It’s that time of year again! Sure, some of us have been watching Christmas movies since the beginning of October, but now that it’s December, even more of us are in full-on holiday swing, and there are more made-for-tv movies out there than any one person (myself and a few of the Double-Deckers (iykyk) excluded) has time to watch. So allow me to take one for the team, and advise you on what – and what not – to watch.
As of publication, this won’t represent all of the movies I’ve seen so far this year, but I’ll update this guide periodically throughout the month as I can. My aim is to eventually cover all the 2023 movies that are airing on Hallmark, Great American Family, Lifetime, and UpTV, as well as a handful of others from various networks. (Let’s see how that goes. There are a LOT of movies, lol.)
Wondering about a movie you don’t see represented here yet? Drop me a note in the comments, so I can prioritize it! Without further ado…
A Biltmore Christmas is everything I want in a Christmas movie: nostalgia, stunning decor, fashion, great chemistry between the leads, humor, a good supporting cast, and time travel. Kristoffer Polaha and Bethany Joy Lenz are two of my favorite actors, and they truly elevated an already great script. It’s the story of a screenwriter who, tasked with rewriting an iconic holiday movie, travels to the Biltmore Estate, where the original movie was filmed. While touring behind the scenes, Lucy accidentally discovers that an hourglass prop from the movie is magical, and travels to 1947 to spend time on the set of the original movie, learning the secrets behind the production, and falling for one of the leads. It’s fantastic, and if you only watch one holiday movie this year, this should be it. Can epic love transcend time? Of course, it can – but you’ll have to watch to find out how. (A Biltmore Christmas originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 2nd, 2023.)
A Paris Christmas Waltz is everything else I want in a Christmas movie: music and dancing, delicious food, twinkle lights, and two leads with great chemistry who are willing to reinvent themselves when it becomes clear they each need a change. Amateur dancer Emma (Jen Lilley) meets professional dancer Leo (Matthew Morrison) on the day she quits her job to protect a co-worker’s position. Leo is looking for a dance parter for the upcoming Yuletide Pro/Am competition in Paris, and Emma’s love for dance reignites his own. As they train for the competition, they soon realize that their chemistry doesn’t just exist on the dance floor. The costumes (especially Lilley’s) are gorgeous, and there’s an absolutely fantastic spontaneous musical number on the streets of Paris. (Nathan Lanier wrote the soundtrack for this one, and it’s perfect.) Also, this movie brings “romantic dance to a Christmas carol” to a whole new level. (A Paris Christmas Waltz originally aired on Great American Family – November 19th, 2023.)
Round and Round is basically the Hanukkah edition of a Groundhog Day trope, and it is hands-down one of my favorite movies of the year. Rachel (Vic Michaelis) is stuck in a time loop on the seventh night of Hanukkah. She turns to Zach (Bryan Greenwood) – the boy her grandmother is trying to set her up with – for help, and together, with the help of his nerdy friends who own a comic book shop in New Jersey, they try to figure out how to break the cycle. The leads have great chemistry, the supporting cast (which includes Paula Shaw and Rick Hoffman) is fantastic, the script-writing is great, and the comedic timing is perfect. I can’t recommend this movie highly enough, and I am pretty sure it’s going to join my Evergreen rotation. (Round and Round originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 10th, 2023.)
There are literally four laughing emojis in my notes about this one. Laughing All The Way, starring Jake Epstein, follows the story of Aubri Wilson (played by Paniz Zade), an aspiring comedienne who runs a local comedy club and ghost-writes for the owner. Dozens of comedians have gotten their start at the club, and this year, Mike Baxter is home for the holidays to revisit his roots and rethink his life. Mike and Aubri hit it off and inspire each other to take the risks they’ve been afraid to take in their careers. There are running gags about tree-lightings (“people coming together to flip a switch!”), super-awkward (but hilarious) songs about mistletoe, fake trees, and “weird Christmas liqueurs,” and some fun filming bloopers (for example, at the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, the tree could not decide whether it had colored lights or white lights); all in all, this movie was a hoot. (Laughing All The Way originally aired on Lifetime – November 26th, 2023.)
