Being a fan of the Chicago Bears and being a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies boil down to the same thing: predictability. For most of my life, I knew that Bears would give me a few small moments of joy, but it would end in disappointment.
With Hallmark movies, I also know what I’m getting myself into before the movie starts: beautiful holiday schedules, beautiful people who never work but are passionate about their careers, and a love story that gets a little convoluted but ultimately resolved in an hour and forty minutes. The resolution is followed by a fairly chaste kiss.
When Hallmark decided to film the third installment of the NFL movies in Chicago, I was of course excited. Focusing on the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, the first two films in this series were good at showing what was fun and unique about those teams’ fanbases.
Then again, Hollywood doesn’t always do a great job of portraying Chicago, so I worry about what Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story will say about the fanbase I’ve been a part of since birth. The movie first aired Saturday night on Hallmark. (If you missed it, don’t worry. Hallmark is showing its movies over and over again throughout the season.)
The film features Avery, an out-of-town reporter who meets Matt, a Chicago firefighter. It turns out that Matt’s grandmother, Darlene, is a die-hard Bears fan about to attend her 500th game, and Avery is hired by the Chicago Herald to do a story on her. Darlene shows Avery her world and does some fine work as a hunter. Surprise, surprise: Matt and Avery fall in love. It was a solid B+ on how he took over the Bears fandom.
What Hallmark got right about Bears fans
Being a Bears fan is about hope and perseverance
Early in the movie, Avery asks Darlene, “Why Bears?” Darlene gives a well-thought-out answer on how the Bears teach fans hope and resilience. I was in first grade when the Bears won the Super Bowl. Since then, I have found great joy in being a Bears fan, mostly watching the games with my family. But I also experienced many years of heartache and disappointment, mostly from finding hope in the last quarterback. Still, I never considered being a Bears fan. I can’t imagine how anyone could do that. Unfortunately, Darlene was right. Being a Bears fan has taught me more about hope and resilience than I care to admit.
We give the newcomers shots of Jeppson’s Malört
Seeing Avery’s sad face after taking the picture of Malert broke my heart. The wormwood-flavored drink isn’t bitter, but it’s still a source of pride in Chicago. Our governor made a record by filming 750 people. Celebrities from Kelly Clarkson to John Oliver to Jason Kelce have all auditioned to portray Malert. Any Chicagoans watching should have found some joy in seeing the yellow-labeled bottle come out.
Beyond the Bears gives a nod to players and alumni, including other Chicagoans
Chicagoans love to cheer Chicagoans, so Hallmark was smart to give our folks a little nod. Donny Hathaway was born in Chicago and film started with his film This Christmas. Marilu Henner – and her legit Chicago accent – appeared throughout the film. He was born in Chicago, went to the University of Chicago, and played Marty Maraschino in the original Grease set in Chicago before being relocated to sunny Los Angeles for the film. A proud Chicago native, she played Avery in Jennifer Hudson’s A Winter Wonderland and her mom made cookies.
The Bears are bringing Chicago together and everyone can join the party
Throughout the summer, Chicagoans fall into two camps: Cubs fans and White Sox fans. Some people claim it’s both, but I can’t believe them. When both teams perform as well as they have this summer, games between the two can be contested and even violent.
Come September, however, the two groups come together to support the Bears. Although the movie didn’t mention baseball, it showed how the Bears gathered around us. The North Side, the South Side, the West Side, the suburbs, even the Region in Northwest Indiana – a region the Bears may soon lead – we are Bears City. Darlene, a senior citizen, and her friends, a same-sex couple who work at a hardware store, showed it with fervent fanaticism. (Note: This is the shop where I sharpen my knives.) People of all colors and backgrounds cheer for the Bears. That’s how we are.
Dipped Italian beef will never, ever fall apart
At a large family feast, Avery is served Italian beef. While deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs are popular nationally, Italian beef sandwiches—commonly called “beef”—are my favorite Chicago staple. If you’ve never had the pleasure of eating Italian beef, it’s a thinly sliced and sometimes perfectly French-sliced roast beef, seasoned or seasoned. pepper, which can be sweet or hot.
They claim that the beef served to Avery is dipped, meaning a sandwich is made and then dipped in juice. This makes for a delicious, squishy sandwich that drips with juice and sometimes ruins the bread. A crunch on a dipped sandwich is incredible.
Chicago doesn’t have the food carts that Chicago movies like to stick with
In many TV shows and movies set in Chicago, some director or production designer requires people to go to the food carts that you see all over New York. There is one big problem – we don’t have them. We don’t have bagel carts on Michigan Avenue or hot dog vendors on State Street. The closest ones are mobile palateria carts that push through the summer serving cold and icy treats and people selling tamales and tacos at makeshift stands, but they’re not downtown. If you’re really lucky, the bar you’re in will be visited by Tamale Guy Claudio Velez. But traditional food carts as they always portray? No.
Outside of Washington, D.C., and TV hits, newspaper reporters don’t wear much
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 like a law firm. Maybe except for the day of the picture, this does not happen.
Those quibbles aside, this was a great Hallmark movie I’ve been hoping for, with a heavy dose of the city and the team I love. Here’s hoping Caleb Williams’ Bears are just as successful this season.