] Maybe you're right.

[00:33:07] I guarantee there's some sort of weight requirement for the sled itself.

[00:33:11] Yeah.

[00:33:11] I don't know about the person.

[00:33:12] I think for the weight itself.

[00:33:13] Of the sled itself there would be something.

[00:33:14] I just.

[00:33:15] You can't.

[00:33:15] They play fast and loose with all that.

[00:33:16] You can't just add a rule.

[00:33:18] But also.

[00:33:19] It did seem like a rule that should be in place.

[00:33:21] So I was a bit conflicted there.

[00:33:22] Dano.

[00:33:24] Yeah.

[00:33:24] So early in this movie.

[00:33:27] Alice and.

[00:33:28] What is Kim Achula's name in this movie?

[00:33:30] Anya.

[00:33:31] Anya business.

[00:33:31] Alice and Anya have a scene after they spent a night in Finland.

[00:33:35] And Alice.

[00:33:36] Talks super caffeinated.

[00:33:38] She's like.

[00:33:39] I don't know why I'm so blah blah blah.

[00:33:40] And blah blah blah.

[00:33:40] Do you know Finland drinks more coffee?

[00:33:41] And I'm like.

[00:33:42] Police.

[00:33:42] All right.

[00:33:42] This is clearly.

[00:33:44] Yeah.

[00:33:45] A coffee thing.

[00:33:46] Yeah.

[00:33:46] She's had too much coffee.

[00:33:48] So she's talking.

[00:33:49] And then literally.

[00:33:51] Ten seconds into that.

[00:33:52] She just takes a deep breath and goes.

[00:33:54] I'm really just nervous for you.

[00:33:55] And she just settles down completely.

[00:33:57] And.

[00:33:58] I guarantee you something happened in the.

[00:34:00] Script.

[00:34:01] Because.

[00:34:01] It turns out.

[00:34:02] All of her jittery.

[00:34:03] Had nothing to do with caffeine.

[00:34:05] She's talking about coffee.

[00:34:07] And then she just goes.

[00:34:09] You know.

[00:34:09] It turns out.

[00:34:10] Like.

[00:34:10] She goes.

[00:34:11] Like.

[00:34:11] It's a very.

[00:34:12] Early in this movie.

[00:34:13] I was like.

[00:34:13] We're in for a terrible movie.

[00:34:14] I was very worried.

[00:34:15] When this scene happened.

[00:34:16] Because I was like.

[00:34:17] This had nothing to do with coffee at all.

[00:34:18] And I hated it.

[00:34:19] Monty has an age today.

[00:34:21] So God bless him.

[00:34:22] Yeah.

[00:34:22] In that.

[00:34:23] In that finish weather.

[00:34:24] For that guy.

[00:34:25] To have both competed.

[00:34:26] Against her father and her.

[00:34:28] And look virtually the same.

[00:34:30] You know.

[00:34:31] Two and a half.

[00:34:32] Three decades later.

[00:34:34] That's something.

[00:34:35] Figured out.

[00:34:35] That's something.

[00:34:36] I love the sauna scene.

[00:34:37] White wine in a sauna.

[00:34:39] Sounds like my nightmare.

[00:34:40] Why are you doing this?

[00:34:43] White wine should be chilled.

[00:34:45] It is not hydrating.

[00:34:48] A sauna.

[00:34:48] Like.

[00:34:48] The mix of white wine in a sauna.

[00:34:51] Maybe I'm wrong.

[00:34:52] Maybe some people are going to come at me.

[00:34:53] And be like.

[00:34:54] I don't know.

[00:34:54] I saw that.

[00:34:56] And I was like.

[00:34:56] There's something about the wine.

[00:34:58] That adds.

[00:34:59] Dude.

[00:35:00] To the romance.

[00:35:01] Oh yeah.

[00:35:01] The romance of it all.

[00:35:02] For sure.

[00:35:02] But a dry white wine.

[00:35:05] In a sauna.

[00:35:06] I was sweating.

[00:35:06] I was just totally swept up by the moment.

[00:35:09] I was like.

