Exclusive Interview
‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story’ Stars Break Down Movie’s Unexpected Twist (VIDEO)
What To Know
- Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story premiered on November 22 as part of Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas lineup.
- Matthew Daddario and Holland Roden spoke with Swooon about the movie’s biggest moments, including the ending.
- The costars also revealed if they’d return as their character in a future Holiday Touchdown movie.
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.]
When you watch any romance movie, you’re often waiting for that epic declaration of love from one of the main characters. Once they’ve put their hearts on the line, the other main character reciprocates those feelings, and we get that quintessential moment when the two leads finally get together.
That doesn’t happen in Hallmark Channel’s newest film, Holiday Touchdown: A Bill Love Story.
It’s clear from the jump that Gabe (Matthew Daddario) has always harbored feelings for his childhood friend, Morgan (Holland Roden), who’s just moved back home. Gabe and Morgan find themselves on a last-minute holiday mission to reconnect Morgan’s Uncle Tommy (Joe Pantoliano) with a woman from his past. When they find the woman, Mia, she’s hesitant about reaching out to Uncle Tommy because she doesn’t want to get her heart broken.
Morgan wants to respect Mia’s wishes, but Gabe thinks Mia and Uncle Tommy deserve a second chance. That’s when Gabe finally admits his long-held love for Morgan. In the heat of the moment, Gabe lists all the things he loves about Morgan, culminating in an “I love you.” While you’re expecting Morgan to admit her love right then and there, she’s left almost too stunned to speak.
“That was a tricky scene, right?” Roden told Swooon. Daddario pointed out that Gabe realized after meeting with Mia that he couldn’t waste any more time not letting Morgan know how he feels. “As a result, he kind of spits it out,” he said. “There’s a certain level of relief with it, and I think not responding is not so surprising because it comes out pretty hard. I think he handled it right.”
Roden admitted that she would have totally reciprocated if she were in Morgan’s shoes. “If I had an inkling I was already struggling or juggling in my brain,” she began. “I think I would not need an extra second. I’ve already done the percolating, but I do understand that some people almost whiteout or blackout when that pressures on the line.”
Brian Roedel / Hallmark Media
Thankfully, Gabe and Morgan get their happy ending — at Highmark Stadium — after Uncle Tommy’s big moment on the field with Mia. A double happy ending! Since Cathy (Patti Murin) went into labor in the middle of the game, Gabe and Morgan’s families didn’t get the usual family holiday photo. Gabe pulls off a little Christmas magic with a little help from Bills Mafia, bringing his and Morgan’s families to play and celebrate on the field.
Gabe pulls Morgan aside because they haven’t had a talk since his big confession. No matter what, Gabe wants to make sure his friendship with Morgan is solid. As he’s yapping away, Morgan interrupts him with a kiss. No mistletoe needed!
Roden felt that Morgan and Gabe’s “big moment” was earned after so much buildup and pining. “I like the pacing in the last third of the film. It really worked for me,” Daddario quipped.
Earlier in the film, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story leads, Alana (Hunter King) and Derrick (Tyler Hynes), pop up in a cameo. Could Roden and Daddario do the same in a future Holiday Touchdown movie?
Roden told Swooon that Hallmark is “exactly what they represent in front of the camera and behind the camera, so if they ever call me for anything, I’m there.” Daddario chimed in, “Yeah, I gotta agree with that. I’m very impressed all the way through.”
Watch the full video above for more Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story details.
Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story, Streaming Now, Hallmark+
