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Coming Home for Christmas (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Coming Home for Christmas (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 84 mins · English
Echo score 70
JustWatch #16,225 3
Directed by
Mel Damski
Starring
Christian Convery, Rebecca Staab, Lindsay Maxwell, Neal Bledsoe, Andrew Francis, Danica McKellar

Lizzie Richfield takes a job as house manager at the beautiful Ashford Estate in Virginia, finding herself at a turning point in her life. As she prepares a Christmas Eve gala for the Marley family, she becomes entangled in a charming love triangle. She's drawn to Robert, but Kip also seeks her attention, complicating her feelings and adding a touch of holiday romance to her new role.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (8)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Coming Home for Christmas
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Coming Home for Christmas (2017)

Where can you watch Coming Home for Christmas? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, Philo and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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8 main characters · contains spoilers

Coming Home for Christmas Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Coming Home for Christmas (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Kate Richfield

    One of the two sisters who walked out on Melanie’s wedding. Now wary of romance and family drama, she reluctantly returns to repair their bond and help orchestrate a unified Christmas gathering with her sister and Mike.

    • 🏡 Family
    • 💔 Regret
    • 🤝 Reconciliation
  • Melanie Richfield

    The other sister, living in a polished but emotionally empty life after the wedding fiasco. She must confront the truth about her sister’s feelings and the seriousness of her own choices as the family tries to come back together for Christmas.

    • 💔 Jealousy
    • 🎯 Resolution
    • 🕊 Reconciliation
  • Mike

    A war veteran who moved to town to open a woodworking shop. He becomes a stabilizing force for Kate and a bridge between the sisters as the family fights to reclaim their old home and traditions.

    • 🛠 Craft
    • 💞 Trust
    • 🏡 Community
  • Lizzie Richfield

    played by Danica McKellar

    A member of the Richfield family, likely a child figure related to the sisters. She embodies the hope of the family’s future and the innocence that motivates reconciliation.

    • 👶 Family
    • 🧸 Hope
  • Camille Richfield

    played by Rebecca Staab

    A member of the Richfield family, possibly an aunt or relative who adds perspective on past events and helps guide the sisters toward forgiveness.

    • 👵 Family
    • 🗝 Wisdom
  • Kip Marley

    played by Andrew Francis

    Son of Robert Marley, a Marley family member who is connected to Mike’s circle. He supports the family’s efforts and represents the next generation in the story’s reconciliation arc.

    • 🧒 Family
    • 👨‍👦 Loyalty
  • Pippa Marley

    played by Paula Shaw

    A Marley family member who appears in the town’s social circle, contributing to the community’s memory of the war buddy and his family’s resilience.

    • 👪 Community
    • 🕊 Resilience
  • Robert Marley

    played by Neal Bledsoe

    Mike’s late war buddy and Kip’s father. His memory and the stories around his life influence the healing process in the town and the family’s renewed bond.

    • 🪖 War legacy
    • 🕊 Remembrance

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:28

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Setting

Where and When Does Coming Home for Christmas Take Place?

The setting of Coming Home for Christmas (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present day

Set during a contemporary Christmas season, the narrative unfolds about five years after Kate walked out on Melanie’s wedding. The period emphasizes modern family dynamics, financial strain, and the healing power of shared rituals. The town’s winter atmosphere amplifies nostalgia as characters confront past hurts and choose to come together.

Location

Richfield family home (old house), Wendy's townhouse, Mike's woodworking shop

The story centers around a small town where the Richfield family once lived in a beloved old house that was repossessed. After losing the home, the family moves into a townhouse and the mother operates a preschool, while a local war veteran named Mike opens a woodworking shop that becomes a focal point of rebuilding. The old house, the shop, and the preschool become symbols of second chances and the community’s ties. The setting blends domestic space with a craftsman’s workshop, highlighting how place anchors personal reconciliation.

  • 🏡 Family home
  • 🏚 Repossession
  • 🛠 Woodworking shop
  • 🏘 Small town

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:28

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3 major themes

Coming Home for Christmas Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Coming Home for Christmas (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Family Reform

    The film centers on repair and renewal of fractured family bonds. Siblings confront past grievances, acknowledge each other’s vulnerabilities, and work to rebuild trust. The family’s Christmas plan becomes a testing ground for forgiveness and renewed connection.

  • Trust and Love

    Romantic tension arises between Kate and Mike, challenging assumptions and prejudices formed from years of distance. As secrets surface, they learn to judge each other by actions rather than appearances. The budding relationship helps soften long-held resentments and invites honesty.

  • Christmas Reconciliation

    The holiday setting catalyzes the family’s journey from estrangement to unity. Christmas gatherings, shared meals, and the mistletoe moment symbolize a hopeful reset. Despite lingering tensions, the characters choose to celebrate together and reaffirm their commitment to one another.

Last updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:28

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Character & theme questions

Coming Home for Christmas Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Coming Home for Christmas (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does the movie take place?

The story is set in a small town with key locations including the repossessed Richfield family home, a townhouse where the family moves after losing their house, and Mike's woodworking shop. These settings symbolize second chances and the community's role in personal healing.

  • small town setting
  • richfield home
  • woodworking shop
  • repossessed house
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The film takes place in the present day during a contemporary Christmas season, set about five years after Kate walked out on Melanie's wedding. This modern setting allows the story to explore current family dynamics and financial challenges.