[00:35:09] Whatever.

[00:35:10] I saw it and I was like.

[00:35:11] Just get the white wine out on the.

[00:35:13] You know.

[00:35:14] At the cold plunge or something.

[00:35:15] I'm just not here.

[00:35:17] Like I couldn't.

[00:35:18] That was tough.

[00:35:19] That was tough for me.

[00:35:21] Probably all my feels.

[00:35:23] And I'm going to mention it here.

[00:35:24] Because it's so rare that this happens in a movie.

[00:35:27] Kim Achula gets mad at her three friends.

[00:35:30] Yeah.

[00:35:30] Gets mad at Lobby.

[00:35:31] And.

[00:35:32] It's just Al Lobby.

[00:35:33] And Al.

[00:35:33] Oh no.

[00:35:33] Lobby Alice.

[00:35:34] And Bo Murchoff's character.

[00:35:35] And they're all arguing.

[00:35:37] And she storms off.

[00:35:39] And no one is.

[00:35:40] She is wrong in that argument.

[00:35:41] Sure.

[00:35:41] It's beautiful.

[00:35:42] It is so well written.

[00:35:44] And I've never really seen anything like it on Hallmark.

[00:35:46] Where the big misunderstanding.

[00:35:49] Isn't a misunderstanding.

[00:35:50] It's a complete understanding.

[00:35:52] Of two perspectives.

[00:35:54] Of what's going on.

[00:35:55] And two lives lived.

[00:35:57] And neither side's wrong.

[00:35:58] And I.

[00:35:59] I was.

[00:35:59] I was so confused.

[00:36:01] By watching it on Hallmark.

[00:36:03] I really didn't know what to do.

[00:36:04] I didn't know how to handle it.

[00:36:06] And to that point.

[00:36:08] This was almost my feels.

[00:36:09] But after that.

[00:36:11] The way that Anya and Elise.

[00:36:15] Dealt with it.

[00:36:16] Like.

[00:36:16] Yeah.

[00:36:16] Right away.

[00:36:17] Elise is annoyed.

[00:36:18] Like friends.

[00:36:19] Her friend comes up.

[00:36:20] And they.

[00:36:21] They squash it.

[00:36:22] They squash it.

[00:36:23] Yes.

[00:36:23] And I was like.

[00:36:24] That's great.

[00:36:24] Oh it's perfect.

[00:36:25] Because it's just.

[00:36:25] That's kind of how you do it.

[00:36:26] Yes.

[00:36:27] You know.

[00:36:27] This movie.

[00:36:28] That's how you do it.

[00:36:29] That is.

[00:36:29] It's how it's done.

[00:36:30] That's how it's done.

[00:36:30] You squash it.

[00:36:31] And then lastly.

[00:36:32] Big week.

[00:36:32] They're trying to get two dogs to get to know each other.

[00:36:35] For some reason in the race.

[00:36:36] It doesn't matter.

[00:36:37] Well the cupid shuffle.

[00:36:37] The cupid shuffle.

[00:36:38] Yeah.

[00:36:38] One hop this time.

[00:36:40] You can't.

[00:36:40] Bo Merchoff says it's too bad that doggy ice breakers aren't a thing.

[00:36:44] Guys.

[00:36:45] Dogs.

[00:36:46] Get to know.

[00:36:47] Are adept at getting to know each other quicker than humans have ever been.

[00:36:51] Ever.

[00:36:51] Well that's because they're comfortable smelling butts.

[00:36:54] But.

[00:36:54] Well.

[00:36:54] That's right.

[00:36:54] That's a different.

[00:36:55] That's the secret.

[00:36:56] Conversation altogether.

[00:36:57] Well that's what you're getting at though.

[00:36:58] Yeah.

[00:36:58] The idea.

[00:36:59] If we all just.

[00:37:00] What you're saying is if we all just committed to smelling each other's butt.

[00:37:02] I didn't say that.

[00:37:03] Well that's what I heard.

[00:37:03] I think that's something that you're pushing.

[00:37:05] That's an agenda.

