Actress Alexa PenaVega (“Spy Kids,” “Mr. Manhattan”) is stepping into the holiday spotlight with her latest film, “Get Him Back for Christmas,” streaming on Great American Family.
In this heartfelt movie, PenaVega stars as Bella Harlan, a rising singer-songwriter who reconnects with her high school songwriting partner, Jack Grayton, who is played by her real-life husband, Carlos PenaVega (“Big Time Rush”), while trying to win back her rockstar boyfriend during the Christmas season.
The film blends music, romance, and themes of faith, while highlighting the work of The Salvation Army, a connection that is deeply personal for the PenaVegas. In an interview with ChurchLeaders, Alexa shared how volunteering with The Salvation Army after the devastating Lahaina fires inspired the creation of the movie.
“My husband and I were volunteering with The Salvation Army just after the fires in Lahaina, and we were out there over the holidays working with some families and helping them get rehabilitated,” Alexa said. “We ended up ringing the bell at one of the red kettles, and my husband said, ‘Babe, the world has to know what The Salvation Army does. Not enough people know.’”
Alexa shared that particular moment sparked the idea for “Get Him Back for Christmas” and the story “literally evolved” from there.
The film’s plot centers on Bella, who, after a breakup, returns to her hometown to write a song to win back her rockstar boyfriend. She reconnects with Jack, now a Salvation Army volunteer, and is inspired by his passion for what he does.
For Alexa and Carlos, faith was a cornerstone of the filmmaking process. The couple, who produced the movie through their own production company, emphasized the importance of creating family-friendly entertainment with strong values.
“We’ve produced movies before, but this is the first time our production company did everything from start to finish,” Alexa explained.
Alexa expressed that many family Christian movies are “just not really good movies.”
“I feel like the enemy is fine with you making a not good movie, because he knows eventually you’ll turn the channel because you just want to watch better entertainment,” she said, “which then can result in compromising your morals and [watching] the things you want to keep away from your heart.”
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