Yuletide the Knot was fantastic. I went into it expecting yet another Christmas wedding planning movie, and was immediately blown away by the opening song. Adopted sisters Rachel (played by Mary Antonini), Caroline, and Danielle are event planners in a small Colorado town. Social influencer Wendy hires Rachel to plan her Christmas wedding in less than a month, and leaves Rachel to partner with her manager – who just happens to be Rachel’s ex-boyfriend, Logan (played by Peter Porte). In the midst of stunning scenery and gorgeous decor, memories come flooding back and truths surrounding their breakup come to light. Is Logan’s return an opportunity for rekindled romance, or a heartbreak waiting to happen? You can probably guess, but how the scriptwriters get there is quite thoughtful. There’s more to the story, of course – tree trimmings, tree lightings, awkwardly public arguments, an exploration of how we all deal with grief in different ways, the best florist (bravo, Marcus Troy), Melissa Peterman’s cameo as a slightly psychotic bridal stylist), and – of course – all the rustic Christmas decor you could possibly want. It also has a beautiful soundtrack – but do yourself a favor and don’t listen to it yet. Let the music catch you off guard – and have a few tissues handy! (Yuletide the Knot originally aired on UpTV – December 3rd, 2023.)
Mystery on Mistletoe Lane, starring Erica Cerra and Victor Webster, is absolutely delightful. Heidi Wicks and her two children have recently moved to New Hollow, and quickly find that the historic home that came with Heidi’s new position at the New Hollow Historical Society may hold more than one secret. The kids discover a treasure hunt created by the previous owner of the house for his son, and with the help of local handyman David Avery and his father, begin to work out the clues. Meanwhile, Heidi is solving a mystery of her own; is the house they live in actually Mistletoe Manor, locally famed for its annual Christmas celebration until the year it suddenly went dark? This movie has so many of the things I loved about A Biltmore Christmas – nostalgia, witty banter, a good supporting cast, lovely decor, and clear chemistry between the leads. (Mystery on Mistletoe Lane originally aired on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries – November 9th, 2023.)
Carley’s list of new year’s resolutions has been gathering dust for almost a year – a year during which she’s been passed over for a well-deserved promotion, and has instead been reporting to the company owner’s very wealthy, spoiled son, Wyatt (Evan Roderick) – who has no idea what he’s doing. Finally fed up with Wyatt’s ineptitude, Carley (Katie Findlay) quits on the spot (completing resolution #1), and – with 31 days left – begins to check the rest of her resolutions off her list. Meanwhile, Wyatt’s father, disappointed to lose one of his best employees due to his son’s negligence, cuts him off financially. An unlikely team, Carley and Wyatt help each other find the courage to follow their dreams, finding healing and love along the way. Sealed with A List is equal parts funny and poignant; the leads have undeniable chemistry that begins in combative rivalry that shifts into comfortable friendship and believably morphs into love; and the story promotes the concept of “better late than never” on a number of fronts, but without being preachy about it. (Sealed with A List originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 16th, 2023.)
Magic in Mistletoe, starring Paul Campbell and Lyndie Greenwood, begins with a classic “Hallmark movies about writers” trope (jaded writer becomes a recluse; publisher has to talk them out of it) – but quickly rises above it. Harrington Davis is the author of a much-beloved Christmas series, but two weeks before Christmas and the release of the last book in the series, an ill-advised social media post creates a PR crisis that could tank his career. Public relations executive April convinces Harry to return home to the small town that inspired his love for Christmas. Being surrounded by friends and neighbors (as well as verbally sparring with April) helps Harry confront the truth about his discomfort with Christmas. Angsty snark is one of Paul Campbell’s greatest strengths, so this movie is a delight to watch for the wry quips and banter alone. Hallmark still doesn’t seem to really understand how publishing works, but in a refreshing twist, this script does understand how writing and friendship work – and there’s a ton of Christmas charm (even if Mistletoe’s City Hall is the spitting image of the courthouse in Cedar Cove.) Also, Harrington’s house is fantastic and I would like to live there for at least two weeks someday. (Magic in Mistletoe originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 8th, 2023.)