[00:37:05] You're pushing a butt smelling agenda.

[00:37:08] What I'm saying is that the dogs.

[00:37:09] What are they doing differently?

[00:37:10] Dogs don't need ice breakers.

[00:37:11] Because they got the butt.

[00:37:12] Yeah.

[00:37:12] They get the stiff.

[00:37:13] Maybe.

[00:37:13] Stiff test.

[00:37:22] That's not the problem here.

[00:37:24] It's that you don't know if they're compatible to race together.

[00:37:26] And this movie doesn't have time to afford to give it.

[00:37:29] Let me ask you this Dan.

[00:37:29] I know how much you like hate team building.

[00:37:32] Yes.

[00:37:32] Hate it.

[00:37:33] Icebreaker games.

[00:37:34] I hate it.

[00:37:35] You have to do one of those games.

[00:37:38] Uh huh.

[00:37:38] Or you have to.

[00:37:39] Like so you walk into a.

[00:37:40] We go to a podcasting conference or something.

[00:37:43] Yeah.

[00:37:43] Podcasting convention.

[00:37:44] And you go to a breakout.

[00:37:45] And they say.

[00:37:46] I'm not going to a breakout.

[00:37:47] Okay.

[00:37:47] You have to though.

[00:37:51] A lot of tips and trades for running podcast networks.

[00:37:56] And Danny Morehall is.

[00:37:58] Danny Morehall?

[00:37:59] They got Morehall.

[00:38:00] Yeah.

[00:38:00] They got Morehall.

[00:38:00] He's leading the breakout.

[00:38:01] And you love him.

[00:38:02] After all the trouble.

[00:38:03] I know.

[00:38:04] But he's.

[00:38:04] Overcome.

[00:38:06] So a lot of.

[00:38:08] Scandal noted.

[00:38:08] You walk in.

[00:38:10] You walk in.

[00:38:11] And you are given the opportunity to either.

[00:38:14] Some people are too good.

[00:38:15] Go into this group.

[00:38:16] Yeah.

[00:38:16] But they are.

[00:38:17] They are going to do icebreakers first.

[00:38:19] Or go to this group.

[00:38:20] And it's just a quick butt smell.

[00:38:21] Of everybody around.

[00:38:22] It's just one.

[00:38:23] I'm doing the rap session.

[00:38:25] You're doing the what session?

[00:38:26] The rap.

[00:38:26] The breakout session.

[00:38:27] Oh.

[00:38:27] The breakout session.

[00:38:28] That's what I'm doing.

[00:38:29] The icebreakers.

[00:38:29] The icebreakers.

[00:38:29] Just one.

[00:38:30] Yeah.

[00:38:30] What are you doing?

[00:38:33] What are the icebreakers?

[00:38:35] Yeah.

[00:38:35] That's a good question.

[00:38:36] If it's one breakout session with icebreakers.

[00:38:38] I have that for the rest of my life.

[00:38:39] I think it's like three or four icebreakers.

[00:38:41] Now.

[00:38:42] Three or four days.

[00:38:43] Or I can get it done with like.

[00:38:45] You know.

[00:38:45] A couple minutes.

[00:38:46] Like four activities.

[00:38:47] Yeah.

[00:38:48] But like.

[00:38:48] To get to know each other.

[00:38:48] What I'm saying is.

[00:38:49] One of those one time in my life.

[00:38:51] I'm fine.

[00:38:52] If it's a convention with four days.

[00:38:53] And I have to do that every day.

[00:38:55] All day.

[00:38:55] Yeah.

[00:38:56] I'm probably out at that point.

[00:38:57] You're sniffing butts.

[00:38:57] Yeah.

[00:38:58] I probably have to.

[00:38:59] For two minutes.

[00:39:00] And then I'm out of here.

[00:39:01] You would hate a breakout session.

[00:39:03] I do.

[00:39:04] No.

[00:39:04] You still have to sit through the breakout session.

[00:39:06] Oh God.

[00:39:07] That's just.

[00:39:08] Like.

[00:39:08] They do a thing where it's like.

[00:39:09] One of those.

