Bronx Babe

Everything Christmas -- I concur, lol. The main town was called Cloverbend. Good thing it wasn't Cloverfield. Ah yes, Santa. As usual played by an untalented, portly Canadian actor with a real white beard.

Looking forward to A Heidelberg Holiday only because I know that one (or several) of the characters will lecture others on the historical aspects of German cuisine. Stollen will be discussed and also make an appearance.

Thanks, absnow54. So if I'm interpreting correctly, you simutaneously view the Hallmark movies as viable escapist romantic entertainment which might touch some emotive part of the heart and soul yet still be made fun of?

I'm curious -- not a snarky curiosity mind you but a very serious and respectful inquiry -- does anyone here enjoy John Waters' movies with Divine? (and Tab Hunter) I love them and wonder if their transgressive campy trash value can be happily reconciled with an addiction to these stodgy and synthetic Hallmark productions. (Turner Classic Movies ran Hairspray, Cry Baby and Polyester last night)

A Royal Christmas Crush -- what was the name of their Scandinavian country? Fridgidaria? I didn't hear it clearly, lol. The usual ridiculous, absurd and downright embarrassing commoner/monarch Hallmark nonsense.

Why did they even bother, lol

I want to see a mob-theme Hallmark Christmas movie. Three Wise Guys And A Baby

The actress is so glum and sadly always seems self-conscious about her body -- she ironically didn't feel comfortable in her own skin in that other Hallmark opus with her as a plus-size fashion designer. I thought JOYEUX NOEL was filmed in Montreal, lol, quite a surprise to discover they really were in Paris. The bed and breakfast owner: "Welcome to Par-isss, theese ees my petite fils" Yes, laughably bad all around.

One positive thing I'll mention about Mystic Christmas is that the lead actress didn't have the ubiquitous mermaid hair, lol.

Thanks! I keep hoping upon hope the next production will go in another (more realistic?) direction but this never happens. They are in their own strange bubble where all the characters act more like androids than human beings.

Forgive me guys but I thought MYSTIC CHRISTMAS was terrible -- the entire script seemed to consist of the usual Hallmark 20 and 30-somethings asking each other what is their favorite this and that, over and over and over again! That peculiar Hallmark obsession with lists....."Juniper" the vet (or the actress) didn't have much rapport with the seals who seemed to be an afterthought anyway, lol.

Oh it was a Christmas movie alright -- they never let you forget it what with literally every other sentence out of the actor's mouths was the word "Christmas". I have said this before ad nauseum and will continue to say it -- Hallmark movies are such manipulative, synthetic productions formulated, it seems to me, in some other-wordly laboratory. Very, very unsettling and disturbing to me but apparently to no one else! But I can't be the only one who feels this way!

Where Are You, Christmas? 190 mentions of the word "Christmas", 90 more than Christmas With The Darlings. I came out of my "hiatus" for this?? Amateurly acted, silly story line (rip-offs from IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and GROUNDHOG DAY) with the usual synthetic, untouched-by-human hands alien creepiness.

Well maybe not that bad but to my eyes close enough to be Chaney's son, lol. That Glacier Park romance -- awful. The lead actress as a scientist with the model mermaid hair, heavy make-up and vocal fry, who can take these stories seriously?? I am frankly fed up!!

No, sorry. Looks a little like Fran but that's not the actress. (and remember, I DON'T KNOW PHANTOM AND FRAN'S NAMES -- it is not a quiz where I know the answers and I am testing everyone, just the opposite, lol)

I don't know!! That's why I was asking but I guess it seemed more like I knew the answer and was waiting for everyone to chime in. No on both counts. I wish I could remember any titles Phantom and Fran are in.....

You are right, @Irlandesa I forgot about that but remember thinking the same thing!

They never showed Alison and Victor, married three years and on a delayed honeymoon, in bed together. Only Alison constantly waking up and looking at an empty pillow.

I watched snippets of the latest Veil last night to see Victor Webster but must admit that as an actor he is a complete bore. Hunky yes, but frankly without much screen presence. He's in good company, though. None of these Hallmark male leads have any imo.

Thanks, Clawdette but no, not any of these.

My Phantom of the Opera guy is very weird-looking. His face seems to consist of nothing but those odd cheekbones. He is tall and I believe Canadian. The sanitized Fran Drescher actress actually looks a lot like her but in that non-threatening, Hallmark-y type way.

Nope, not either of these. Nope. Nope.

#2: What's the name of that lead actress who resembles a sanitized version of Fran Drescher?

Okay, who is the male lead with bizarre cheekbones who looks like Lon Chaney Sr. as The Phantom of the Opera?