It’s not unusual for a Christmas movie to feature military service somewhat prominently, but Bringing Christmas Home does it better than most. A retired military officer who is struggling with PTSD, Caroline Upton (Jill Wagner) is now a military history professor. Over the holiday break, she sees a post from antique store owner Russell Carlisle (Paul Greene), who has found a WWII jacket with a love letter in the pocket, and hopes to return it to the soldier’s family. As they work together to follow the clues, Caroline and Russell uncover surprising truths about the love story of Orin and Alice Newton – and find a love of their own. (Bringing Christmas Home originally aired on Great American Family – October 28th, 2023.)
Starring Danica McKellar and Damon Runyan, A Royal Date for Christmas is absolutely charming. I love royal romance movies, in and of themselves; add Christmas, I’m sold – and Danica is definitely the Queen of Royal Christmas Movies. (See Crown for Christmas and The Winter Palace.) The Duke of Tangford has lost his luggage, and is in need of new clothes for – and a date to – several fundraising events while staying at his estate in the United States. (Do royals from small European countries actually have estates in the U.S.? I need this intel…) Bella, a local business owner and personal stylist, agrees to help with both. This movie’s tree ratings are based on believable chemistry & friendship, an absolutely charming guest house, an estate that has a salon, and a “Tidings & Tinsel Christmas Party.” Also, Christmas is everywhere in this movie. I can’t say it threw up, because that’s not classy – but it definitely makes its presence known. (A Royal Date for Christmas originally aired on Great American Family – November 25th, 2023.)
Catch Me If You Claus is one of the funniest movies of this season, starring Italia Ricci and Luke Macfarlane at their best. Aspiring news anchor Avery catches an intruder in her house on the night before her first broadcast; he claims to be the son of Santa Claus. Equal parts funny and thoughtful, this is a true Christmas caper, with a mystery at the heart of the news story. It’s got Christmas magic and a 6′ Tiny Tim (from what seems to be an underground Dickens Society) and yet also candidly addresses what it means to be successful. When Christmas magic can speak to my real life problems, I’m here for it. Also, Santa’s son can snap his fingers and make it snow. So, there’s that. (Catch Me If You Claus originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 3rd, 2023.)
Successful real estate agent Lexie Crenshaw (Jana Kramer) hasn’t been back to her family ranch in a decade, but when a deal with local rancher Coby Mason (Adam Senn) doesn’t close as quickly as she’d hoped, she ends up reuniting with her family shortly before Christmas. Being back on the ranch brings up a lot of past hurt, but also reminds Lexie how much she once loved ranching. Sparks fly (we’re talking 🔥🔥🔥) with the rancher she’s meant to talk into selling, as together they work through complicated expectations in regard to family and legacy. A good supporting cast, great scriptwriting, a catchy soundtrack make A Christmas Cowboy Romance one of my top ten favorites of the year. (A Christmas Cowboy Romance originally aired on Lifetime – December 9th, 2023.)
Holiday Hotline, starring Niall Matter and Emily Tennant, had me at “yorkshire pudding.” (It is 100% my favorite Christmas dessert.) Abby, a chef from London, is spending the holidays in Chicago, and gets roped into working for a holiday hotline, where people call in from all over the country with their holiday-related cooking problems (mostly involving frozen turkeys). When it becomes obvious that Americans don’t think a British call-center operator could know anything about cooking turkeys, Abby puts on an American accent and becomes “Peggy.” One of her callers is a man named “John,” a single dad who wants to make his daughter’s wish of hosting Christmas dinner come true. Meanwhile, Abby meets Jack, an architect who’s restoring her apartment building. (It’s all very The Shop Around The Corner / You’ve Got Mail.) Turkey points for incredibly witty banter, fantastic puns, and an absolutely amazing supporting cast. (There are so many HR problems at the Holiday Hotline, but Erik Athavale’s performance as the manager was just as fantastic as the insane turkey situations presented to his staff.) Tree point for the Christkindlmarkt and a super-fun cinematic take on John’s calls with Peggy (she was in the kitchen with him, but they never broke protocol and interacted). Highly recommend. (Holiday Hotline originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 7th, 2023.)
