Best Christmas movies set in each state
By Reed Gaudens
Kentucky: Psych: The Movie
Release Year: 2017
Directed By: Steve Franks
Starring: James Roday Rodriguez, Dulé Hill, Timothy Omundson, Maggie Lawson, Kirsten Nelson, Corbin Bernsen, Zachary Levi, Ralph Macchio, Jimmi Simpson, Juilianna Guill, Jazmyn Simon, Robert LaSardo, Kurt Fuller, Charlotte Flair, Sam Huntington, John Cena, Men Suvari, Sage Brocklebank, Nathan Mitchell
Similarly to Bad Santa’s relationship to Arkansas, claiming Kentucky for Psych: The Movie is a bit of a stretch, but it’s not a long one. Maggie Lawson, who played Juliet “Jules” O’Hara on the hit USA show and its two movies, hails from Louisville, Kentucky. Psych fans know the series takes place in Santa Barbara, California, and that’s obviously not Kentucky. But other than Jennifer Lawrence, it’s nice for Kentucky natives to recognize stars from their state, even when they’re playing characters from a completely different part of the country. Psych: The Movie can be that movie, and trust us, the holiday-themed comedy will satisfy fans and non-fans alike.
Three years following the series finale of Psych, the film reunites with the cast in San Francisco, where they have now relocated. Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) reunites with Gus (Dulé Hill) for a new investigation when Jules’s (Maggie Lawson) SFPD partner gets shot. Eventually, the unstoppable duo unearths a plot to target Jules. Psych: The Movie premiered on the USA Network in December 2017 and was met with high marks from critics and fans alike. The movie was followed up by Psych 2: Lassie Come Home on Peacock in July 2020. The future looks bright for the Psych team, and who knows — maybe a future movie will actually take them to Kentucky.