Okay, this is it. This is my personal Top 10 list of Hallmark Christmas movies this season. It really seems like there were a lot more this year but I compiled my favorites that I watched.
There were some good ones and some not-so-good ones this year. Although this is nothing official, this is my personal observations and opinions about the new movies this season.
- Twas the Date Before Christmas - (Robert Buckley and Amy Groening) To prevent her family from canceling the "Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics," Jessie (Groening) lies and says she's inviting a date to the long-standing holiday tradition. This was the only one I watched multiple times this season and my favorite one. I like anything Buckley is in because of his wit and humor. Groening, who has been "the best friend" role in many other movies did really well in being a lead and should get more in the future. Very well done and enjoyable to watch.
- The Christmas Charade - (Rachel Skarsten and Corey Sevier). Whitney (Skarsten), a cautious librarian raised by home security experts, finds herself in a real-life adventure when a blind date mix-up leads her into an undercover FBI operation. Forced to pose as the girlfriend of Special Agent Josh (Sevier), she helps him track down an art thief targeting the Heart of Christmas necklace at a Christmas Eve charity ball. As the stakes rise, Whitney must embrace her inner action hero to save the day. Skarsten and Sevier paired well together and were very funny.
- Santa Tell Me - (Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing). When Olivia, a successful interior designer, finds an old letter from Santa promising she'll meet the love of her life by Christmas Eve - and that his name will be Nick - she's stunned to meet not one, but three guys named Nick. As she navigates these holiday romances, Olivia also finds herself drawn to her charming co-worker, Chris, throwing her magical Christmas quest into question. With the clock ticking toward Christmas Eve, Olivia embarks on a heartwarming and humorous journey to uncover her true soulmate. This movie reunited "When Calls the Heart" stars Krakow and Lissing and they still had their connection in this move too. Good story and very funny.
- The Santa Class - (Kimberley Sustad and Benjamin Ayres). Kate North, the owner of a struggling Santa School, and her instructor, Dan, must help an amnesia-stricken Santa Claus regain his memories to save Christmas and hopefully her school as well. Sustad and Ayres were a perfect comedy match. So funny. We also loved that Paul Campbell starred as himself in the movie. Easily a favorite.
- Holidazed - Followed five families in Oak Bay, Oregon, who live on the same cul de sac, as they deal with the joys and stress of coming home for the holidays. This one was a miniseries of eight episodes which followed the different families. It was good but I'm not sure I liked having the last episode tying everything up on each story. It worked but I think each story should have had its own finale episode.
- Our Holiday Story - (Nikki Deloach and Warren Christie) A couple recounts their Christmas love story to their daughter's boyfriend. Very good storyline and plot. Enjoyed the flashbacks.
- Holiday Mismatch - (Caroline Rhea and Beth Broderick). New retiree Barb joins a Holiday Committee but clashes with long standing member Kath. When they realize their kids have started dating, they conspire to break up the happy couple. This one was much better than I expected. The trailers really didn't make me excited to watch it but it was a good plot and story to follow.
- Happy Howlidays - (Jessica Lowndes and Eza Moreland). Mia (Lowndes), a meticulous webpage editor for the Seattle Tourism Board, finds herself unexpectedly navigating the holidays alone. As the only one working, she's drawn into an unusual encounter when she encounters a stray dog. To be honest I didn't expect much from this one which featured the winner of "Finding Mr. Christmas" but Ezra was pretty good and I hope to see more movies from him. Story was a little weak but it worked.
- Hannukah on the Rocks - (Stacey Farber and Daren Kagasoff). A recently unemployed lawyer Tory embarks on a journey to find Hanukkah candles, leading her to a Chicago bar where she transforms the holiday spirit, and finds the courage to pursue a new path in life. This was another one that was better than I expected. Good story.
- A 90s Christmas - (Eva Bourne and Chandler Massey). While celebrating her promotion alone on Christmas Eve, a workaholic lawyer is transported back to 1999 via a mysterious rideshare experience. Always love a time-travel, ghosts of Christmas past-type movies. This one was a good one.
Finding Mr. Christmas
This was Hallmark's reality show competition to find a new Hallmark Christmas movie leading man. Jonathan Bennet and Melissa Peterman were entertaining as the hosts in this competition. Ezra Moreland won the competition and starred in "Happy Howlidays". The word is that they expect to have another competition next season. I think I would like to see them do a Mr. and Ms. Christmas competition with the winners in their own movie together. Maybe the storyline of being on a holiday dating show? Hmmm.
Disappointments:
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs' Love Story
Disappointments:
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs' Love Story
With all the hype and over-promotion this movie received, it was the most disappointing movie of the season. The casting was awful and the storyline was about a lucky hat? I think the only people who would like this movie are Kansas City Chiefs' fans. Hallmark went too far to cash in on the Chiefs, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce popularity. Tyler Hines - the male lead - is usually one of my favorites but he had a hard time pulling this one off.
Three Wiser Men and a Boy
Hallmark is terrible with sequels and it happened again with this one. This was the sequel to the previous hit movie "Three Wise Men and a Baby". It just did not work. Writers also never gave us the answer to why Tyler Hines' character was with another girlfriend. Strange.
My All-Time Favorites
The movies below are always my must-see movies every year:
My All-Time Favorites
The movies below are always my must-see movies every year:
Unexpected Christmas
Five Star Christmas
Haul Out the Holly
Christmas Melody
Mistletoe Promise
Norwegian Christmas
Five Star Christmas
Haul Out the Holly
Christmas Melody
Mistletoe Promise
Norwegian Christmas
