Right: bagpipes, the Loch Ness Monster, glens, clans, kilts, castles, whiskey, dancing, and haggis, A Merry Scottish Christmas (2023), here we go.

When Brad Morgan (Scott Wolf) and his sister, Dr. Lindsay Morgan (Lacey Chabert), land in Scotland for A Very Merry Chirstmas, it is somewhat apparent that all is not so bright between them.  The same could be said for Brad and his wife, Sarah Morgan (Kellie Blaise), but at least the spouses flew together.  I use the vague terminology “somewhat” because for people who are supposed to not be on the best of terms, they get along pretty well.  God knows there is enough trouble in the world, we do not need manufactured tension, but I digress.  They have come to this northern, semi-autonomous region of Great Britain at the behest of their native mother, Josephine Morgan (Fiona Bell), in order to celebrate the Holidays in her homeland for the first time.  Brian and Dr. Morgan are somewhat confused when they are taken to a castle, it not being the place they expect to find their mother.  As such, they feel forced to take part in the tour of the interior taking place, eventually being found by Josephine and the butler, Graeme Stewart (Gerry O’Brien).  Josephine has something important she needs to tell her children, but she is told that it must wait as they are jetlagged and in need of rest.  In the morning, she reveals that when she was a young woman (Eilidh Murray) she had left this massive estate, her birthright being the next duchess.  She had decided to come back after learning of the death of her brother, Danny (Andy Peppiette), who had inherited the title in her place.  She had done so because she wanted to forge her own path, but in recent years she had felt the need to reconnect with her roots.  Brad and Dr. Morgan are shocked to learn of the heritage their mother had hidden from them.  This is not any Christian modesty on their part, but the result of not appreciating being lied to for all these years.  As they process this revelation, they must also consider what to do with their inheritance.  The easiest choice would be to sell it, neither of them having the first clue about running managing 30,000 acres.  What makes this decision difficult is meeting the people of the surrounding town and seeing the impact their property has on the community.  If you have seen Downton Abbey (2010-2015), then you get the idea.  What is also apparent is that everyone seems quite committed to having A Merry Scottish Christmas, though I have no idea how stereotypically Highland are the traditions in the film.  Between them and people like Mac Bell (James Robinson), the eligible bachelor who looks after the estate, they are convincing Brad and Dr. Morgan to stay through the Holidays instead of leaving early as originally planned.  For Dr. Morgan, the connection is obvious because all these movies are just romantic comedies with a Christmas backdrop.  The spirit of the place and time get to Brad and Sarah in a different way.  With this talk of heritage, egged on by Josephine’s desire to be a grandmother, it all has them addressing what it is that had been causing them disfunction.  I am still unclear as to what it is, but I guess it has something to do with him being preoccupied with work and not be able to keep her happy while he pursued his career.  This also seems to be the same reason why the previously close siblings drifted apart, though they each recommit to staying in each other’s lives.  Dr. Morgan thinks this will be the case when they return to the United States, which remains her goal even though she is developing feelings for Mac.  As such, she is once more surprised when Brad announces that him and Sarah have made the decision that they are going to stay in Scotland and take up the family title.  Dr. Morgan feels abandoned once more, but gets a peptalk from Josephine about how she should be happy for her brother.  Restored again, Dr. Morgan is in attendance at the Christmas party when Brad and Sarah are announced as the next duke and duchess.  However, she remains determined to return to her private practice in California and departs the next day.  Just kidding!  Not long into Graeme driving her to the airport, she makes up her mind that the life of being a part of Scottish nobility is right for her, and she returns to the castle.  A year later, she is joined at the family Christmas by Mac, and Brad and Sarah’s newborn.

Does that not sound like A Merry Scottish Christmas or what?  For a while, I thought we might have something different with a plot focused on brother and sister mending their relationship instead of the usual Holiday-informed romantic comedy, but then Mac showed up.  Still, I could talk about the need for healing of relationships, which boils down to communication, all good advice for dealing with people and/or how you relate to God.  Yet, as discussed in the synopsis, this aspect of the plot is rather anti-climactic.  I guess you do not need actual drama, but they also behaved in a more civilized manner than one would expect for people who are supposed to be cool on each other.  What is of more substance is a little phrase that struck me while watching Christmas movie number 4,869, a blessing in a sea of sameness.  As Dr. Morgan is discussing her desire to return to the United States and feeling betrayed by Brad’s decision to stay, she is told that her fears about making things work is easily overcome.  To do so takes effort.  This is good advice for maintaining any relationship, but especially that which you have with God.  Mysteriously, and this is true for Christians and non-Christians alike, we tend to de-prioritize God.  Work, play, family, friends, etc., all seem to take precedence over acknowledging His presence.  The time we spend at church on Sundays is, for many of us, our time to pray.  Prayer, like we do with those around us, is meant to be a communication.  If we only spoke to our best friend or family member for roughly an hour once a week, or during the time we spend with them in Scotland, would that person be worthy of such a title?  Yet, God is closer to us than any of those people, and He should be first in our hearts instead of all the other things we cram into them, including the so-called Holiday traditions of this time of year.  If you do that, the rest will take care of itself because they should flow from God, and this can include inheriting a Scottish castle.  He wants us to reflect his closeness in how we treat our loved ones, and you can get a taste of that from this movie.

You can also get a taste of plenty of Highlands stereotypes with A Merry Scottish Christmas.  It will not challenge you in any meaningful way, but you will hear plenty of bagpipes.