Melissa Joan Hart has claimed she knows what caused the worldwide Christmas romantic comedy craze â and the 1990s icon has proudly taken some responsibility for it.
Hart, 49, is best known for appearing in television shows like “Clarissa Explains It All,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” and “Melissa & Joey.” However, she’s also been in a few movies, and that happens to include one that released around the time festive rom-coms began to take off.
That movie was “Holiday in Handcuffs,” a 2007 made-for-television film that originally aired on ABC Family on December 9, 2007, as part of the network’s “25 Days of Christmas” programming block.
As well as Hart, “Holiday in Handcuffs” also starred Mario Lopez, Tim Bottoms, Kyle Howard, Vanessa Evigan, Markie Post, and June Lockhart. It followed a struggling artist working as a waitress, who kidnapped one of her customers to take home to meet her parents at Christmastime.
‘Holiday in Handcuffs’ Really ‘Launched the Genre,’ Says Melissa Joan Hart
ABCSpeaking to Parade, Melissa Joan Hart said, “Since the Christmas genre took off, which I think was about 2007 when I did Holiday in Handcuffs, I feel like that movie really kind of launched the genre.”
She continued, “Ever since then I just feel like it’s you, it’s year-round Christmas.”
Hart was talking to the publication amid the release of her new Netflix movie, “A Merry Little Ex-Mas.” Directed by Steve Carr, the festive rom-com also stars Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Pierson Fodé, and Linda Kash.
Hart gave further thoughts on the holiday season, saying, “What better holiday to be in than your Christmas⦠It’s not like Fourth of July, where you have to be in a bikini or something. It’s usually big sweaters, funny sweaters or jackets⦠This year, my kids are older, and I’m trying to figure out a new way to celebrate the holidays. I really want to simplify it. I’m kind of sick of the kind of pomp and circumstance and too much stuff going into it, the 400 Christmas cards I write and the giant party I throw and, you know, all the gifts and wrapping and stuff you buy online, and, you don’t even remember what you bought. So I’m trying to, like, simplify it.”
‘A Merry Little Ex-Mas’ Looks Worth Checking Out
Melissa Joan Hart’s new movie, “A Merry Little Ex-Mas,” follows a separated couple, Kate and Everett, played by Silverstone and Hudson.
They attempt to celebrate one final Christmas together with their children before they finalize their divorce. However, when Everett’s new girlfriend joins the festivities, chaos, tension, and awkwardness ensue.
It’s pretty good fun and most definitely suitably festive, so you should definitely check it out. It hit Netflix back on Wednesday, November 12, so you can watch it now.
Melissa Joan Hart May Have Jumped the Gun
GettyIn all fairness, Melissa Joan Hart may have jumped the gun a little when it comes to her thoughts about the influence of “Holiday in Handcuffs” on our love of the festive rom-com genre.
A year earlier, Nancy Meyers “The Holiday” was in theaters. That one starred Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, and Kate Winslet, and was a commercial success that’s become a Christmas staple over the past two decades.
Moreover, “Love Actually” released in 2003. That was both a critical and commercial success. With its hugely impressive ensemble cast â including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Martine McCutcheon, Bill Nighy, and Rowan Atkinson â it’s safe to say it had a massive influence on the genre.
That’s not to say “Holiday in Handcuffs” wasn’t a lot of fun or at all influential â its 6.7 million viewers made it the most watched telecast in ABC Family history â but it was a little late to the party to be wholly responsible for the very concept of loving Christmas rom-coms.
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