Sometimes the kid in all of us just needs some good old-fashioned Christmas hijinks, and The Naughty Nine does not disappoint. Andy and friends have earned their places on Santa’s naughty list, and when don’t receive the presents they’d asked Santa for, they feel gypped – and plan the ultimate heist: breaking in to Santa’s workshop at the North Pole to retrieve their gifts. With a kid-friendly Ocean’s Eleven-like plot and Danny Glover as Santa Claus, this movie was a ton of fun. I’d definitely watch it again. (The Naughty Nine originally aired on Disney+ – November 22nd, 2023.)
This movie is charming, if rather obviously targeted at my generation, lol. Christmas at the Chalet stars Teri Hatcher (whom I’ve adored since Lois & Clark), and tells the story of a recently divorced ex-tv host who, with the help of her son, is attempting to reinvent herself. To spend time with her son over the holidays, Lex books a room at a luxury chalet where he’s staying with his dad and his dad’s new girlfriend. After a relatively comedic meet-cute with the resort owner at the airport, Lex discovers that her reservation was unsuccessful, and ends up working at the resort for the holidays in exchange for a staff room. The movie includes some hilariously awkward moments, but is also very thoughtful at times, and what I love most about it is that the love story with Eric (played by William deVry) almost takes a back seat to Lex’s evolution. She finds new confidence as she pushes past her comfort zones, figures out how social media works, and realizes that even though her life is much different than it once was, she still has value and a voice. Christmas is unfortunately really just the backdrop for this movie, and not a character in and of itself, but still – I quite enjoyed it. (Christmas at the Chalet originally aired on Lifetime – November 25th, 2023.)
A Season for Family gets serious points for an inclusive take on Christmas, in regard to adoption. The IMDB synopsis says it all: “Maddy’s adopted son Wesley has just one Christmas wish – to meet his brother Cody, who was adopted into a different family. Cody’s father, Paul, is a widower who is not ready to have this conversation with his son.” The meet-cute between Paul and Maddy (before they know their kids are brothers) is funny, and there is clearly instant chemistry. The tree-lighting event got a ❤️ in my notes, as did a good supporting cast. The Christmas fireworks got a ❓(…is this really a thing? Hallmark seems to think so, but I’ve never personally celebrated Christmas with a fireworks show.) All that said – I feel like this movie did a great job of normalizing the complicated nature of family dynamics, especially when it comes to adoption, with a dose of both realism and optimism. And if I were eight and wanted to learn how to ski, I would totally want Brendan Penny to be my dad. (A Season for Family originally aired on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries – December 6th, 2023.)
I loved Christmas on Cherry Lane. It follows the stories of three families who live at 7 Cherry Lane at different times over the years, and the fascinating ways in which their lives intersect. I won’t give too much away; puzzling it all out is half the fun of watching this movie. I’ll just say that Catherine Bell and James Denton still have very believable camaraderie together (it’s not quite chemistry, but it’s comfortable and timeless), and Jonathan Bennett’s character had my heartstrings and made me laugh. This is fairly standard Hallmark fare – but told with a refreshing structural twist and some fun storyline connections that you don’t always see coming. I’d definitely watch this one again. (Christmas on Cherry Lane originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 9th, 2023.)
Starring Megan Ory and Christopher Russell, The Secret Gift of Christmas is, in many ways, a straight-up remake of A Gift-Wrapped Christmas (2015). If I hadn’t just seen A Gift-Wrapped Christmas, The Secret Gift of Christmas would likely have ranked a bit higher for me, but the former was better. Personal shopper Bonnie is hired to help widowed contractor Patrick with his Christmas shopping, but Patrick isn’t thrilled with all the personal touches Bonnie brings to her job – until thoughtfully chosen gifts begin to positively impact his business. Patrick’s daughter also has an instant connection with Bonnie, who understands her loss, having experienced it herself. Before long, personal and professional lines become blurred, and Bonnie and Patrick might just find that the perfect Christmas gift can’t be wrapped at all. (The Secret Gift of Christmas originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 15th, 2023.)