[00:39:10] Let's all get to know each other first.

[00:39:11] Yeah.

[00:39:11] One of those.

[00:39:12] Whatever.

[00:39:12] You just are in for it.

[00:39:14] What is this the rest of your life?

[00:39:15] God no.

[00:39:16] God no.

[00:39:16] None of us.

[00:39:17] You wouldn't do it either.

[00:39:18] No.

[00:39:19] No.

[00:39:22] That's all I had.

[00:39:22] It's time for What the Homework.

[00:39:24] Chime in.

[00:39:25] Let us know in the comments.

[00:39:25] In the comments.

[00:39:27] This is going to go viral.

[00:39:29] This is our moment.

[00:39:30] That's right.

[00:39:30] It's not what we wanted.

[00:39:32] Icebreaker or butts?

[00:39:35] Let's get to What the Homework is.

[00:39:36] We wonder what could have been.

[00:39:37] Maybe happy because we're clearly any questions we still have.

[00:39:39] Brett?

[00:39:39] Yeah.

[00:39:40] Just big questions.

[00:39:41] What do you think?

[00:39:41] Butts or icebreaker?

[00:39:42] You're a butt guy.

[00:39:43] I think we need a t-shirt for this.

[00:39:45] That's what we need.

[00:39:46] I've wondered about a lot of logistics around a dog race.

[00:39:49] I assume you bring your own dogs.

[00:39:51] Clearly.

[00:39:51] You went down a rabbit trail.

[00:39:52] Yeah.

[00:39:52] Yeah.

[00:39:53] Down the dog trail there.

[00:39:55] How much stuff do you really bring?

[00:39:57] I assume they provide the sleds.

[00:39:58] But you probably bring all your own dogs.

[00:40:00] I'm pretty sure it's your own sled.

[00:40:02] She talks about bringing her own doggies for sure.

[00:40:03] Yeah.

[00:40:04] It's like a car in NASCAR.

[00:40:05] I'm pretty sure you bring all your own stuff.

[00:40:07] Yeah.

[00:40:08] It's all your own stuff.

[00:40:08] And it just has to be regulation.

[00:40:10] And your sled?

[00:40:10] I assume they had all the sleds that everybody used.

[00:40:13] No.

[00:40:13] Because half of it is the sled.

[00:40:15] That would be like NASCAR drivers all in just picking a car in the garage.

[00:40:19] I guess that makes a lot of sense.

[00:40:20] So yeah.

[00:40:20] But other stuff around that, like just getting stuff there.

[00:40:24] Are we coordinating one big cargo plane to do this?

[00:40:27] Are you on your own?

[00:40:28] Like you got to get all your stuff there?

[00:40:29] You get help?

[00:40:30] My guess is it ships well in advance.

[00:40:33] But I could be wrong.

[00:40:34] There's got to be so much going on there.

[00:40:35] I mean, if you can ship your pants, you can ship your pants.

[00:40:36] Yeah, you can ship your pants.

[00:40:37] You definitely ship your pants.

[00:40:39] Dogs' pants.

[00:40:40] And then you can smell it.

[00:40:41] Yeah.

[00:40:44] So that's what I was wondering.

[00:40:45] Yeah, that's it.

[00:40:46] That's what I was wondering.

[00:40:47] That's something that you could do.

[00:40:49] Yeah.

[00:40:50] I mean, listen.

[00:40:51] This is my guy, Monty.

[00:40:55] Man, I take on.

[00:40:56] First of all, did anybody else think that he was faking it and he was going to get on

[00:40:59] her sled and take off?

[00:41:01] No.

[00:41:01] Oh, I wish he did, though, now that I think of that.

[00:41:03] He was by himself.

[00:41:04] I think that was the good.

[00:41:06] I thought that he did it was doing a thing.

[00:41:08] I think if he finishes on her sled, she wins.

[00:41:10] Oh, really?

[00:41:11] Yeah.

[00:41:11] I think whatever sled crosses with the dog, you sled, you're dead.

[00:41:13] Losers walk.

[00:41:14] That's right.

