Christmas Inheritance

Christmas Inheritance is a 2017 Canadian Christmas comedy-drama film directed by Ernie Barbarash and written by Dinah Eng. The film stars Eliza Taylor, Jake Lacy and Andie MacDowell. The film was released on Netflix on December 15, 2017. The film features Taylor as a spoiled New York City heiress sent to a small New England town with limited resources to test if she's ready to take over her father's company. When circumstances strand her, her experiences with the townspeople gives her a new perspective on life and her privilege, while also leading to romance with the local inn manager. Plot Manhattan business executive Jim Langford is ready to retire but is concerned that his daughter Ellen is too spoiled, immature and thus, not ready to inherit his position as CEO. Jim and his former business partner Zeke have a Christmas tradition of exchanging letters in-person in Snow Falls, their New England hometown where they started their business. As a test, Ellen is sent to Snow Falls in her father's stead to hand deliver a new letter to "Uncle Zeke." Hoping she can learn something from the small town lifestyle of Snow Falls and wanting her to rely on herself rather than the family wealth and influential name, Jim takes Ellen's credit cards, gives her $100 in cash, and tells her to travel incognito. In Snow Falls, Ellen befriends Jake, manager of the Snow Falls Guest House inn. Learning Zeke has just left for his cabin, Ellen books a room at the inn to wait for him. She dines with Jake at a local diner managed by his Aunt Debbie. With no word from Zeke the next day, Ellen's fiancé Gray says she should leave the letter and come home. Ellen refuses, wanting to fulfill her father's request. Not having money to stay another night, she works as a housekeeper for Jake. When she fails, Jake asks what her job is and she lies that she is a baker. Ellen is then sent to work in the diner's kitchen with Debbie, who recognizes her as Langford's daughter. After Ellen explains her reasons for traveling incognito, Debbie promises to keep her secret and teaches her how to bake. A snowstorm causes road closures and parts of Snow Falls to lose power. Jake offers shelter for many at the inn. Influenced by Jake, Ellen offers shelter to Baxter, a homeless man she dismissed earlier, then offers her bed to a woman with two children. While helping clean the inn, Ellen discovers Jake is an artist.