Character Relationship Map: Chasing Christmas

Characters

• Jack Cameron (played by Tom Arnold) — protagonist

  Jack Cameron is the film's central character, a man with a Scrooge-type personality who has come to hate Christmas. After catching his wife with another man at his daughter's Christmas play, he become...

• Present (played by Andrea Roth) — protagonist

  Present is the Ghost of Christmas Present, one of the supernatural figures who confront Jack Cameron about his hatred of Christmas. Present shows Jack what Christmas is about and becomes his companion...

• Past (played by Leslie Jordan) — supporting

  Past is the Ghost of Christmas Past, who joins Present in showing Jack Cameron what Christmas is all about. Unlike the expected guide through earlier events, Past wants to stay in the past, creating t...

• Suzanne Cameron (played by Brittney Wilson) — supporting

  Suzanne Cameron is Jack Cameron's daughter. Her Christmas play provides the setting for the painful event in Jack's life when he catches his wife with another man. Although the summary gives no furthe...

• Alison (played by Sarah-Jane Redmond) — supporting

  Alison meets Present during the journey into the past, where Present is searching for Past while trying to avoid interfering with a younger Jack. Alison and Present grow close, but their time together...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Present → Alison (Growing Romantic Connection) — Their closeness develops during Present's search, though the available plot ends before their connection or the mission is resolved.

  During the journey into the past, Present meets Alison, and the two grow close.

• Jack Cameron → Suzanne Cameron (Family Father And Daughter) — Suzanne wants to celebrate Christmas, while Jack insists the day should be treated with respect; their differing attitudes reflect strain in their relationship.

  The plot identifies Suzanne as Jack's daughter and describes their disagreement about celebrating Christmas.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Present → Past (Alliance Cooperating Spirits) — Present takes on the search for Past after Past's unusual absence threatens Jack's existence and the future.

  The spirits discuss Jack's assignment, and Present volunteers to travel into the past to find Past when Past cannot be found.

• Present → Jack Cameron (Narrative Supernatural Guide) — Present is assigned to help Jack, whose case is considered especially important because his death resulted from working too much.

  Present is asked to help reach Jack by telling him that three spirits will visit, and Present's role is to help him confront his attitude toward Chris...

Story Analysis

A Christmas spirit's search for a missing companion intersects with Jack Cameron's troubled relationship to the holiday.

Plot Progression

1. Jack Rejects Christmas — The spirits select Jack, a Seattle resident with little patience for Christmas. His treatment of decorations and his disagreement with Suzanne reveal how his attitude affects their relationship.
2. The Missing Spirit — Present is asked to reach Jack and learns why his case matters. Past's absence creates a threat to Jack's existence and potentially to the future.
3. A Human Search — Present volunteers to find Past and is made human for the journey. In the past, a younger Jack mistakes Present for one of Santa's helpers.
4. An Unfinished Pursuit — Present meets Alison, and they grow close during the search. A fight interrupts their time together, and Present asks to return while the problem involving Past remains unresolved.