12 Men of Christmas

"You'll be surprised to know that I haven't gotten lost once yet today."

"Well, it's not even noon yet, so..."

E.J. Baxter (Chenoweth) is a successful P.R. manager in New York.  She loves her job and has the perfect fiance, Noah (Peter Mooney).  All of that changes at the company Christmas party when she catches Noah and her boss, Lillah Sherwood (Hanson) having an affair.  She ends the engagement, quits her job, and moves in with her sister, Roz (Erin Dilly).  Lillah has her blackballed from the P.R. community, and the only job she can get is in Kalispell, Montana.

Her new job in Montana is to convince corporations to have retreats in town.  The town is far removed from the world E.J. is used to.  She can't find anything and stands out from her neighbors.  She is paired with Jan Lucas (Chlumsky), who shows her around town.  Shortly after arriving, the town makes the news when the local Search and Rescue make an incredible rescue.  She attends a bar-b-que to raise money to support the team and meets the men that risk their lives every day.  They need money to purchase a helicopter, but all of their efforts are not enough.  E.J. approaches the team, which includes Mayor Bob Baker (Eldridge), to pose for a half nude calendar.  All of the proceeds will go to the team.  Will Albrecht (Hopkins), who immediately dislikes E.J., is opposed to the calendar, but the rest of the squad agrees.  Can E.J. find love and success in Kalispell?


The story is based on two novels by Phillipa Ashley: "Decent Exposure" and "Dating Mr. December."  The name of the main character is changed from Emma Tremayne to E.J. Baxter, but the overall story is the same.

The film was made into a film for the Lifetime television channel.  The film is what you expect.  It is a decent made-for-TV movie, but it is not great overall.  And despite having the word Christmas in the title, it is not specifically a Christmas film (it is Christmas at the beginning and ending of the film).

Kristin Chenoweth is always entertaining and is very likeable here.  She works well with Anna Chlumsky, who is great but doesn't get to do much.  The rest of the cast is populated with television actors and actresses.  The film is entertaining, if predictable.

12 Men of Christmas (2009) minutes
Director: Arlene Sanford
Starring: Kristin Chenoweth as E.J. Baxter
Josh Hopkins as Will Albrecht
Anna Chlumsky as Jan Lucas
Erin Dilly as Roz Baxter
Stephen Huszar as Jason Farrar
Heather Hanson as Lillah Sherwood
Jefferson Brown as Eric
Craig Eldridge as Mayor Bob Baker
Chantal Perron as Dr. Marci Hempel
Paul Constable as Dave Hempel
Aaron Abrams as Les Pizula