[00:41:15] But he clearly was hurt.

[00:41:18] Yeah.

[00:41:18] Leg, did the whole thing, got back, and he was able to finish the race and be pretty

[00:41:23] darn close, even with the hurt leg.

[00:41:26] I don't know.

[00:41:27] I guess it is.

[00:41:28] I know so little about sled racing.

[00:41:31] It seems like that'd be really difficult, and they didn't give that enough of a spotlight.

[00:41:36] I know he's the bad guy here, but I don't know.

[00:41:39] Is that a thing?

[00:41:42] Do these people get hurt and get down to one leg, and then you're just kind of like hanging

[00:41:47] on?

[00:41:47] But you're standing on the sled.

[00:41:48] I know.

[00:41:49] Yeah.

[00:41:49] But you're still.

[00:41:50] You can't really put any weight on it.

[00:41:52] It's moving around.

[00:41:53] Got it out.

[00:41:53] Got it out.

[00:41:54] How about that?

[00:41:54] Yeah.

[00:41:55] I am interested in sled racing to that, but there's just lots of things I don't know.

[00:42:00] There's lots of things I don't know.

[00:42:01] You say it's like a NASCAR car.

[00:42:03] I mean, I think that there's a comment.

[00:42:04] I don't think it's exactly like one, but I think the sled is your own sled.

[00:42:07] You take your own stuff.

[00:42:08] I'm just saying, what do sled racers do and change?

[00:42:12] To optimize it with the rules.

[00:42:14] Dana?

[00:42:14] Sure you have a pit crew kind of thing, like to make sure the sled's optimized.

[00:42:18] I would say this.

[00:42:20] There were two scenes early in this movie where our screener, there were some issues with the

[00:42:26] volume, so I may have missed this, but do we know how her parents died, or do we just

[00:42:30] know the mom died when she was younger and the dad died when she was older?

[00:42:34] She basically says, I lost my mom really quick, and I lost my dad really slow.

[00:42:37] I would assume the second one is some sort of terminal ailment, and the earlier one is

[00:42:41] some sort of massive accident.

[00:42:42] It just seems like really bad luck, even for a Hallmark lead, and I just would love to

[00:42:48] know.

[00:42:48] I do think that that's all that we get on it, but I could be wrong.

[00:42:52] This character's so good that I actually would love to know.

[00:42:54] I want that information more than we got, and I was interested.

[00:42:59] Dana wants to be in the room where it happens.

[00:43:01] Room where it happens.

[00:43:02] Where both parents die.

[00:43:03] One fast, one slow.

[00:43:05] Yeah.

[00:43:06] We did it, everybody.

[00:43:07] Congratulations to Eyes.

[00:43:09] It's a long week.

[00:43:10] It's a long week.

[00:43:11] It's a big week.

[00:43:11] It's a big week.

[00:43:12] It's a big week.

[00:43:13] And we've still got more to go, so come on back tomorrow for some more fun.

[00:43:16] Until then, maybe the first to wish you a Merry Christmas!

[00:43:20] Deck the Hallmark is a Bramble Jam podcast.

[00:43:21] It's produced by Aaron Shea.

[00:43:23] What?

[00:43:23] For more information on Deck the Hallmark, you can go to deckthehallmark.com.

[00:43:27] For more information on the Deck the Hallmark family, you can go to bramblejamplus.com.

[00:43:30] Deck the Hallmark is presented by Philo TV.

[00:43:32] For a free trial of Philo, go to philo.tv slash dth.

[00:43:43] You're about to hear some ads that help keep the lights on here in the old

[00:43:47] studio.

[00:43:49] Thanks for listening.

[00:43:50] Or don't listen.

[00:43:51] It's really up to you at this point.

[00:43:53] It's at the end of the show.

[00:43:55] I mean, you're listening to me.

[00:43:56] Hi.

[00:43:57] But here they come.

[00:43:58] I promise they're coming.

[00:43:59] Yep.

[00:43:59] Here they are.

[00:44:00] Happy day.

[00:44:01] Backday Day.

[00:44:02] See you guys next time.