“Fun” Friday: Scouting for Christmas
by: Debbie Waltz
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know what time it is. It’s the Countdown to Christmas o easier n Hallmark. For many years, I have made a beloved tradition of watching and scrupulously documenting a few of my all-time favorite movies from each passing year conscientiously. Sadly, the brand has failed to maintain its former prestige because it abandoned traditional family values and its inclination to conform to current societal standards. Even though the odds may seem stacked against me, I persist in watching attentively, driven by the prospect of stumbling upon a few remarkable treasures amidst the sea of options, all the while wishing that the brand stays true to its roots.
The movie “Scouting for Christmas” is one such treasure. This romantic commonly deals with the complexities of being a single mother in today’s society. Angela, portrayed by Tamera Mowry-Housley, is a dedicated single mother who puts in a lot of effort to ensure that her daughter, Brooklyn, has everything she needs. She puts in a lot of effort to make sure that Brooklyn is actively engaged in activities that are traditionally geared toward girls, including being a part of the local Girl Scout troop. Since she is the only single mother in the group, she finds it difficult to fit in. Angela offers to pitch in during the Holiday Community ball to change that.
“Den” Mother Elizabeth (played by Jaycie Dotin) claims she is too busy. To persuade her, Brooklyn, portrayed by Audrey Wise Alvarez, devises a plan to recruit William, the baker from their neighborhood, to provide catering services for the event. In addition to everything else, she is confident in her ability to play matchmaker and successfully bring the two individuals together.
Her well-executed plan to bring her mother and William together results in a perfect outcome, as they form a strong bond. When William and Angela brainstormed ideas for a Christmas-themed menu, they soon realized they had much more in common than they had initially thought. William, who was raised in a single-parent home, can empathize with the stress of being a single parent. He witnessed firsthand the tremendous pressure his mother endured as she tirelessly did everything she could to provide for her family. There were moments when he noticed she was trying too hard to make up for the absence of a father figure in their lives.
Noticing their striking similarities, she gradually feels comfortable enough to open up to Will. Her sister notices the difference, but Angela insists she does this for Brooklyn so that Den “Mother” Elizabeth views her differently. However, the daughter and sister persist in their role as matchmakers, inviting Will to the Christmas fair to gather new ideas for their menu.
During the day, the two swap stories about how they got into their careers. Angela discussed her entry into the real estate industry out of necessity following her divorce; her priority was to find a job that would offer flexibility for Brooklyn’s availability in the afternoons while still enabling her to provide for herself. Will helped his mother by taking on the responsibility of cooking.
At the night’s end, he suggests they go on a proper date. Angela declines, stating that her life is currently quite complex as she endeavors to maintain a cordial relationship with her ex-husband for the well-being of their daughter, Brooklyn. After all, Dakota is an archaeologist and doesn’t get home very often to spend time with his daughter.
Everything went smoothly until this year when a sudden last-minute visit turned everything upside down. I won’t spoil the ending for you