  • present day
  • contemporary
  • christmas season
  • modern setting
Q3

What is the main theme of the movie?

The primary theme is family reform, repairing and renewing fractured family bonds. The story explores how siblings confront past grievances, acknowledge vulnerabilities, and work to rebuild trust. The family's Christmas plan becomes a testing ground for forgiveness and renewed connection.

  • family reform
  • forgiveness
  • reconciliation
  • family bonds
  • christmas theme
Q4

Who are the main characters?

The key characters include Kate and Melanie Richfield, estranged sisters trying to reconcile; Mike, a war veteran who opens a woodworking shop and becomes a stabilizing force; Lizzie Richfield, representing the family's hope for the future; and Robert Marley, Mike's late war buddy whose memory influences the healing process.

  • kate richfield
  • melanie richfield
  • mike
  • lizzie richfield
  • robert marley
Q5

What does the Christmas setting represent in the story?

The holiday setting acts as a catalyst for the family's journey from estrangement to unity. Christmas gatherings, shared meals, and the mistletoe moment symbolize a hopeful reset. Despite lingering tensions, characters choose to celebrate together and reaffirm their commitment to one another.

  • christmas reconciliation
  • holiday setting
  • family unity
  • forgiveness
  • festive
Q6

What is the relationship between Kate and Mike?

Romantic tension arises between Kate and Mike, challenging assumptions and prejudices formed from years of distance. As secrets surface, they learn to judge each other by actions rather than appearances. Their budding relationship helps soften long-held resentments and invites honesty.

  • kate mike relationship
  • romance
  • trust
  • love story
  • war veteran
Q7

Why did Kate leave Melanie's wedding?

Kate walked out on Melanie's wedding five years before the story takes place, creating a lasting rift between the sisters. This abandonment became the central wound that the family must heal during their Christmas reconciliation.

  • wedding
  • kate
  • melanie
  • estrangement
  • family rift
Q8

What is the significance of Mike's woodworking shop?

Mike's woodworking shop serves as a focal point of rebuilding, both for the family and the community. It represents second chances and acts as a bridge between the sisters as they fight to reclaim their old home and traditions. The shop symbolizes healing through craftsmanship and steady work.

  • woodworking shop
  • mike
  • rebuilding
  • second chances
  • community
Q9

Who is Robert Marley in the story?

Robert Marley was Mike's late war buddy and Kip's father. His memory and the stories surrounding his life influence the healing process in the town and help the Richfield family strengthen their renewed bond. His legacy impacts both the community's and family's journey toward reconciliation.

  • robert marley
  • war buddy
  • kip
  • memory
  • legacy
Q10

What does the repossessed Richfield house represent?

The old Richfield family home that was repossessed serves as a powerful symbol throughout the story. It represents loss, the family's past stability, and what they're fighting to reclaim. The journey to reclaim this home parallels the family's emotional reconciliation and their quest to restore broken bonds.

  • repossessed house
  • family home
  • loss
  • reconciliation
  • symbolism

Movie threads

More Movies Like Coming Home for Christmas, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Coming Home for Christmas tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Heartwarming Holiday Healing Movies like Coming Home for Christmas

Christmas gatherings that mend family rifts and open hearts to new love. If you enjoyed the gentle family reconciliation and festive romance in Coming Home for Christmas, you'll love these other movies. These films capture the spirit of the holidays as a time for mending relationships, finding second chances, and experiencing heartwarming new beginnings.

  • heartfelt
  • hopeful
  • nostalgic
  • comforting
  • family-centric
  • festive
  • Tone: hopeful, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories typically follow a character, often an outsider or returning family member, navigating a family gathering marked by past tension. The festive setting provides a structured timeline and opportunities for heartfelt conversations, leading to forgiveness, renewed bonds, and often a new romantic connection that blossoms by the finale.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared focus on emotional healing driven by the holiday spirit, combining medium emotional weight with a fundamentally hopeful tone and a happy ending. The pacing is steady, focusing on character interactions rather than external plot, creating a comforting and reassuring experience.

Gentle Life Crossroads Romances like Coming Home for Christmas

Quiet stories about finding love and purpose at a personal turning point. Fans of Coming Home for Christmas who enjoyed Lizzie's personal journey and the charming love triangle will find similar stories here. These movies focus on characters at a life turning point, blending medium emotional weight with steady pacing, hopeful tones, and a focus on choosing love and a new direction.

  • reflective
  • hopeful
  • romantic
  • gentle
  • character-driven
  • second-chances
  • Tone: hopeful, reflective
  • Pacing: steady, linear
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist taking on a new role or moving to a new place, which serves as a reflective backdrop for their personal growth. A central, low-stakes romantic dilemma—often a choice between two potential partners representing different futures—unfolds slowly, allowing the character to discover what they truly want.

Why they belong together: These movies share a specific mix of tone, pacing, and character arc. They have a low-intensity, steady pace that allows for character reflection, a hopeful tone despite acknowledging past struggles, and a straightforward narrative centered on a romantic choice that leads to a happy, conclusive ending.

If you liked this

Movies Like Coming Home for Christmas

Similar movies to Coming Home for Christmas: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Coming Home for Christmas (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Coming Home for Christmas in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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