Brew facts
- Starring: Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley, Marsha Mason, Barbara Alyn Woods and Khary Payton.
- Premiere: October 17, 2026
- Director: Dustin Rikert
- Writers: Christine Garver, Stephanie Jackson and Marcy Holland
- Streaming: Hallmark+ (US) or StackTV (Canada)
- Trope: Forced proximity
- My rating: ★★★★☆
☕️ First Slip
A freelance reporter who knows next to nothing about football, a charmingly awkward firefighter, and a grandmother celebrating her 500th Chicago Bears game. Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story brings forced proximity, family traditions and a budding romance together for a Christmas story that turns out to be about much more than football.
🤩 What Went Down Smooth
I love that Avery isn’t a football fan. Watching her discover Bears Nation alongside Matt gives us a way into this world without assuming the audience already knows the rules. And Matt? He’s a little awkward, which makes him even more endearing. His grandmother’s not-so-subtle matchmaking only adds to the secondhand embarrassment. That first kiss was absolutely worth the wait after many attempts!
Robert Buckley as a firefighter wasn’t what I expected, but I’m not complaining. The role suits him surprisingly well, and the chemistry between him and Lyndsy Fonseca feels genuine. My one complaint? Robert is more of a supporting player than the leading man I was hoping for. I still have questions about whether Matt ever actually transfers to another firehouse.
What really got me, though, was the emotional heart of the film. Avery’s stepfather is so lovely, and watching their relationship grow was one of my favorite parts. The story of Darlene, her late husband Bernie, the tight community, Avery’s dad, her relationship with her mother and learning to live with grief while making room for new traditions got me crying – three times, if we’re keeping count. I also appreciated Avery’s mature, supportive ex, Shaun. A healthy breakup? In a Christmas romance? Refreshing!
🫤 What Left a Bitter Aftertaste
The story of Darlene’s 500th game is cute, but I struggled to believe the Bears organization wouldn’t already know about such a milestone, especially given her involvement with the team’s charity. And those paper tickets tucked into an album? In this phone-everything era, I’m not entirely convinced.
I was also disappointed by Avery’s article. After following Darlene’s story for two weeks, the final piece felt surprisingly short and generic. And the ever-present Santa (presumably meant to be a cute running gag) mostly made me wonder if he was following me, too.
Finally, some familiar Holiday Touchdown franchise elements return, from Tamera’s bar cameo to the team’s corporate and charity events. The shared fan spirit is part of the appeal, but the formula is starting to show.
🔄 Worth a Refill?
The romance may be predictable, but I was entertained from beginning to end. And honestly, Robert Buckley is making a pretty convincing case for his place among Hallmark’s leading men. Ever since his iconic turn as Ted Cooper, he’s become one of those familiar faces I’m always happy to see, and his chemistry with Lyndsy Fonseca works – in my opinion. I just wish Matt had a little more room to shine instead of occasionally feeling like a supporting character in his grand-mother’s story.
This isn’t exactly a tearjerker, but it has enough heart to make the occasional emotional moment land. A solid holiday watch, especially if you’re here for the power of a community, the Bears football team or if you enjoy digging into families’ background stories. And really, who could blame you?
