‘So Much Fun’: CHRISTMAS ON DUTY Stars Talk Connection and Saving Christmas

Published: November 4, 2025

By India McCarty

CHRISTMAS ON DUTY stars Janel Parrish and Parker Young are spilling all the details about their new holiday movie.

“My character and Janel’s character begrudgingly team up and go on a mission to save Christmas,” Young revealed to Movieguide®.

An official synopsis of the movie reads, “Blair and Josh have been bitter rivals ever since they trained together at The Basic School in Quantico, where they were both at the top of the class, competing to be number one. After graduation, Blair got Josh’s dream job, and they haven’t spoken since. Three years later, their paths cross unexpectedly at the base holiday party, where the two get into an argument and cause a scene.”

“As punishment, Blair and Josh are both assigned to Christmas Duty, where they’ll work through the Yuletide together…for 24 hours straight,” the synopsis continues. “They plan to stay away from each other, but when a snowstorm prevents all the Christmas presents from being delivered to base, they are forced to team up for a special mission…to save Christmas.”

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While Young and Parrish’s characters are initially at odds, the actors said they clicked right away.

“My co-star was okay,” Young joked, with Parrish replying, “It was hard to look at his face every day.”

She quickly added, “You really feel yourself breathe when you meet your co-star and you’re like, ‘Okay, we’re going to be great. You know, we’re going to have a connection, we’re going to have that banter.’ Parker and I had so much fun. We were laughing on set every day.”

The co-stars also shared their favorite parts about Christmas.

“Just being able to spend quality time with your loved ones is the best part,” Parrish said. Young agreed, saying, “Spending time with family [is the best part]. There are no excuses. We all come together…and I think that’s the most important thing.”

In an interview with PEOPLE, Parrish and Young spoke in further detail about how CHRISTMAS ON DUTY shines a light on our nation’s military.

“My sister’s in the military, so this was very, very near and dear to my heart,” Parrish shared. “She just loved that we were honoring the military families, and she loved seeing me represent. … It was a really fun bonding moment for us.”

Young also has family members and friends in the military, and said he felt “so grateful for the opportunity” to play a service member.

“I just have so much respect for these guys, and every single time I get an opportunity to play a service member, I take it to heart….and I don’t want to let them down,” the actor said. “Yeah, it’s an added pressure, but also such an incredible privilege.”

CHRISTMAS ON DUTY premieres Nov. 7 on Hallmark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTezrykzb7o

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