Sometimes, all we want from the holiday season is a wintery get-away, and Lifetime is giving you just that from the comforts and warmth of your couch with Christmas at the Chalet. Teri Hatcher stars as an absolute superwoman of a divorcée with a can-do attitude who is trying to make happy holiday memories with her son at a chalet in Aspen, but might even find a little love and self-acceptance along the way. Ooh la la!
The Gist: Lex Riley (Teri Hatcher) is a former TV host and socialite who feels stuck in life now that she has moved on from her career and is one year post-divorce to former coworker, Charles Hammond (Dan Payne). After her most recent beau breaks it off with her via flowers and letter, Lex decides to shake it off and spend Christmas with her son, George (Brendan McRae), at a chalet in Aspen, even if that means having to be there at the same time as her ex and his new younger girlfriend (Gigi Neil).
Lex’s stay at the Chalet de Neige is further complicated upon finding that her booking didn’t go through and that she must work as a “Chalet Person” doing various jobs around the hotel in order to stay in the last available space in this beautiful but understaffed family-owned business. Not one to give up easily, Lex convinces the somewhat gruff manager Eric Tremblay (William deVry) that she’s not afraid of some hard work and ends up growing closer to him, his family, and staff as she puts herself out there and tries new things whilst documenting her journey through it all.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Much like 2009 Meryl Streep-led romantic comedy It’s Complicated, Christmas at the Chalet has a 50+ year-old woman as the romantic lead who is trying to balance spending more time with her ex-husband and their offspring with a budding relationship with a burgeoning new romance. Also Eric’s whole vibe as outwardly gruff who’s really a dependable softie is very much giving Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls.
Performance Worth Watching: Teri Hatcher delivers spunky sassiness as Lex Riley. She’s so likable and refreshingly candid, you can’t help but root for her from the start. I also love Lex’s journey as a budding influencer because it really is so nice to see women over 50 sharing their experiences and venturing into the world solo with a certain joie de vivre. Gals can do anything at any age! Which evidently also goes for adorable Mila Jones at the other end of the spectrum as clever and cute child chalet helper, Aurelie.
Memorable Dialogue: “Now you’re obviously understaffed, resorting to child labor”— you make a great point there, Lex! Aurelie is clearly a very competent youth but her manning the front desk is slightly concerning, even if it is a family business. She’s only, like, seven years-old for crying out loud!
A Holiday Tradition: Lex always had a tradition when she was still married to Charles and her son George was young of doing “musical tree lighting,” where she’d string up Christmas lights to the beat of holiday tunes while little George would move and groove alongside her. Now Lex is bringing it back and making it a trend this Christmas to help decorate the Chalet de Neige.
Does the Title Make Any Sense?: It’s Christmastime and it’s set at a chalet. So, yes. It’s not the most imaginative but it does set up some of what the movie’s about.
Our Take: While the romantic aspect of Christmas at the Chalet kind of goes a little off track towards the end of the movie when Eric is a bit of a butthead out of nowhere, I still think he and Lex ultimately share a pretty sweet budding bond, especially when compared to all of the crap she was having to deal with surrounding her total narcissistic jerk of an ex-husband. Honestly, Lex is just so inspiring, positive, and spirited that I feel like none of these guys deserve her at all, but hey, if she’s happy with Eric then I’m happy too.
It’s truly nice to see a main character and leading lady like this who’s over 50 years-old yet still getting her own story told with compassion and empathy as she finds not only love for another person but also for herself. Lex is both generous in spirit and a wonderful boundary setter, doing right by herself with an almost childlike joy and openness for whatever life throws her way while also still being a loving and supportive mother to George. I loved Lex and George’s sweet mother-son relationship, especially seeing how supportive he was of her finding success in her own romance and professional life outside of her role as his mother. Eric’s family is also very lovable, especially little Aurelie, making for an overall charming family story that evokes the warm-heartedness of the holiday season.
Our Call: STREAM IT! Thank you, Christmas at the Chalet, for teaching me that you’re never too old to learn how to love again, or how to ski.