Designing Christmas with You is fairly standard “decorating a big mansion for a holiday party” fare, but it was really, really pretty. Susie Abromeit plays designer Colbie Clark, who is hired to decorate a local mansion for an upcoming charity ball. Neither she nor the property manager, Ben Thurston (played by Liam McIntyre), are quite sure why Mrs. Chapman asked for Colbie by name, but it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and Colbie’s not going to let anything stand in the way of doing her best work – including a feisty property manager who prefers tradition over innovation. In the end, they reach a compromise they both feel good about, the mansion is decorated to the nines, and the truth (of course) comes out. This movie has all the wintery Christmas feels. (Designing Christmas with You originally aired on Great American Family – December 16th, 2023.)
A few days before Christmas, Mary Ann (Laura Vandervoort) adopts a baby girl named Natalie – in the midst of a terrible snowstorm. Stranded hours from home, Mary Ann discovers there is literally no room at the inn, but the innkeeper’s brother, Joe (Benjamin Ayres), takes them in. While they wait for the roads to be cleared, Mary Ann joins Joe and his family for their holiday festivities. The storyline of Miracle in Bethlehem, PA is predictable and charming, and it gave me all the Christmas feels. Benjamin Ayres also gives the leads of Three Wise Men and A Baby a run for their money for “cute guy with a baby” vibes. (Miracle in Bethlehem, PA originally aired on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries – December 21, 2023.)
This is a story about the complexity of human relationships. Cara (Ella Cannon) invites her ex-husband and his fiancée to spend the holidays with her so their daughter, Megan, can spend time with them. Observing how awkward the situation is for her mom, Megan writes a letter to Santa, asking him to help her find love for Christmas. The letter ends up going viral on social media. Local reporter Chet (Christopher Russell) is covering the story, and the tv station sends Cara on a series of extremely awkward dates. Along the way, Chet and Cara both come to terms with the roots of their resistance to falling in love again, leading Chet to a life-changing career decision. I forget if peppermint actually had anything to do with the story, but Peppermint and Postcards is straight up the kind of charming Christmas romance you’d expect from a made-for-tv movie, and I am here for it. (Peppermint and Postcards originally aired on Great American Family – December 10th, 2023.)
Family Switch wasn’t billed as a Christmas movie, per se, but it is set at Christmas – so, I decided to include it in my ratings, because sometimes you just want a Christmas movie that isn’t so much about romance. This movie follows a Freaky Friday trope – times three: mom and daughter, dad and son, baby and dog. (That last pairing was weird, but really funny.) The plot was just as implausible as the trope itself, but I do love Jennifer Garner, and I actually quite enjoyed this comedy. (Family Switch is a Netflix original – November 30th, 2023.)
Marcus Rosner and Sara Canning team up to add some fresh flair to the classic fake romance trope as Tiffany and Peter in Coupled Up for Christmas. Tiffany and Brett grew up together and were best friends – until Brett asked Tiffany out, and she rejected him. Five years later, Brett is home from the Peace Corps with a new girlfriend in tow. Peter arrives in town to surprise his girlfriend, only to find she’s seeing someone else. Tiffany and Peter pretend to date (because seeming happy when your ex is happy will somehow make them jealous?) – but, of course… you can guess what happens. Along the way, they really help each other become better humans – and there’s some very charming scenery that made me want to move to Canada. (Coupled Up for Christmas was released (I think) on Plex – October 18th, 2023 – but is streaming for free on multiple platforms.)
I was pleasantly surprised by Friends and Family Christmas; the previews didn’t do it justice. Brooklyn-based photographer Daniella (played by Humberly González) is staying in New York for the holidays, to help with the art center’s fundraising activities. Her well-meaning parents fix her up on a blind date with lawyer Amelia (played by Ali Lierbert), and while the two don’t initially hit it off, they agree to pretend to date to keep their parents at bay. As they attend a series of fundraisers and parties together, the girls soon find they have more in common than they knew, and that perhaps their very different worlds are not so incompatible after all. (Friends and Family Christmas originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 14th, 2023.)
