Shubhabrata Dutta
The Hallmark romantic drama movie ‘Christmas on Duty’ brings together service and joy in a heartwarming manner. The Jake Van Wagoner directorial follows Marine Corps officers Blair Birch and Josh Cannon, who have been rivals since they trained together at The Basic School in Quantico. Three years after graduation, their paths cross again at a base holiday party, where they cause a ruckus. As punishment, they are tasked with delivering around 150 toys to the children in a rural area before the latter open their eyes on Christmas morning.
In other words, Blair and Josh have to work together through Yuletide for 24 hours straight. As their mission begins, the mutual hatred slowly fades and turns into something neither of them expected, something beautiful, something “Hallmark-ish.” In keeping with the story, the visuals showcase Christmas from the decked-up POV of the US soldiers, and their sense of responsibility as they try to make it special for the young ones.
Where Was Christmas on Duty Filmed?
‘Christmas on Duty’ was filmed entirely in Utah, specifically in Salt Lake City, Midway, and Park City. Principal photography seemingly began in the first week of April 2025 and wrapped in its third week the same year. “The cast, crew, and members of the American Legion post in Salt Lake had a terrific time filming on location,” said executive producer Ryan Murphy, who is a Marine Corps veteran and a member of the American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans service organization.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, the capital city of Utah, became the primary base for filming. The crew set up shop at the American Legion Post 112, located at 320 East 3900 South, turning it into a community hub. Several indoor scenes were taped inside, with production trucks lined up in the parking space. Soapy foam, which is used for firefighting, was used as snow around the post for outdoor shots. Manager Pete Floor, a Sons of the American Legion member whose father served in World War II, said, “I’m very proud our post is going to be featured as a representation of The American Legion…and I love that it’s a story about the military.” Military vehicles were also brought in for the scenes.
The crew and the soldiers assigned to the post decorated together, giving the set-creation process a Christmas vibe. The bar at Post 112 stayed open with only a curtain separating the patrons from the set. Some members of the post served as background extras. Mary Little, who has worked at Post 112 for over a decade, found it “very fun to be a part of.”
Salt Lake City is the county seat of Salt Lake County and boasts a vibrant arts scene, as well as a prominent LGBTQ+ community. It is home to many museums, including the Church History Museum, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, and the Natural History Museum of Utah, as well as classic movie theaters such as the Broadway Theater and the Tower Theatre. Some of the must-visit spots in the city include Temple Square, Utah’s Hogle Zoo, and Liberty Park.
Midway, Utah
Midway, in Wasatch County, became the base for additional indoor and outdoor scenes. A few scenes were also recorded inside Kringles Midway, a year-round Christmas store and gift shop located at 6 South 200 West. The dramatic mountains and the scenic natural landscapes were used as backdrops to enhance the Christmas narrative. No less than a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, the city offers stunning natural marvels like the Ice Castles, Crater Hot Springs, Soldier Hollow, and Midway City Dog Park.
Park City, Utah
Park City, whose major portion falls under Summit County, with a few areas in Wasatch County, was reportedly used for some scenes. Similar to Midway, it is known for its natural beauty. The city has a soft spot for film lovers as it hosts the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival. If you visit Park City, some of the hotspots worthy of your time are Park City Mountain, Jupiter Peak, Canyons Village, McPolin Barn, and Boulder Mountain Ranch.
Christmas on Duty Cast Details
The cast of ‘Christmas on Duty’ is led by Janel Parrish and Parker Young. Janel’s sister has been in the army, something that connects her with the movie on a personal level. She loves to travel and is trained in tap and jazz dance. Like her, Parker also has friends and family who have served, some in elite units like the SEALs, interactions with whom enabled him to portray his character authentically. He has modeled for Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. He is a dog lover and prefers spending his off-time amidst nature.
Janel Parrish as Blair Birch
Janel Parrish plays Blair Birch in the movie. Her other Hallmark projects include ‘Sugarplummed,’ ‘Return to Office,’ ‘Haunted Wedding,’ ‘Right in Front of Me,’ and ‘Family History Mysteries: Buried Past.’ You can recognize her as Mona Vanderwaal in ‘Pretty Little Liars’ and its spin-off series, ‘Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists.’ Some of her feature film roles are Faith in ‘Run & Gun,’ Lisa Wagner in ‘Until We Meet Again,’ Brandy Barnes in ‘Christmas Is Canceled,’ and Margot in the ‘To All the Boys’ trilogy.
Parker Young as Josh Cannon
Parker Young portrays Josh Cannon in ‘Christmas on Duty.’ Parker’s notable roles include Richard Evans in ‘Imposters,’ Ryan Shay in ‘Suburgatory,’ and Private Randy Hill in ‘Enlisted.’ He also plays Alex Davis in the superhero drama series ‘Arrow.’ Contrary to Parrish, ‘Christmas on Duty’ is Young’s first Hallmark project. However, he stars in the Lifetime drama ‘Killer Reality,’ where you can spot him as Ross Freeman. Some feature films he is a part of are ‘The Image of You,’ ‘Give Me an A,’ ‘The Boss,’ and ‘4th Man Out.’
Joining Parrish and Young as the supporting cast are Antonio D. Charity as Colonel Clarkin, Tina Gallo as Lori Cannon, Peter Jacobson as Richard Birch, Aleta Myles as Zoe Butler, Scott Reeves as Cliff Cannon, Melanie Stone as Amanda Cannon, Rocky Myers as Captain Peters, and Theo Turner as Tate. The additional cast members include Ezra Moreland as Fred, Teresa Norvick as Donna, Stephanie Howell as the wife shopkeeper, John Forker as the parade watcher, M. Serrano as the USAA Representative, Adam Johnson as the warehouse worker, and Kinsey Simpkins as the US Marine.
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