Andrew Walker has been making Hallmark movie magic since 2012 — but his new holiday film with Lacey Chabert takes festiveness to the next level.
“It [is] unlike any movie I’ve ever done for Hallmark,” Walker, 46, exclusively told Us Weekly of She’s Making a List, which premieres on Saturday, December 6. “I love the magic of this movie. It’s more magical than any other movie that I’ve done for Hallmark.”
The actor revealed, “It has a really big, high-concept feel to it. It feels like a bigger than life movie. It’s like Men in Black meets Christmas.”
She’s Making a List follows Naughty or Nice inspector Isabel (Chabert) after she is “assigned to evaluate mischievous 11-year-old Charlie Duncan [but] things get complicated when Isabel unexpectedly falls for Charlie’s widowed father, Jason Duncan (Walker), and begins to question the rigid rules of her job,” according to the logline.
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“As Christmas approaches, Isabel must choose between following the holiday algorithm or following her heart,” Hallmark teases.
According to Walker, the movie is “an important story to tell,” especially for parents raising kids who he said should not be labeled “naughty” or “nice.”
“Kids are going through circumstances, you know, and that’s what makes them act out. They don’t mean to be naughty,” the actor explained. “There’s no naughty and nice list. There’s just one list. And all kids should make that one list.”
Walker, who shares two sons with wife Cassandra Troy, noted that parents should avoid playing into Santa’s traditional list notion.
“We should be focusing on raising our kids right, and putting the time and attention into our kids,” he said. “Time is fleeting. You’ve got to be present for your children and be the best possible parents you could be.”
While She’s Making a List does focus a lot on Isabel’s connection with her “naughty list” subject Charlie, the connection between Chabert and Walker’s character is one to be celebrated.
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The film also marks the first time the actors are reuniting on screen since 2018’s My Secret Valentine, and according to Walker, working with Chabert again was a “seamless” experience.
“We jumped right back in,” Walker told Us of filming with his longtime friend and Hallmark’s resident Queen of Christmas. “It was one of the easiest shoots I think I’ve ever had to do. Lacey is unbelievably professional.”
The Three Wisest Men star noted that a lot has changed since he and Chabert, 43, first worked together, including the fact that they are both more focused on raising their kids than working nonstop.
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“Lacey and I are two completely different people now than what we were when we shot My Secret Valentine,” Walker reflected. “Our work ethic is different now. We both would work on our lunch breaks.”
Now, Walker said he and Chabert are bonded on a deeper level. Plus, the Mean Girls actress has become good friends with Walker’s wife, which doesn’t hurt their own friendship.
“When we both found out we were working together, [Lacey] messaged my wife, and my wife had to tell her that she wasn’t going to be in Vancouver when Lacey was there,” Walker recalled. “And I think Lacey, she didn’t want to work with me anymore. After that, she was like, ‘Andrew, can we work on the next project when your wife is in town so I can hang out with her?’ I’m like, ‘Damn it, Lacey, OK, fine.’”
All jokes aside, Walker told Us, “I loved working on this movie,” and thinks fans will see both his and Chabert’s passion come through in every scene.
She’s Making a List premieres on Hallmark Channel Saturday, December 6, at 8 p.m. ET.
