Holland Roden and Matthew Daddario are technically the romantic leads in the new Hallmark release Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, about lifelong friends and Buffalo Bills fans who eventually realize they’re more than just friends, they’re soul mates. But actor Joe Pantoliano, the very same guy from The Goonies and The Sopranos, steals this sweet movie.
The Gist: Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story centers around two lifelong Buffalo Bills fans, Morgan Quinn (Holland Roden), a doctor, and Gabe DeLuca (Matthew Daddario), the man in charge of construction for the new Highmark Stadium in Buffalo. The two have lived next door to each other since childhood and their families are best friends. They share a yard that they all pitch in to decorate for Christmas, and they always attend the last Bills home game before Christmas to take an annual family photo — this is an integral part of their families intertwined history.
Morgan’s mother (Tracy Pollan) has been a widow since Morgan was little, and Morgan was partially raised by her beloved Uncle Tommy (Joe Pantoliano). Tommy is a selfless guy; he also helped support his mother, also a widow, decades earlier, working to support his four siblings. When Tommy was drafted in the Vietnam War, an anonymous donor started sending his mother money and groceries and to this day, Tommy receives a Christmas gift every year, sent by this person whose identity has never been revealed.
Gabe harbors a massive crush on Morgan but the timing for a relationship has never been right, they’ve always either lived in different cities or dated other people, but now that they both live in Buffalo, he’s hoping to shoot his shot with her. He and Morgan decide that this Christmas as a special surprise, they’ll try to find out who the anonymous donor that has been sending Uncle Tommy gifts. As Gabe helps Morgan locate the mystery sender, it’s obvious to everyone around them – their families, friends, all the Bills players who have cameos in the film – that he has it bad for her. When they finally do locate the mystery gift-giver and Gabe learns that it was a woman who knew Tommy as a teen and has secretly loved him for decades, he realizes it’s time he reveals his own feelings.
David Scott Holloway
What Movies Will It Remind You Of? This is the second Holiday Touchdown film to land on Hallmark; last year’s Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story was a similar story starring Tyler Hynes and Hunter King as a Chiefs employee and superfan, respectively, who fall in love in the shadow of Arrowhead Stadium. This year’s version just trades Arrowhead out for Highmark.
Performance Worth Watching: The movie belongs to Joe Pantoliano. The guy makes everything he’s in better, but as the selfless, paternal Uncle Tommy, his performance adds layers of emotion and elevates the movie.
Memorable Dialogue: When Gabe and Morgan kiss at the end of the movie, Morgan’s mother yells out to the pair, “Finally!” and Gabe’s mom calls out, “It’s about time!” And, because he happens to be nearby, Bills’ offensive tackle Dion Dawkins adds, “I know, right?!”
A Holiday Tradition: The DeLucas and the Quinns have an annual tradition of taking a family photo inside Highmark Stadium at Christmas. Everyone from both families attends the last game of the season before Christmas and is there for the photo. And since this year is the last year that the old Highmark Stadium will be used before the freshly-constructed new Highmark Stadium, it’s especially important that the whole gang be there for one last photo at the old stadium.
Does The Title Make Any Sense? I can’t think of a better title for a holiday movie about Buffalo Bills football fans falling in love than Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.
Brian Roedel
Our Take: The first thing I noticed about this film was the lengthy and impressive supporting cast, including Joe Pantoliano, Steve Schirripa, Tracy Pollan, Caroline Aron, a bunch of past and present Bills players. But what’s even more impressive is just how well the cast gels in a way that makes you really believe that these next door neighbors really have become each others’ chosen family. And while Morgan and Gabe’s romance is the primary story here, Morgan’s bond with Uncle Tommy is the film’s beating heart.
Morgan and Gabe grow closer as they try to solve the mystery of Tommy’s secret admirer with the help of their Bills Mafia, but ultimately you always know that they’ll get together. What’s more rewarding is the mystery they’re trying to solve; the real satisfaction comes from Tommy getting his own happy ending. It’s an emotional reunion – a little rushed and unrealistic, sure – but still heartfelt and rewarding to watch. The movie also packs in a few fun nods to last year’s Chiefs Love Story, a nice reward for viewers who watched that: cameos from Tyler Hynes and Hunter King, actor Abraham Benrubi who returns for the second year in a row as a magical, mystical Santa Claus. (Both films have a slightly magical bent to them, although the Bills film is a little more grounded in reality – no enchanted hats in this one.) Even if you’re not a football fan, this is an above average entry on the Countdown to Christmas.
Our Call: STREAM IT! The NFL and Hallmark may seem like strange bedfellows but the pairing works. Why not combine two of the most popular things you can watch on TV? Hallmark has perfected the art of creating an aspirational little universe that its characters live in, and this film derives most of its charm from the sense of community…one that happens to be constructed around a Western New York institution.
Photos: Everett Collection, Photo Illustration: Dillen Phelps
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (At least, that’s what Andy Williams promised.) The holidays are a time to celebrate with family, friends, food, and, let’s not forget, fun things to watch. Whether you’re huddled up with the whole family in your living room or cozying up under the covers with your tablet, let Decider be your guide to all things festive this holiday season.
Liz Kocan is a pop culture writer living in Massachusetts. Her biggest claim to fame is the time she won on the game show Chain Reaction.