Alexa PenaVega Hits All the Right Notes in 'Get Him Back for Christmas'
For so many, the idea of leaving one’s humble beginnings to seek fame and fortune in a land foreign to their own can be intoxicating. And why not, the bright lights and big city offers opportunities and experiences that can dazzle the imagination beyond what seems possible. But sometimes, what seems glorious just can’t seem to replace the simple, sound rhythms of home. It’s where the heart is, right?
Such is the case for a rising musical star in the new Great American Family movie release, Get Him Back for Christmas (premieres December 14th). Starring Alexa PenaVega and her husband, Carlos PenaVega, Bella Harlan (Alexa PenaVega), returns to her hometown at Christmas with hopes of winning back her big city rock star boyfriend. While using the holidays to strategize her next move, Bella reconnects with her high school friend Jack (Carlos PenaVega) to write music together. Hoping to create the perfect arrangement, what they don’t expect is to fall in love.
I recently sat down with Alexa to discuss why it is important for her to work frequently with her husband, the value of never losing sight of what is most important, and why it is so critically important to have a charitable heart in the world we live in.
For every actress, there always seems to be a moment where you say to yourself, “I have to make this movie!! It is non-negotiable!” For Get Him Back for Christmas what was that moment for you?
It was kind of wild. We used to live in Hawaii and unfortunately our town of Lahaina had burned down. And we were working with the Salvation Army out there, helping rehabilitate families and get them back on their feet. We just so happened to be there during the holidays, and bell-ringing with their red kettle. And my husband looks over at me and he says, “Babe, we have to tell this story. We have to talk about how great the Salvation Army is. And I feel like there's a movie in this.” So, we just put our heads together and we came up with, Get Him Back for Christmas.
Get Him Back for Christmas provided you the opportunity to work together onscreen with your husband Carlos. You have worked together on at least five or six occasions that I can remember, most recently on Mr. Manhattan. Is working together on projects something you seek out intentionally or does it just sort of happening organically?
We for sure seek them out intentionally. There are a couple things that happened organically early on but this industry is not really set up for family. It's definitely not set up for marriages. The success rate in this world, let alone in our industry for marriages, is not high. And we really wanted to make it a priority to be together as much as possible. Obviously our faith is number one, but our marriage is a close second. So for us, we seek out projects that we get to do together as much as possible. And the truth is, he elevates me and I know I elevate him. So, we are both looking out for each other every step of the way and, and that just makes it so much easier on set.
In this movie, you play up and coming singer Bella Harlan who comes home for Christmas and enlists her high school songwriting partner Jack (played by your husband Carlos PenaVega) to win back her rock star boyfriend by Christmas. But alas, love ensues as they walk down memory lane together. This movie demonstrates the importance of never losing sight of the ones who matter most. Your thoughts on that?
This story is a little bit of the one who got away or someone got away due to a lack of communication. Bella has always loved Jack and Jack has always loved Bella. And honestly, they just kept missing each other in life. When she comes back home (for Christmas), it kind of brings her back to reality. She wasn't a diva, she wasn't this bad girl or anything like that, but the industry has a way of just dating you a little bit. And when Bella goes back home, she just realizes that she's never lost those feelings for Jack. She may have pushed them down because she thought that he wasn't an option for her, but she cares about him deeply.
You mentioned the Salvation Army earlier in our conversation. And what I love about this movie is that the Salvation Army plays sort of a large role due to Jack’s devotion and passion to a life of doing good to others. Why is it so important to have a charitable heart in the world we live in, and not just at Christmas time?
I think a lot of times we just seek this self-fulfillment, thinking like, if I can just get more or attain more, that's going to make me feel better. And a lot of times it just leads to depression because it's really hard to fill all the different voids and gaps that this world has, that you won't ever be able to fill. But when you start giving and you start helping one another, there is this beautiful spirit that just kind of comes over you. And I always tell people, go volunteer and tell me how you feel. This is because you're thinking you're volunteering for other people, but actually what it does to your heart is truly transformative. I really believe God has called us all to just be incredible servants to one another. That's hard to do because we all have crazy, selfish desires that kick in. But the charitable aspect of this film was super important for us because we care so deeply about the Salvation Army, and just serving in general. I guarantee you, if you walk outside and you look to your left or right, you'll find somebody who's in need.
After audiences have had a chance to see Get Him Back for Christmas what would you like people to take away from that viewing experience? What is your greatest hope for the film?
Honestly, I want people to walk away filled with joy, just smiling and going, ‘I have not seen a Christmas movie like that since I was younger.’ The goal was to make one of those old school Christmas movies that we haven't had in a while. And I really feel like we did that.
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Get Him Back for Christmas also stars Alan Powell (The Song, A Week Away), Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell), Kevin Valdez (Little Voice Louie), and Victoria Jackson (Saturday Night Live).
WATCH A TRAILER FOR GET HIM BACK FOR CHRISTMAS:
