Being a fan of the Chicago Bears and being a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies are rooted in the same thing: predictability. For most of my life, I knew Bears would give me a few small moments of joy, but ultimately, end in disappointment.
With Hallmark movies, I also know what I’m getting into before the movie even starts: beautiful holiday tableaus, gorgeous people who never seem to work but are passionate about their careers, and a love story that hits a small snag around the one hour and forty minute mark but is resolved by the end. A rather chaste kiss follows the resolution.
When Hallmark decided to make the third of their NFL movies in Chicago, of course, I was thrilled. The first two films in this series, focusing on the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, were great at showing what was fun and unique about the teams’ fanbases.
However, Hollywood doesn’t always do a great job portraying Chicago, so I’m worried about what “Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story” will say about the fanbase I’ve been a part of since I was born. The film premiered Saturday night on Hallmark. (If you missed it, don’t worry. Hallmark airs their movies repeatedly throughout the season.)
The film follows an out-of-town reporter, Avery, who meets a Chicago firefighter, Matt. Matt’s grandmother Darlene was a diehard Bears fan who was about to attend her 500th game, and Avery was hired by the Chicago Herald to do a story on her. Darlene shows Avery her world and does some unpleasant work as a matchmaker. Surprise, surprise: Matt and Avery are dating. It’s a solid B+ in how it captured Bears fandom.
What Hallmark got about Bears fans
Being a Bears fan is about hope and resilience
Early in the movie, Avery asks Darlene “Why the Bears?” Darlene gives a well-considered answer about how the Bears taught fans hope and resilience. I was in first grade when the Bears won the Super Bowl. I’ve gotten a lot of joy out of being a Bear fan ever since, mostly watching games with family. But I also had years of heartbreak and frustration, mostly finding hope in the newest quarterback. However, I never considered not being a Bears fan. I can’t even imagine how someone does that. Unfortunately, Darlene was right. Being a Bears fan has taught me more about hope and resilience than I care to admit.
We make newcomers photograph Jeppson’s Malört
When I saw Avery’s sour face after taking Malört’s picture, my heart was happy. The wormwood-flavored wine is beyond bitter, but it’s still a point of pride in Chicago. Our governor led 750 people taking its shots to break a record. Celebrities from Kelly Clarkson to John Oliver to Jason Kelce are already trying their hand at getting Malört. Any Chicagoans watching this have to find joy in popping the bottle with the yellow label.
More on Bears players and alumni, including nods to other Chicagoans
Chicagoans love to please Chicagoans, so Hallmark is smart to include little nods to our people. Donny Hathaway was born in Chicago, and the film begins with his “This Christmas.” Marilu Henner – and her legitimate Chicago accent – appeared throughout the film. He was born in Chicago, went to the University of Chicago, originated the role of Marty Maraschino in the original “Grease,” which took place in Chicago before it was transferred to sunny Los Angeles for the film. “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” Proud Chicagoan Jennifer Hudson plays Avery and her mom makes cookies.
The Bears are bringing Chicago together, and everyone is welcome to join the party
Throughout the summer, Chicagoans were divided into two camps: Cubs fans and White Sox fans. Some people say they are the same, but I can’t trust them. When both teams are doing well, as they are this summer, the games between the two can be controversial and even violent.
However, come September, the two factions come together to cheer on the Bears. Although baseball is not mentioned in the film, it shows how the Bears bring us together. North side, South Side, West Side, suburbs, even the Northwest Indiana Region – where the Bears may soon be headed – we’re a Bears city. That is shown in the fervent fanhood of Darlene, a senior citizen, and her friends, a same-sex couple who work at a hardware store. (Note: This is the same shop where I sharpen my knives.) People of every color and background are shown cheering on the Bears. That’s how we are.
A dipped Italian beef is never, ever going to crunch
At a big family party, Avery is served Italian beef. While deep dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs are popular in our country, Italian beef sandwiches – often simply called “beefs – are my favorite Chicago-specific food. If you’ve never had the pleasure of eating Italian beef, it’s roast beef thinly sliced and cooked in juices seasoned to perfection, served on French bread, or sometimes peppered.
They say the beef served at Avery’s was dipped, meaning the sandwich was made and then dipped in jus. This makes for a delicious, sloppy sandwich, with juice dripping and sometimes ruining the bread. A crunch in a dipped sandwich is unthinkable.
Chicago doesn’t have the kind of food carts they want to put in Chicago movies
With so many TV shows and movies set in Chicago, some directors or set designers force people to go to the kind of food carts you see everywhere in New York. There is one big problem – we don’t have them. We don’t have pretzel carts on Michigan Avenue or someone selling hot dogs on State Street. The closest are the moving palateria carts that are pushed throughout the summer, serving up cold, frozen food, and people selling tamales and tacos at makeshift stands, but they’re not downtown. And if you’re really lucky, the bar you’re in will be visited by Claudio Velez, the Tamale Guy. But the traditional food carts they always depict? Nope.
Outside of Washington, DC and television hits, newspaper reporters don’t dress very well
This is a beef I have with almost every portrayal of reporters and newsrooms in TV shows and movies. We don’t wear suits in the newsroom. When Avery walked into the Chicago Herald, everyone was dressed as if they were in a law firm. Except maybe on picture day, that doesn’t happen.
Quibbles aside, this is the kind of predictable, feel-good movie I crave from Hallmark with a heavy dose of the city and team I like injected into it. Hopefully, Caleb Williams’ Bears will be successful this season.