The Mistle-Tones

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TheMovieSearch R The Mistle-Tones is one of those holiday TV movies that has all the ingredients for something truly fun and festive but somehow never quite comes together. The concept itself is charming enough—a spirited woman challenging a rival to a Christmas singing competition—but the execution feels uneven from start to finish. With its campy tone and made-for-TV production, it had the potential to be a cult classic in the same vein as other lighthearted holiday films, yet it never fully embraces its own energy or heart. The casting choices are interesting, especially when you pit Tia Mowry-Hardrict (of Sister, Sister fame) against Tori Spelling in a musical rivalry. On paper, that matchup sounds like pure Christmas magic. Unfortunately, while Mowry brings charisma and warmth to her role, Spelling feels miscast and never quite believable as the icy antagonist. The film sets up a competition that should feel high-stakes and emotionally charged, but instead, it just comes across as forced and predictable. We know exactly how it’s going to end long before we get there. The screenplay is where the film falters most. The dialogue is full of cheesy one-liners and clichéd exchanges that sound more like they belong in a parody than an earnest holiday movie. That said, there’s still a certain charm to the campiness—it’s the kind of film you could have fun with if you’re not taking it too seriously. The problem is that it never finds a consistent tone. At times it wants to be heartwarming and emotional, and other times it leans too heavily into its own silliness, leaving the audience unsure how to feel. Musically, The Mistle-Tones delivers a few catchy performances that help keep it afloat. The holiday numbers are upbeat and full of sparkle, and Tia Mowry’s vocals add genuine appeal. But even the songs can’t fully make up for a story that feels hollow and underdeveloped. The film touches briefly on themes of belonging, family, and holiday spirit, yet never dives deep enough to make them resonate. The production quality is decent for a TV holiday movie—colorful sets, festive decorations, and a lighthearted atmosphere that feels appropriately seasonal. Still, it lacks the polish and emotional punch that would elevate it from "watchable" to "memorable." It’s the kind of movie that might pop up during Freeform’s 25 Days of Christmas lineup and hold your attention while you’re wrapping gifts, but it’s not one you’ll seek out to watch again. Ultimately, The Mistle-Tones is a serviceable but forgettable addition to the holiday movie rotation. It’s not terrible by any means—there’s fun to be had if you’re in the right mood—but it never reaches its full potential. With a sharper screenplay and more focused direction, it could have been something special. Instead, it lands somewhere between mildly entertaining and easily forgettable—a Christmas tune that fades from memory as soon as the credits roll. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/13/25 Full Review Trafalgar L "The Mistle-Tones" has the distinction of being the first ABC Family Original movie to be a musical and boy does it deliver. It stars Tia Mowry, Jonathan Patrick Moore and Tori Spelling. Holly (Mowry), a woman blessed with a beautiful singing voice is given a chance to audition for her late mother's Christmas ensemble the Snow Belle's. However, despite being a shoe in she is passed up in favor of the lead singer Marci's (Spelling) best friend. With some encouragement and the help of her boss (Moore) Holly prepares to form her own singing group called the Mistle-Tones. Mowry's charisma and singing are the selling point of this musical. Highly Recommend! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/29/24 Full Review Audience Member It's a fantastic movie full of love and cheer! I enjoy it every year I watch it about 8 times between thanksgiving and Christmas ❤️😎🎁🌲 it's a great film. Tia Mowry is amazing. Reginald Val johnson(Carl from Family matters) is in this and he just makes it awesome! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member A Christmas favorite! A simple movie with a ton of heart that throws back to the nostalgia of classic holiday films. A fun light-hearted musical that takes Christmas Carols to an entire other level, keeping intact the joy and innocence of the season. An incredible addition to family Christmas movies. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member I watch this every year. It is perfect to get you in the Christmas mood. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member The movie is realistic in that the homes seem to match the characters' incomes, there is a lot of racial diversity (and one of the main characters is Jewish), the love interests are co-workers, the kids are loud and chaotic (not quiet and well-behaved), the hair/makeup and clothes are what people typically wear in real life, and the musical numbers come at natural moments (open mic at a bar, mumbling a holiday song at the water cooler, karaoke at the office holiday party, etc.). The characters don't have crazy holiday outfits just sitting in their closets; Holly has to design them and make them by hand. Well, Marci always dresses like Cruella de Vil, but it suits her. You gain a bit of empathy for Holly because she wants to win the talent show in honor of her deceased mother, and fortunately it's only addressed long enough to be endearing instead of melodramatically dragging it out for the sake of drama. Also, the soundtrack is stellar (it's on iTunes). Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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