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe has all the Christmasy real estate feels. (I didn’t know that was a thing, either.) Rival real estate agents Eva and Jeff (Sarah Fisher and Simon Arblaster) are asked by a client to team up to sell a house in two weeks, just before Christmas. Predictably, the two find that when they put their rivalry aside and get to know each other, they actually like each other, and – maybe less predictably – encourage each other to lean in to their creative gifts. Supporting characters include: Eva’s botany loving niece, Bonnie; Jeff’s best friend, Mitch (played by Erik Athavale); and a botanist who is locally famed for her mistletoe. Their stories intersect in completely implausible but fun ways. (Meet Me Under the Mistletoe originally aired on Great American Family – December 9th, 2023.)
Mistletoe Connection, starring Jessica Sipos, is classic holiday movie feel-good fare. Kate owns a nostalgic gift store shop in the city square; Mark works for the company that aims to redevelop the neighborhood. The main storyline is that their obvious chemistry poses an issue to their career objectives. We’ve been there, done that; other movies do it better. Points lost to the “Big Bad Business” trope, but – that said – this movie also gains points for classy decor, a Victorian popcorn demonstration, cute Christmas pajamas, and mistletoe finally making an appearance at the end of the movie. (Mistletoe Connection originally aired on UPTv – November 26th, 2023.)
Starring Brittany Underwood and Jonathan Stoddard, A Royal Christmas Holiday is charming (although I’m not quite sure how that title hadn’t been taken yet, lol). Local tv reporter Katie Viana wasn’t looking for love – just a good story – but finds both when she tracks down the media-shy Prince Jonathan Wentworth of Visaria, who is visiting the United States (with exactly one aide and no security detail whatsoever) to attend the dedication of a WWII exhibit at a military museum in honor of his late grandfather, who fought with the Allies, and about whom Prince Jonathan has recently ghost-written a book. Because Christmas is exactly the right timing for both of these events. It’s unclear how the future king of a small European country and an up-and-coming American TV reporter are going to make things work long-term, but their best friends are there to cheer them on, so there’s probably a potential sequel here somewhere. (A Royal Christmas Holiday originally aired on Great American Family – December 23rd, 2023.)
Starring Chad Michael Murray and Christa Taylor Brown, Christmas on Windmill Way had all the small-town community feels. I’m pretty much rating this movie higher than it deserves because of the windmill and the decor at the inn, but also – Santa Day? Yes, please. It’s a predictable plot – historical landmark save, for the win! But word to the wise: maybe don’t stake the fate of your entire relationship on a note in a wooden shoe. (Christmas on Windmill Way originally aired on Great American Family – December 2nd, 2023.)
Christmas in Maple Hills was a surprise drop from ImagiComm Entertainment, and I’m not sad about it. Emily Alatalo and Marcus Rosner have real chemistry in this story about yet another maple/dairy farm that could go under but won’t because there’s a handsome doctor at a veteran’s hospital who knows her mom. (Don’t ask questions. It’s better if you don’t.) As usual, Christmas Eve is irrelevant to Big Business and Big Banking. (Y’ALL. No one is actually at work that week, whether they observe the holiday or not. Could we please kill this trope? Thanks, bye.) Still – this movie gets kudos for good performances, Die Hard Christmas Movie jokes, and nostalgia. I did not know that the “Home Front Hostesses” were an actual thing, but I am now fascinated. (Christmas in Maple Hills originally aired on Great American Family – November 27th, 2023.)
Christmas at the Amish Bakery was surprisingly delightful. Sarah, a cookbook editor from Chicago, returns home to her Amish family’s farm and bakery over the holidays, tasked with learning her family’s recipes to create a cookbook for her publishing house. She meets Dean, a former children’s book illustrator and Englisher who is helping out around the farm, and together they explore the contrasts between city life and Amish values. The dialogue is thoughtful, and the emphasis of the storyline is on the importance of personal choice – in faith, and in life. Overall, this movie is completely charming, and it made me want pie. (Christmas at the Amish Bakery originally aired on Lifetime – December 10th, 2023.)
