‘Get Him Back for Christmas’ movie, filmed at Dallas Cowboys stadium, premieres on TV
A Christmas TV movie that’s set in Dallas, and features a scene with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, premieres on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The “Get Him Back for Christmas” cast includes real-life married couple Carlos and Alexa PenaVega as old friends who reunite over the holiday. The film premieres on the Great American Family network at 7 p.m. on Dec. 14.
Most of the movie was filmed in Nashville, with production moving to Arlington’s AT&T Stadium for the final day of filming in August.
What is the plot of “Get Him Back for Christmas”?
Here’s how the movie is described by the network:
“Up-and-coming singer songwriter Bella Harlan (Alexa PenaVega) comes home for Christmas and enlists her high-school songwriting partner Jack Grayton (Carlos PenaVega) to craft a song to win back her rockstar boyfriend by Christmas.
As the two reunite for the first time in a decade, they embark on a Christmas journey down memory lane, and soon realize true love may be closer than they thought.”
Where was “Get Him Back for Christmas” filmed?
“Get Him Back to Christmas” takes place in Dallas, according to the film’s trailer, which explains the Dallas Cowboys connection.
The Star-Telegram visited the movie set at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in August.
Filming took place on the field in the corner of the end zone, where Alexa PenaVega walked a blindfolded Carlos PenaVega onto the field and then unmasked the surprise. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (dressed in their red and white Christmas attire) then walked past the couple off the field.
According to the film’s production, the scene is important to Carlos PenaVega’s character’s backstory, as he used to attend football games with his late father.
After a few takes, production moved on to the next scene, which saw Carlos PenaVega take center stage on AT&T Stadium’s 50-yard line on the star of the Dallas Cowboys. Surrounded by Christmas trees and poinsettias, Carlos PenaVega belted an original song called “Get Him Back (For Christmas).“
The film will feature four original songs from the couple, with them each singing two.
Singing on the football field wasn’t new for Carlos PenaVega, who performed the national anthem with his band Big Time Rush at the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day game in 2011.
“This is my first time back since then,” PenaVega said. “I’m pushing to hopefully get Big Time Rush to do the national anthem again (in) 2024.”
Remember when Zeke jumped in Salvation Army kettle?
Another pivotal connection to Dallas in the film is the Salvation Army.
The heart of the film centers on Jack’s role with the Salvation Army, and soon Bella finds herself inspired to do good, according to the film’s production.
Dallas Cowboys fans may remember running back Ezekiel Elliott jumping into an oversized Salvation Army red kettle to celebrate a touchdown in 2016.
The PenaVegas know that plenty of Christmas movies are released every winter, but they said they mostly have a similar formula. With “Get Him Back for Christmas,” they’re hoping to bring back a comfortable 1990s movie feel.
“That’s what this is, with the music, it’s just feel good,” Alexa PenaVega said. “All the old Christmas movies that you used to watch growing up, we’ve brought that back with this.”
“Get Him Back for Christmas” premieres Dec. 14 on Great American Family.
