On November 9, Hallmark premiered its newest Countdown to Christmas film, “A Keller Christmas Vacation.” Co-starring Jonathan Bennett, Brandon Routh, and Eden Sher, it’s the latest feel-good film with a familial focus.
Hallmark“It will not challenge your emotions; it will feed your emotions,” Eden told SheKnowsSoaps in an interview. “It will feed the parts of your emotions that are… in the red right now.”
Unlike her iconic “The Middle” character, Sue Heck, Eden plays Emory — the youngest sister this time — alongside Cal (Routh) and Dylan (Bennett), her older brothers. However, she still recognizes that it can be difficult to really shut a beloved character like Sue off completely.
Eden Sher Stopped Trying Not to Be ‘Sue Heck’ for Her Latest Performance
Eden is new to the world of Hallmark, but once she accepted that ‘what will be, will be,’ she had a blast getting to know Emory. However, it took her a little while, with the actress admitting to SheKnowsSoaps that “So much of me is Sue.”
“I don’t want to say that I struggle with differentiating myself, but I read this character and I was like, ‘It’s not quite Sue Heck,'” Eden said. “There is no Sue Heck, there’s never going to be another Sue Heck. But she’s a little anxious, which is a little more Eden, but she’s also goofy, and that’s inescapable. That’s just who I am.”
After admitting that she’s “pretty good at physical comedy,” she talked about the producers wanting her to use it in her portrayal of Emory. “I was like, okay, I don’t want to make it, like, Sue-esque, but there’s kind of no escaping,” she continued. “I was like, you know what? This is just pure fun, it’s pure goof.”
Hallmark“I think people are going to see more than just Sue Heck,” she said. “They’re definitely going to see some, because you can’t escape it. That’s me, that’s who I am.”
“Once I let go of trying to, like, ‘Not make this as Sue Heck as possible,’ once I kind of let go of that mentality, I was just able to have fun with it,” she added.
‘A Keller Christmas Vacation’ Stars Hope to Become the Griswolds of Hallmark
While this is the first film in which Bennett, Sher, and Routh star together, they hope it won’t be the last. “I would love that,” Eden said, which asked if she’d want it to turn into a franchise. “This was one of the most positive work experiences I’ve ever had.”
“I think we have lightning in a bottle with Brandon, Eden, and myself together, and I think it’d be a shame to not let that lightning out of the bottle more,” Jonathan told Decider. “I would love for the Kellers to become the Griswolds of Hallmark.”
Hallmark
I love her performance! It wasn’t “too much Sue” but I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to see a little bit of Sue, if that makes sense. It’s like Jennifer Aniston; I like to see a little Rachel pop up here and there. That said, I love The Keller Christmas Vacation and I’d love to see it as a series like the Three Wise Men and a Baby.
I agree! The “siblings” were great together! I loved all three of their portrayals! I do hope they make another film with the Kellers!