Georgia, a special education teacher, is at a crossroads in life, and spending Christmas in Notting Hill with her sister – and her sister Lizzie’s boyfriend’s extended family. While out shopping, Georgia literally bumps into Graham, a world-famous footballer who is home for the holidays, recovering from an injury. The two quickly hit it off, not knowing that Graham is actually the half-brother of Lizzie’s boyfriend. Relational chaos ensues. (Obviously.) There are some very funny and very touching moments in this movie. Sarah Ramos (Georgia) and William Moseley (Graham) have a natural chemistry, and, set against the backdrop of Notting Hill at Christmas, they’re charming together. My biggest take-away was about mindset in the face of uncertainty: of course, things could go wrong. But what if they don’t? What if everything works out in the end? Also, seeing Harrod’s at Christmastime is now on my bucket list. (Christmas in Notting Hill originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – November 25th, 2023.)
Our Christmas Mural, starring Dan Jeannotte (one of Hallmark’s best kept secrets) and Alex Paxton-Beesley (not a newcomer to the network by any means, but better known (to me, anyway) as “Freddie” from the Murdoch Mysteries), is … nice. It’s very standard Hallmark fare. Olivia, a widowed mom and struggling artist from New York City, is home for the holidays, and tasked with creating a new mural for the town. Local elementary school art teacher, Will, who also happens to be an art therapist, pitches in to help Olivia recapture her imagination and help her son come to terms with his grief. Dan’s charisma definitely carries this movie, as does small town Christmas charm, but I appreciated the effort towards exploring the effects of grief on creativity – and vice versa. (Our Christmas Mural originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – November 26th, 2023.)
Social media influencer Mona is home for the holidays, helping her family run the town’s annual Christmas carnival; photo journalist Dez is staying in their guest house while he writes an article about the event. Starring Mishael Morgan and Ronnie Rowe, Christmas with a Kiss leans into a lot of tropes that drive me nuts: having to choose between career and family, believing that small town life is necessarily slower-paced and better than life in The Big City, someone hiding the truth about their motivation (leading to the classic, “You lied to me!” moment). The town itself is charming, the leads are nice together, and there’s a sweet (and mostly believable) storyline about the effects of military life on families, but that – and some absolutely lovely coat & scarf combinations – is about all this movie really has going for it. (Christmas with a Kiss originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 3rd, 2023.)
Plus one for being kind of a royal movie, minus one for tabloid journalism. Brooke D’Orsay and Will Kemp are both incredibly talented actors, and they did what they could with this script. A Not So Royal Christmas follows tabloid writer Charlotte, who has been tasked with getting an exclusive interview with the reclusive Count Lars of Sorhagen. To keep a state secret, the royal family asks their groundskeeper, Adam, to pose as the count. The entire movie is based on complete lies: she pretends to work for a prestigious publication; he pretends to be a count. Mostly this movie made me wonder how counts are related to kings and why it matters – but I didn’t care enough to look it up. (A Not So Royal Christmas originally aired on the Hallmark Channel – December 2nd, 2023.)
In The Holiday Proposal Plan, travel writer Sonny and farmer Kip (played by Tatyana Ali and Jesse Kove) are exes who team up to help Bree (Whitney Able) coax a – you guessed it! – holiday proposal from her boyfriend Jarod (Geovanni Gopradi). Together with Sonny’s parents and Bree’s brother and his husband, the group celebrates a series of holiday traditions from around the world – many of which signify imminent matrimony. (Who knew there were so many?) It was actually fun to learn about all the different traditions, and the supporting cast was great – but the plot was so contrived that it was hard to suspend disbelief for more than a scene or two at a time. (The Holiday Proposal Plan originally aired on Lifetime – December 16th, 2023.)
This movie tried to do something a little different. It did. I’m just not sure it succeeded. In Merry Magic Christmas, financial advisor Beth (Patricia Isaac) is doing some pro-bono work for a friend whose daughter is part of a children’s theatre community. The theatre’s owner, Nate (Andrew Dunbar), is convinced that everything will work out, and doesn’t understand how much financial trouble the theatre is really in. Meanwhile, Beth keeps running into the number “624” in a variety of ways, and her friend is convinced the number is a sign from a Christmas angel – but a sign of what? Together, Beth and Nate partner with their friends and the local community to save the theatre, and solve the “magical mystery.” (Merry Magic Christmas originally aired on Lifetime – December 17th, 2023.)
These movies exist. They’re (mostly) terrible. I watched them anyway.
